Best Way to clean Baby Bottles & Items in the Dishwasher

Exhausted by midnight feeds and endless bottle washing? Want a fast, efficient way? Can you put baby bottles in the dishwasher? The answer is yes you can use your dishwasher to clean baby bottles.

Instead of wasting your precious time hunched over the sink, you can hand this chore over to your machine. You just need to know a few clever tricks to keep your baby’s gear clean.

Is the dishwasher safe for my baby’s items?

The short answer is yes, with a few important ground rules. Cleaning baby items in the dishwasher can be an absolute lifesaver.

Most modern baby bottles, pump parts, sippy cups, and silicone toys are designed to handle the dishwasher.

However, every product is different and you must always check the label on your baby items first to see if they are dishwasher safe.

Before you load up the rack, here is what you need to know to keep your baby's gear clean and safe.

Are Fairy dishwasher tablets safe for baby bottles?

Yes, provided your baby bottle and its components are compatible with dishwashing, Fairy tablets, when used as directed, are formulated to dissolve and clean your dishes.    

Fairy products undergo rigorous testing and meet strict safety standards, so you can wash your dishes with confidence, knowing they are safe for you and your family.

How to clean baby bottles in the dishwasher

Here are important tips on how to clean baby bottles in the dishwasher:    

1. Ensure Items Are Dishwasher Safe

Dishwashers are a lifesaver for baby items, but high temperatures can damage or warp certain materials.

When in doubt, always check if the dishwasher-safe label is displayed.    If you can't find a ‘dishwasher-safe’ label on an item, play it safe and stick to the sink.

2. Disassemble everything first – Take apart all components

Always separate the teats, collars, caps, and anti-colic valves before loading. Leaving them assembled traps old milk inside the nooks and crannies, creating a breeding ground for bacteria and preventing the water jets from reaching vital surfaces.

3. Load the top rack only – Protect delicate plastics from heat

Stick exclusively to the top shelf, away from the heat source, when loading baby items into the dishwasher.

The heating element at the bottom of the machine can easily exceed 70°C (158°F) during drying cycles, which can warp or melt delicate silicone and soft plastics.

Keeping items on the top rack ensures they stay safely below the safe 55–60°C threshold.

4. Secure bottles and small items

Make sure you place bottles in a way that prevents them from falling over, this stops them flying around during the cycle, filling up with dirty water, or dropping down into the bottom tray.

5. Take extra care of the silicone nipple

To wash your silicone nipples in the dishwasher, secure them in a basket on the top rack, away from the heating element. However, hand washing silicone nipples is recommended as they may be damaged if cleaned frequently in the dishwasher.

6. Use Fairy 30 Minute Miracle

For best results, use premium Fairy 30 Minute Miracle as intended, following instructions on the pack. It has special enzymes that latch on, break down, and wash away food particles to leave bottles completely clean and safe for your baby's use, even in 30 minutes.

7. Dry thoroughly

Ensure bottles are completely dry before using. Fairy 30 Minute Miracle Dishwasher fast drying effect can assist the process leaving bottles spotlessly clean.

Your baby items are now clean. Just in time for the next feed!

Perfecting the baby bottle wash routine

When you need a clean baby bottle immediately, waiting for a two-hour cycle isn't an option. To get clean bottles fast, you need to combine a short cycle - a pre-programmed cycle lasting less than 55mins - with a rapid-dissolving tablet:

1. Time-Saving Strategy: Switch your dishwasher to a 30-minute quick wash cycle instead of a standard long run.

1. Short Cycles Champion: Fairy 30 Minute Miracle dishwasher tablets.

1. Why It Works: Fairy 30 Minute Miracle dishwasher tablets are engineered to dissolve incredibly fast. They go to work instantly, cutting through stubborn milk film and residue even in a fraction of the normal washing time.

Using a fast-acting tablet on a short cycle ensures you always have a clean bottle ready when your baby needs it.