The most common question among new moms: “Can you use bleach to clean baby bottles?” For years, households have trusted bleach when it comes to sanitizing and cleaning. But does that include your baby’s feeding bottles? If you are interested in finding out, keep on reading.
What Is Baby Formula?
Given that a newborn baby’s immune system is not yet fully developed, babies in general, are more susceptible to illness and infection. To guarantee that your baby does not get contaminated milk/formula, you should sterilize all of your baby’s feeding bottles.
There are different ways you sanitize your baby’s feeding bottles if you’re asking, “Can you use bleach to clean baby bottles?” The answer is yes. There is a part of this material guide you in doing so.
Techniques in Sterilizing Bottles
Sterilization is a process that aims to remove highly resistant microorganisms and bacteria that can’t be removed by washing alone. Another term for the process is called disinfecting. There are five common techniques you can use to sterilize your baby’s feeding bottles.
Below is a step-by-step guide that will walk you through on how to efficiently clean your baby bottles.
Types Of Bottled Water For Babies
There are different types of bottled water to mix with powdered formula. We’ll go through them one by one to see which one works best for your baby’s nutritional requirements.
Sterilize Baby Bottles with Boiling Water
This is the easiest way to disinfect your baby bottles using only – boiling water. To do this process, you will need a pot and water. This is one of the oldest methods used by moms to sanitize feeding bottles.
- Fill in a medium-sized, clean pot with enough water to cover the bottles.
- Bring the water to a boil.
- Once the water is boiling, submerged washed bottles upside down, making sure there isn’t any space for bubbles at the bottom of the bottles.
- Boil the bottles for at least 3 minutes, but not more than 5 minutes. It’s better to check manufacturer guidelines for variations and to avoid shrinking of feeding bottles.
- Once done, turn the heat off. Remove bottles using tongs.
- Place freshly boiled bottles on clean, dry dishcloth or rack and allow them to dry.
Sterilize Feeding Bottles Using the Microwave
This is another simple sterilizing technique that you can try, especially on very busy days. Again no need for special equipment, only your microwave oven can do. Just make sure that your microwave is squeaky clean before you start.
- Fill baby bottles about halfway with water.
- Place the filled bottles inside the microwave.
- Turn your microwave on high for 1 minute to 2 minutes.
- It’s superhot, so make sure that when you remove the bottles you use mittens or thongs. Just dump the remaining water and bottle air dry the water.
Sterilizing Feeding Bottles with an Electric Stream
Although they are pricey compared to other options presented so far, this will make you sleep easier since you can regularly sterilize your baby bottle. Steam sterilizers are also very portable and can sit very well in your countertop. All you need to do is follow the manufacturer’s instructions, and you will be able to disinfect your baby’s bottles with less hassle.
Sterilizing Baby Bottles and More Using Bleach
Last is for those asking, “Can you use bleach to clean baby bottles?” The answer is, yes! You can do that. All you need to do is mix two teaspoons of bleach in a gallon of water. Soak baby bottles, nipples, dishes, and even high chairs. But to never dump it all at once. Scoop the solutions to separate containers. Soak them separately for 2 minutes and remove them thongs and air dry them. You do not need to rinse them with water as bleach breaks down as it dries. This should safely confirm that you can use bleach to clean baby bottles.
Sterilizing Feeding Bottles Using Sterilizing Tablets
Now, what if you are away from you and you do not have your sterilizing equipment. You can sterilize with bleach, but if certain situations don’t allow you to do so. You might want to use food-grade; chlorine-based sterilizing tablets are also very effective. Just make sure that you follow packaging instructions to ensure proper sterilization. Get more tips on baby bottles.
Conclusion
As a parent, your baby’s well-being is your priority. Sanitizing all the things that they use matters as it will provide them the best of comfort. Clean clothes feel good in their skin and snuggle them better. Clean baby bottles guarantee their food is not contaminated. As parents, it is understandable if you want to try different sterilizing processes to guarantee your baby’s health, cut on cost, and lower the cleaning time.
Among all the techniques presented above, sterilizing through boiling and using bleach are the most common disinfecting techniques used by moms before producing a more advanced sterilizer. This article already answered your question, “Can you use bleach to clean baby bottles?” Plus, we also added some more information. Now, you can choose from the techniques that work for you and your baby’s health.