How to Clean and Sterilise Baby Bottles and Spare Parts

By Vital Baby | Published: 2026-10-15

Category: How-to Guides

A practical bottle hygiene routine: separate and soak parts, scrub with a 2-in-1 brush, then sterilise by steam, cold water, or a UV steriliser and dryer.

Quick answer

Clean bottles and parts in hot soapy water using a 2-in-1 brush, then sterilise by steam, cold-water soak, or a UV steriliser and dryer. Wash teats and valves first with a small teat brush, and separate every part so no milk residue hides in the threads or valve gaps.

Build a daily bottle hygiene routine

Rinse every bottle and part in cool water as soon as the feed ends, before milk dries in the threads, teat, or anti-colic valves. A quick rinse takes seconds and stops protein residue hardening into a film that a normal wash may miss.

Wash in hot water with a small amount of mild washing-up liquid, then scrub the bottle body, neck, and teat separately. If you use a UV steriliser and dryer, load only clean, fully rinsed parts, because dried milk can bake onto surfaces and reduce the sterilising effect.

Clean teats, valves, and spare parts properly

Teats and valves need more than a bottle-body scrub. Turn the teat inside out under warm water, then push water through the valve holes so milk cannot sit in the gaps. A dedicated teat brush reaches where a bottle brush cannot.

For baby bottle spare parts cleaning, check the valve, collar, and cap for cloudy film or a sour smell. If a teat is torn, sticky, or stretched, replace it rather than trying to clean it back to shape. Store dry parts loosely covered, not sealed in a damp container.

Choose a sterilising method that fits your day

Steam, cold-water sterilising, and UV cabinets all reduce germs when used as directed, but they suit different routines. Steam is fast for one or two bottles, cold-water soaking works for a batch, and a UV steriliser and dryer is convenient if you want parts dry and ready without a separate rack.

Whatever method you choose, sterilise only clean items and follow the maker's timing. Overloading a steriliser or skipping the wash step leaves residue that blocks steam or UV light from reaching the surface.

Bottle cleaning and sterilising steps

Rinse straight after the feed: Take the bottle apart and rinse every piece in cool water before milk dries. Common mistake: leaving the bottle assembled on the counter, which lets residue sit in the collar and valve. Checkpoint: no visible milk film or sour smell before you wash.
Wash with hot soapy water and a 2-in-1 brush: Scrub the bottle body, neck, and base with the bristles or sponge, then use the separate teat brush on the teat and valve. Common mistake: using the bottle brush on the teat, which can miss the valve opening. Checkpoint: the teat is turned inside out and rinsed through the valve holes.
Rinse until no bubbles remain: Rinse all parts under running water, including the threads and the inside of the collar. Common mistake: skipping the collar and cap, which touch the teat and can recontaminate it. Checkpoint: no soapy feel or bubbles on any surface.
Sterilise by steam, cold water, or UV steriliser and dryer: Follow the method's timing and load parts so steam, solution, or UV light can reach every surface. Common mistake: adding a dripping-wet bottle to a UV cabinet or overfilling a steam unit. Checkpoint: parts are fully clean before sterilising, not just rinsed.
Air-dry or use the dryer cycle, then store covered: Shake off excess water and let parts dry on a clean rack, or run the dryer cycle if your steriliser has one. Common mistake: sealing damp parts in a closed container, which traps moisture. Checkpoint: store dry parts loosely covered and use within the maker's recommended time.

Bottle-care products that make the routine easier

deluxe bottle brush: The deluxe bottle brush has non-scratch bristles, a soft sponge, and an integrated teat brush, with a non-slip handle and a 2-in-1 bottle and separate teat brush design. One tool covers the bottle body, the base, and the teat, so you are less likely to leave milk residue in the valve area.
breast like starter set: The breast like starter set includes anti-colic bottles with triple anti-colic valves and a self-sterilising feature, plus a 2-in-1 bottle and separate teat brush. If you are setting up a first bottle routine, the set gives you the bottles and the brush in one purchase, so you can start washing and sterilising straight away.