How to Properly Store Baby Bottles After Sterilizing Them

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A guide to washing, sterilizing, and storing baby bottles

Co-authored by Mor Levy Volner, IBCLC, RDN and Devin McSween

Last Updated: May 31, 2024 Fact Checked

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Storing Sterile Bottles

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Storage Prep

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Washing Bottles

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Sterilizing Bottles

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Expert Q&A

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Tips

Sterilizing baby bottles removes germs and bacteria that can make your baby sick, ensuring that your little one has a safe, clean way to get the nutrition they need. Baby bottles stay safe and sterile for 24 hours when you store them in a clean, closed cabinet, a sealed container in the refrigerator, or a sterilizer. Keep reading to learn more about how to store sterilized baby bottles, as well as how to properly clean and sanitize them.

Storing Sterilized Bottles

Store sterile baby bottles in a clean cabinet or set them in a clean, sealed container and place them in your refrigerator. If you’re sterilizing your bottles with a sterilizer, simply keep them in the machine. Store sterile bottles for up to 24 hours before sterilizing them again.

Section 1 of 4:

Storing Sterile Baby Bottles

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1
Place the baby bottles in a clean kitchen cabinet. Store sterile baby bottles in a kitchen cabinet, cupboard, or drawer where you place other clean dishes. Only store baby bottles in cabinets that have a door to ensure they’re protected from bacteria and dust.^{[1]
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- Don’t store the sterile bottles in a cabinet with dirty dishes, as this can expose the bottles to germs and bacteria.
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Set the bottles in a sealed container in the fridge as another option. To help ensure your baby’s bottles aren’t exposed to germs or bacteria, place them in a sealed plastic or glass food storage container. Then, set the container in the refrigerator.^{[2]
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- Feel free to store the bottles in an unused and clean sealable plastic bag, if you prefer.
- The cold temperature helps keep the bottles clean and prevents bacteria or mold from growing.
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Leave the bottles in the sterilizer if you’re using one. If you sterilize baby bottles in a sterilizer, simply keep the bottles in the device when the sterilization process finishes. The sterilizer sterilizes itself as it cleans your bottles, making it a clean and safe place to store them until you need to use one or sterilize them again.^{[3]
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- Leave the lid closed on the sterilizer to keep the baby bottles germ-free.^{[4]
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- Note: Most manufacturers provide instructions in the user’s manual about how long you can leave the baby bottles in the sterilizer before they need to be sterilized again.

Section 2 of 4:

Preparing to Store Baby Bottles

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Wash your hands before touching the sterile bottles. Use soap and water to wash your hands thoroughly before handling sterile baby bottles.^{[5]
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Mor Levy Volner, IBCLC, RDN
International Board Certified Lactation Consultant

Expert Interview. 5 May 2020.} This helps prevent the transfer of bacteria and germs from your hands to the bottles.^{[6]
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- As an extra precaution, handle the baby bottles with sterilized tongs instead of your washed hands.^{[7]
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Let the sterile bottles air dry completely on a clean dishcloth.^{[8]
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Mor Levy Volner, IBCLC, RDN
International Board Certified Lactation Consultant

Expert Interview. 5 May 2020.} Remove the baby bottles from the pot, sterilizer, or dishwasher you sterilized them in and place them on a clean dishcloth. Spread out all the parts, including the nipple, attachment rings, and bottle, and let them air dry completely.^{[9]
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- Air drying the sterilized bottle parts helps prevent germs and mold from growing in any crevices.
- Do not dry the parts with a towel, as this can spread germs and bacteria onto the bottles.
- If you’re storing the baby bottles inside the sterilizer, skip this step.
Once the baby bottle parts are completely air-dried, put the bottle back together for easier storage. Or, if you prefer to store the parts separately, leave them disassembled.^{[10]
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4
Sanitize the cabinet or container you’re storing the bottles in.^{[11]
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Mor Levy Volner, IBCLC, RDN
International Board Certified Lactation Consultant

Expert Interview. 5 May 2020.} Before storing the sterilized baby bottles in a cupboard or drawer, thoroughly clean the cabinet with sanitizing wipes or disinfecting soap and a clean cloth. If you’re storing the baby bottles in a container in the refrigerator, wash the container with dish soap and hot water or run it through the dishwasher.^{[12]
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- If you’re storing the baby bottles in a sterilizer, skip this step.

Section 3 of 4:

Cleaning Baby Bottles

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Take apart the bottle and rinse the pieces with water. Before you sterilize baby bottles, it’s important to completely clean them out. Separate the bottle, nipple, screw cap, and lid and run them under warm water to remove any leftover milk or formula.^{[13]
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- Note: Wash your hands thoroughly before washing the bottles.
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Scrub the bottle parts with hot water, dish soap, and a bottle brush. Fill a clean container with hot water and several drops of dish soap. Then, add the bottle parts and use a clean bottle brush to scrub each part. Make sure to squeeze the hot, soapy water through the nipple, too.^{[14]
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- Only use the bottle brush to clean baby bottles; do not use the same brush that you clean other dishes with.
Run the bottle parts under cold or warm water to remove the soapy water. Squeeze clean water through the nipple to ensure it’s free of soap, too.^{[15]
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Lay down a clean, unused dish towel or paper towel in an area that’s free from dirt and dust. Then, place the bottle parts and bottle brush on the towel to air dry.^{[16]
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Section 4 of 4:

Sterilizing Baby Bottles

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Sterilize bottles in boiling water for 5 to 10 minutes. Place the separated bottle parts in a large pot and cover them completely with water. Then, bring the water to a boil over your stove. Let the bottles boil for at least 5 minutes to completely sterilize them.^{[17]
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- Let the bottle parts cool in the pot before removing them and placing them on a clean towel. Or, use a pair of sterilized tongs to remove them.
- Always clean baby bottles with hot water and dish soap before sterilizing them. This ensures that they get properly sanitized.
Follow the manufacturer’s instructions to safely use your bottle sterilizer.^{[18]
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Go to source} With most machines, you fill the water reservoir with distilled water. Then, place the bottle parts face down inside the machine and turn it on.^{[19]
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Wash the bottles using your dishwasher’s sanitizing setting for an easy option. If the baby bottles are dishwasher safe, place the disassembled parts in your dishwasher. Then, run your machine’s sanitizing setting or hot water and heated drying cycle.^{[20]
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- Place smaller parts, like the nipples, in a mesh laundry bag so they don’t fall into the bottom of the dishwasher or into the filter.
- Place the bottle parts on a clean towel if they aren’t completely dry after running the dishwasher.
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Soak the bottles in a bleach solution for 2 minutes if you can't sterilize them another way. Mix 2 tsp (10 ml) of unscented bleach and 1 gallon (3.8 l) of water in a clean container. Then, place the bottle parts in the bleach solution and ensure they’re completely submerged. Let the bottles soak for at least 2 minutes before removing them and placing them on a clean towel.^{[21]
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- Squeeze the bleach solution through the nipple to ensure the inside gets sterilized, too.
- Note: Do not rinse the bottle parts with water after removing them from the bleach solution. This can reintroduce germs and bacteria to the bottles.

Expert Q&A

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Question

What mistakes can I avoid when sterilizing my baby's bottles?

Mor Levy Volner, IBCLC, RDN
International Board Certified Lactation Consultant
Mor Levy Volner is an International Board Certified Lactation Consultant based in Southern California. She earned a BS in Clinical Nutrition from the University of California, Davis in 2009 and finished her Lactation Consultant course from the University of California, San Diego Extension Program in 2013, which included 300 hours of lactation consulting experience from Kaiser Permanente. She also has an MS in Dietetics/Nutrition from the California State University - Northridge in 2014.

Mor Levy Volner, IBCLC, RDN

International Board Certified Lactation Consultant

Expert Answer

Make sure not to go to either side of the extremes, meaning you should avoid either cleaning your baby bottle too much and too little. If you're over boiling plastic or heating up the bottle too often, that could be a risk. You don't need to boil it for an hour, but you also should avoid not cleaning it all. You still want to make sure that it is cleaned adequately. Try learning balance and understand that these tasks don't need to correspond to any extremes. As new moms, you may get really anxious and feel like things must be done just right. Try to take a deep breath and realize everything is going to be okay.

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Question

What is the best way to sterilize a baby bottle?

Mor Levy Volner, IBCLC, RDN
International Board Certified Lactation Consultant
Mor Levy Volner is an International Board Certified Lactation Consultant based in Southern California. She earned a BS in Clinical Nutrition from the University of California, Davis in 2009 and finished her Lactation Consultant course from the University of California, San Diego Extension Program in 2013, which included 300 hours of lactation consulting experience from Kaiser Permanente. She also has an MS in Dietetics/Nutrition from the California State University - Northridge in 2014.

Mor Levy Volner, IBCLC, RDN

International Board Certified Lactation Consultant

Expert Answer

There are so many ways you can sterilize a baby bottle. You can use a microwave, boiling water, warm soapy water in the sink, and the dishwasher. Just make sure you clean correctly and avoid any shortcuts.

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Tips

Use the stored sterilized bottles within 24 hours to ensure your baby’s safety.^{[22]
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If you store the baby bottles for longer than 24 hours, re-sterilize them to kill any germs and bacteria.^{[23]
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The CDC recommends sterilizing baby bottles every 24 hours if your baby is under 2 months old, born prematurely, or has a weakened immune system.^{[24]
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