How to Sterilize Baby Bottles

Cleaning and sanitizing aren’t the same step, and knowing when you need both makes bottle care simpler. This guide walks through the CDC’s recommended process for cleaning bottles after every use, plus when and how to sanitize them.

Dish soap, a dedicated bottle brush and wash basin (or a dishwasher with a heated drying cycle), clean running water, and — if sanitizing — either a pot for boiling, a bottle steamer, unscented household bleach, or a dishwasher with a sanitizing setting.

Cleaning vs. Sanitizing: What's the Difference

Cleaning removes visible dirt, milk residue, and most germs with soap and water. Sanitizing is a separate, more thorough step that kills additional germs cleaning alone can leave behind. According to the CDC, feeding items should be cleaned after every use — sanitizing is an extra step that matters most for certain babies (below).

Wash your hands

Wash your hands for 20 seconds with soap and water before handling clean or about-to-be-cleaned feeding items.

Disassemble every part

Take the bottle fully apart — nipple, collar, and any valves — so water and soap can reach every surface.

Rinse under running water

Rinse all pieces under running water first, not in a sink full of standing water, to wash away loose milk residue.

Wash in hot, soapy water

Scrub each piece in a wash basin dedicated to feeding items, using hot water, dish soap, and a bottle brush kept only for this purpose. Squeeze water through the nipple holes to be sure they’re clean, since milk can collect there.

Rinse again

Rinse everything again under running water to remove all soap residue.

Air-dry on a clean surface

Set pieces on a clean, unused dish towel or paper towel in a dust-free area and let them air-dry completely. Don’t rub or pat them dry with a towel, since that can transfer germs back onto clean items, and avoid drying racks, which trap moisture and can promote mold.

Dishwasher Alternative

If you’d rather use a dishwasher: disassemble all parts, rinse them under running water, then place small items in a closed dishwasher basket so they don’t fall through the rack. Run the dishwasher on hot water with a heated drying cycle, and wash your hands before handling the cleaned items once the cycle finishes. A dishwasher with a sanitizing setting also covers the sanitizing step below in the same cycle.

When Sanitizing Is Recommended

The CDC notes that daily sanitizing — beyond regular cleaning — matters most for babies under 2 months old, babies born prematurely, and babies with a weakened immune system. For older, healthy babies, daily sanitizing may not be necessary if feeding items are cleaned carefully after every use; check with your pediatrician if you’re unsure what’s right for your baby.

How to Sanitize Bottles

There are a few CDC-recommended ways to sanitize already-cleaned feeding items:

Boiling: Place disassembled, cleaned items in a pot of water and boil for 5 minutes.

Steam: Use a microwave or plug-in steam sanitizer, following the manufacturer’s instructions for your specific model.

Bleach solution: Mix 2 teaspoons of unscented household bleach per gallon (16 cups) of water, submerge items for at least 2 minutes, and let them air-dry without rinsing — the diluted solution is safe to air-dry without a rinse.

Dishwasher: A hot-water cycle with a sanitizing setting sanitizes and cleans in one pass, so no separate step is needed.

Storing Clean Feeding Items

Once items are completely dry, store them in a closed kitchen cabinet or drawer used only for clean dishes and feeding equipment, rather than leaving them out on the counter.

Open drying racks can trap moisture around bottle parts and encourage mold growth. Air-dry feeding items on a clean, unused towel in a dust-free spot instead.

Sources

This guide is based on published guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, “How to Clean, Sanitize, and Store Infant Feeding Items” (cdc.gov/hygiene). It’s provided for general education and does not replace guidance from your pediatrician.

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