How to wash and sterilize your bottlesUpdated 2 years ago

One of the best ways to ensure your bottles last is to better understand how (and when) to wash and sterilize them. While there are certainly best practices when it comes to caring for your bottles, there are also a few important steps to note that are specific to the BuubiBottle range.

Our bottles are made of a special material designed for infant feeding called Tritan EX501. While exceptionally safe, some sterilizing considerations can help you better maintain your bottles. 

Let's start with the recommended method - hand washing:

• Try to rinse your bottles after feeding if you won't be able to wash them right away. This will help avoid hardened buildup, which can make cleaning more difficult when you get around to it,
• When hand washing, use warm, soapy water and avoid abrasive cleaning tools like scouring pads and wire brushes. Instead, opt for silicone brushes, soft sponges, or a washcloth. Using the right tools will ensure your bottles don't become scratched or otherwise marred over time.
• Always rinse your bottles thoroughly to avoid soap drying on the material and causing any lingering 'soapy' taste.
• Thoroughly air dry your bottles, ideally on a rack, before assembly and storage.
• Hand washing is always the best way to keep your bottles in the best condition possible for the longest period of time.

All parts are also dishwasher safe, with a few caveats:

• Tritan bottles can easily withstand more than 500 dishwasher cycles without cracking or crazing. However, there is a limit to the durability of any material in the dishwasher. Over time, repeated heating and cooling of any material will result in surface imperfections due to wear and tear. 
• All dishwashers are different, and some have much hotter drying cycles than others. These machines will reduce the lifespan of your bottles when compared to hand washing.
• The points above relate only to the bottles themselves and not the other components. Your caps, collars, and RealFeel nipples are all top-rack dishwasher safe and should not degrade due to their higher temperature resistance and flexibility.

Recommended sterilization method:

NOTE: According to the CDC, if you use a dishwasher with hot water and a heated drying cycle (or sanitizing setting) to clean infant feeding items, a separate sanitizing step is NOT necessary. 🚫

• Fill a pot with enough water to cover the items with at least 5cm (2in) of water
• Bring the water to a boil, and carefully place your items into the pot using a pair of clean tongs
• Ensure that the pot is not overcrowded and that there is ample space for the items to float around in the boil. If your bottles or parts get stuck against the metal, they can become damaged
• Boil for a short time. If your bottles are thoroughly cleaned beforehand, a quick dip in the pot (about a minute or so) will do the trick. Boiling for longer than is necessary is the primary cause of premature wear and damage
• Remove items from the water with clean tongs. Your items will be HOT!
• Let your bottles and parts air-dry

Sterilization is where most things can go wrong. First, let's review the different methods:

• Boiling water sterilization
• Steam sterilization
• Microwave sterilization
• UV sterilization

Each method has its pros and cons, but as per that last point, we exclusively recommend the boiling water method for your BuubiBottle Hybrid Feeding Bottles. Tritan EX501 has a temperature limit of 110ºC (230ºF), and there are a few circumstances in which sterilization can cause damage to your bottles. 

Boiling Water

While this is our most recommended method, damage can occur if not performed properly.

• Boiling for too long or too frequently can introduce stress to the material
• If the pot is overcrowded, or there is not enough water to cover the items, the bottles can be pressed against the walls and/or base of the pot

Steam Sterilizer

While your bottles are compatible with this method of sterilization, it is important to note that not all sterilizers are created equal. In some appliances, pressure can build, which increases the temperature of the steam beyond the 110ºC limit of the bottles. Since steam sterilizers often have a long cycle time, heat damage can occur. This heat damage can be exacerbated in machines where the steam comes from a single point. In circumstances where bottles are damaged in this type of machine, the bottle closest to the jet of steam is most likely to be affected.

Microwave

While Tritan is microwave-safe, we don't recommend this method due to the long cycle times, uncontrolled environment, and increased risk of burns during handling.

UV Sanitizer

Not very popular in North America yet, UV sanitization is another compatible method which uses UV-C light instead of high temperature to kill bacteria on surfaces. These devices are extremely effective but can cause discolouration to silicone and plastics after relatively few cycles.

In Conclusion

The higher temperature resistance of other plastic bottles can be directly attributed to the use of unsafe chemicals in the manufacturing of these plastics. Tritan EX501 bottles are undoubtedly the safest plastic bottles available. However, understanding how best to care for them is an important factor in maximizing value for your family.

Important Note: It is crucial to ensure that any oil residue from milk or soap is completely removed from the bottles prior to sterilization. Neglecting this step leads to accelerated degradation of plastics when exposed to high temperatures during sterilization. Consistently failing to clean the bottles properly before sterilizing them is a primary factor contributing to your baby bottles becoming cloudier or losing their transparency.