Your newborn’s immune system isn’t fully developed yet. You’ll frequently be reminded to keep ill people away from your baby. You might even own a sterilizer for their pacifier. But have you considered the necessity of cleaning their bottles?

You can use normal dish detergent to wash baby bottles, but avoid using scented products or chemical-based soaps, and be sure that the soap is rinsed thoroughly.

Do you have to buy a specialty product or use some other type of cleaner on your baby\’s bottles, nipples, and pacifiers? Do these products really do anything different than just regular dish soap? Can cleaners cause damage to the items they are supposed to be cleaning? Let\’s have a look at the options.

What soap can I use to wash my baby bottles?

It is important that whatever dish soap you choose to clean your baby\’s bottles with, you make sure it can actually do the job. Both baby formula and expressed breast milk can leave behind particles or fatty elements which can stick to the baby bottle and resist your cleaning efforts. If you\’re looking for a specific soap to target these issues and clean your baby bottles, here are some of our top picks.

Best Dishwasher Pods- DAPPLE Baby Dishwasher Pacs

Dapple Baby Dishwasher Pacs are a plant-based, fragrance-free dishwashing pod that can be used for all of your dishes. Dapple products are hypoallergenic, pediatrician tested, dermatologist approved, non-toxic and proudly made in the USA!

These fragrance-free dishwasher pods blast away milk odor and residue from dishes, baby bottles and other kitchenware. Dapple products are proud winners of the Clean Label Project Purity Award for their unwavering commitment to clean and pure ingredients. If you want a product that\’s good for your family AND for the environment, then Dapple is exactly what you need.

Best Organic Dish Soap – Natural Baby Bottle Liquid Dish Soap by Elysium

Safe for babies and the environment, Elysium Baby Fresh is a plant-based liquid dish soap perfect for cleaning baby bottles and pacifiers.

Elysium Baby Fresh is a premium organic product that respects nature because it contains no animal products, parabens, sulfates, SLS, or alcohol. Made with easily recyclable packaging, this bottle of pure all-natural baby bottle washing detergent will help you save Mother Earth while keeping your dishes spotless!

When it comes to the health and safety of your little ones, you can\’t afford to take any chances. This dish soap has been specially formulated with natural ingredients that are gentle on baby skin while being tough on bacteria. With a powerful organic formula, this bottle & pacifier cleaning soap helps save the planet too! The advanced cleaning formula brings convenience in your baby bottle washing – rich instant lather production causes no residues while an ergonomic pump saves you time and effort in rinsing as well as money on wasted bottle wash products.

Dr. Bronner’s – Pure-Castile Liquid Soap – Baby Unscented

Dr. Bronner’s is a brand of soaps, body care products and personal care products that was first sold as a liquid castile soap in 1948 by Emanuel Bronner. The company manufactures the soaps with no synthetic preservatives, detergents or foaming agents and packaged in 100% post-consumer recycled plastic bottles.

Dr. Bronner’s Pure-Castile Liquid Soap uses over 90% organic ingredients, and over 70% of its ingredients are certified fair trade, which makes them ethical as well as environmentally friendly.

It’s perfect for your hair, face, and body as well as for washing dishes and mopping floors! Dr. Bronner\’s soap is also safe enough to use on pets without any harmful side effects. With no synthetic preservatives or detergents in this liquid soap, it\’s gentle on skin and the environment alike! These soaps come packaged in 100% post-consumer recycled plastic bottles which means less waste and a positive environmental impact (less landfills). If you want an all-purpose soap that can be used for just about anything from laundry to cleaning your body, or your dishes, Dr. Bronner’s Pure-Castile Liquid Soap is a perfect choice!

Can I use baby bottle soap on all my dishes?

You can use a gentle baby dish soap on all of your dishes if you like, but it might not be strong enough to get rid of the grease and caked-on leftovers on the grown-up plates. You may consider picking up something stronger for your everyday items.

If you\’re searching for a multipurpose cleaner for all of your household dishes, you can use regular dish soap on your baby bottles. The key is that they be natural and organic, as well as free of hazardous chemicals. Many natural manufacturers will specifically mention if their soap is safe for baby bottles, and effective at removing milk residue.

You may also find that specialty baby bottle soaps are more expensive, so weigh up the price vs the convenience of using one dish soap for all of your dishes.

If you are hand washing baby bottles in with other household dishes, try to wash your baby items first in the cleanest water so that no grease from adult meals gets in the way. Use a baby bottle brush inside to make sure all of the milk film has been removed, use hot soapy water, and dry baby\’s bottles on a bottle drying rack or dedicated drying area.

How to choose a baby-safe soap for baby bottles

As a parent or caregiver you will always be on the lookout for ways to keep your child safe. Especially in those first few days and months of their life, it is important to make sure that you are keeping harmful toxins and ingredients away from baby.

If you are looking for a baby-safe soap for cleaning baby bottles, and are hoping to use one of the regular dish soaps on the market, here are some of the key ingredients to look out for, and avoid.

Artificial Fragrance: Fragrances can contain hundreds of chemicals, including phthalates, which are major causes of allergic reactions. Phthalates are man-made compounds that might have an impact on hormone levels. Because fragrances are considered a \”trade secret,\” their components do not need to be listed on the label.

Sodium Lauryl Sulfate (SLS): A surfactant/detergent that dissolves surfaces so that cleaners may work more effectively. SLS is powerful carcinogen linked to Nitrosamines, which allows your body to absorb nitrates, another known cancer-causing chemical.

Sodium Laureth Sulfate (SLES): Dioxane, a chemical that can cause cancer in humans, can contaminate SLES. It is difficult for the liver to metabolize Dioxane, so it remains in the body for an extended amount of time.

Parabens: Any chemical ending in -paraben (for example, methylparaben and propylparaben) belongs to this class of endocrine disrupting compounds. Parabens are utilized as preservatives and have been linked to organ toxicity, cancer,

Numbered Dyes: Dyes are needless and hazardous addition to dish soap. Numbered dyes (e.g. Blue #1) are petrochemical-based and have been linked to behavioral issues in children.

Do I still need to sterilize my bottles after cleaning them with dish soap?

Although soap will clean your bottles, sterilizing them is far more effective at removing germs and viruses. However, you won\’t need to sterilize your bottles after every cleaning. Especially if you have a premature baby or your little one is still quite young, sterilize their bottles at least once a week, if not more frequently. If you prefer, or if your doctor has suggested it, you may sterilize baby bottles after each usage and clean.

Do you need to use a specialty soap for baby bottles? The answer is no, but if you do want the convenience of using one product for more purposes, there are some safe options available. You should be wary of the components in your dish soap and make sure it\’s free of hazardous chemicals like Sodium Lauryl Sulfate or Parabens.

In conclusion – You can use conventional dish soaps, but make sure they are free from dangerous ingredients

Do you need a special soap for baby bottles? No. In fact, many dishwashing liquids and detergents will work just fine to clean baby\’s bottles. What is important is that these products do not have hazardous ingredients or chemicals. Make sure it\’s free of hazardous chemicals like Sodium Lauryl Sulfate or Parabens.

Don\’t worry too much about sterilizing your bottles after every cleaning, unless your pediatrician has advised you to do so. If you\’re concerned with germs or viruses that may remain after using natural dish soap, consider investing in an sterilizer that will kill any harmful microbes on contact.