Bottle Cleaning Question

You have got a lot of great advise but wanted to add one more thing. I washed with soap and water then at least once a week I would boil them in hot water nipples and all to sterilize them. I used Playtex Vent Aire and absolutely loved them. They were nice cause the bottle opened on both sides very nice for a bottle brush.

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I think the Dr. Brown's are bpa free so you should be ok doing it the way you were.

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Hi M.,

I had the same worry when I wash my bottles. I talked with a few people I know who are "super green" people. They all pretty much gave the same advice to wash with warm, soapy water after each use and then sterilize bottles and nipples once a week. I have been using Seventh Generation dish soap and love it. No harsh chemicals or dyes. Hope this helps.

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you can use a capfull of clorox and a gallon of water, fill up your sink, let the bottles sit for about 5-10 minutes and then rinse off.

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I used the dishwasher on the top rack for the bottles and put the nipples and rings in a nipple basket. I also put the bottle brushes in there as well in the flatware holder down below. Our last bunch of kids were triplets so there was no way I was going to hand wash a thing, lol. I think the scare of the plastics is something not to worry about. If the plastics were so bad that children were being so terribly affected everything would be pulled off the market. I think many parents haven't even heard of the plastics scare so I wouldn't worry about it.

K. B
mom to 5 including triplets

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/HarrisburgPAChat
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Hi M.,

We use Medela microstream bags. They are for breast pump accessories and bottles but we use them to sterilize regular bottles and pacifiers as well. You just need to rinse the bottles with warm soapy water first and then put them in the steam bag. It takes anywhere from 1.5 to 5 minutes in the microwave depending on how powerful your microwave. This has worked really well for us and we know they are getting really clean. We usually get ours at Target or Babies R Us- they are about $5 for 5 bags and each bag can be used 20 times.

Good luck!

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When my kids were using bottles, I would clean the bottles with soap and water. After they were clean, I would place them in a sanitizer.

I think its the plastic (BPA) leaking into the formula, rather than the soap soaking into the plastic. If I remember correctly, the plastic gives off/releases it chemicals (BPA) when it is heated. So throwing the bottles into the dishwasher, is probably just releasing more of the plastic chemicals. If you are really concerned, I would switch to BPA-free plastic bottles, or I believe Dr. Brown's makes glass bottles. Definitely no worry about plastic there. But I know that is an expensive alternative to replace your entire bottle collection.

If your hubby is worried about the soap you are using to clean the bottles, maybe try switching to an organic or all natural brand. That way even if the soap is being absorbed into the plastic or leaving any kind of a residue, it would be "healthier" than regular store brand which probably has a lot of chemicals and dyes added in.

Good luck.

go back to 'glass' if they still make them ...
mommys only used glass bottles ....
to raise your generation .
a grammy

Some plastics are a better choice than others. I've read "Opaque plastics are a good choice, as are plastics with a #1, #2, #4 or #5 recycling label." Also, limit the exposure to heat by not placing in the dishwasher very often, at least.
Personally, what I did 5-6 years ago, with our plastic bottles was placed them either in the dishwasher or on a drying rack to air dry.
I think the way you are doing it is OK. When I washed them by hand, I just used a bottle brush with soapy water, rinsed well and inverted them on a bottle rack to air dry.

BPA comes from the plastic itself, as one of the other posters mentioned, and it is released more quickly by heat. So the dishwasher is your worst bet. Soap absorption is not dangerous, just make sure you rinse thoroughly. your current soak method is fine, as is the bleach method (sterilizes as well as cleans).