The 5 Best Bottle Sterilizers to Keep Things Germ-free

Pros:

• High capacity can hold up to eight bottles
• HEPA-filter drying filter = 95% germ-free air

Cons:

• Residue build-up is hard to clean
• Long cycle length
• Some say it doesn’t dry thoroughly

This electric sterilizer packs a two-in-one punch: it uses natural steam to sterilize bottles, pump parts and more, and features a drying function that’s 33% faster so your gear comes out completely clean and dry with no leftover moisture to encourage bacteria or mold growth (although some parents say they do occasionally need to dry leftover water off of their bottle and pump parts). The Brezza One Step Advanced holds up to eight bottles at a time and two complete pump part sets and has an easy-to-use LCD control panel with four different functions. Although it hold a lot, some parents say it takes some maneuvering to get all of the things to fit well inside.

Looking to spend a bit less? Check out Baby Brezza’s One Step Sterilizer Dryer. It holds two less bottles than the Advanced and has a slightly longer drying time but is still a great option.

Real Parent Reviews

“Love how much time this saves of sterilizing and drying…however, I have 2 huge issues with this. 1. The components don’t fit together easily. I find that I am constantly having to reposition and adjust the various parts to get them to sit together correctly. This is annoying as it specifies in the directions that a tight fit is important for it to function correctly. 2. The dry cycle sometimes fails to completely dry the bottle nipples and duckbills. I find that I will have to shake some droplets out of these parts specifically, but bottles and flanges are completely dry. Overall it saves time, but I wish that it fit together better and easier.” — Jcyph

“I love how easy it is to clean [and] sterilize bottles, has lots of room and is easy to use. I wished it would dry the bottles completely. I never overfill, sometimes I will only have one pacifier [and] 6 4oz bottles but items come out wet.” — Rori D.

Pros:

• Sterilizes in just two minutes
• Affordable
• Easy to clean

Cons:

• Requires a microwave
• Needs to air dry after sterilizing

At a fraction of the cost of other sterilizers, this microwave option is roomy, compact and easy to use. It fits four 9-ounce bottles and is compatible with both standard and wide-neck designs. Everything inside remains sterile for up to 24 hours if you keep the stay-cool latches closed. Its simple design is user-friendly. You’ll need something to measure the exact amount of water—seven ounces—each time you use it. It also doesn’t dry after sterilizing, so you’ll want to make sure you have a drying rack to set everything out to dry afterward. While it’s touted as travel-friendly, it won’t fit most hotel microwaves (but that’s where sterilizer bags come in handy; see below for our top pick). It also doesn’t fit taller bottles, like Dr. Brown’s.

Real Parent Reviews

“Super easy to clean and use, can steam 4 bottles at a time, and with just 4 minutes total time, it’s super easy to get through all my bottles. It’s a bit bulky so storage is a bit hard, but I find it definitely worth it because I don’t have to worry about boiling or with other steaming methods only fitting 2 bottles at a time or taking up huge space of my already limited counter space.” — Styxx

“Didn’t think we would need this but I’m so glad we put it on our registry! From bottles to pump parts to binkies, it gets a lot of use! I only wish it were a little bit taller to accommodate Dr. Brown’s full-size bottle! Super easy to pop in the microwave!” — Kelly

Pros:

• Auto shut-off feature
• Cycle indicator tells you when it’s heating, cooling or finished
• Large capacity

Cons:

• No drying cycle
• Uses distilled water only

In just 12 minutes, this electric sterilizer kills 99.9% of germs and automatically shuts off when the cycle is complete and your items are clean and ready to go. The spacious interior holds up to six bottles on an upper tray and has a separate lower tray to hold accessories like nipples and pacifiers. Included tongs ensure you won’t get burned if you reach in to remove items while they’re still hot.

It’s worth noting that this sterilizer requires distilled water; otherwise, mineral deposits can build up on the heating unit and flake off.

Real Parent Reviews

“The sterilizer is great. I loved how easy it was to assemble. It has a very small amount of pieces which makes it easy [to] clean up. It took very little time for the sterilization cycle compared to other sterilizing machines. The sterilizer includes a bottle tong and a water measurer. The bottle tong is definitely needed because the sterilizer gets really hot after the cycle ends. If there was one thing I would change is for the bottles not to be so wet after the cycle. I would like for the sterilizer to have a drying option that way the bottles and accessories are ready to use after the cycle. That is just my personal opinion. Overall it’s a great machine.” — MaitegaV

“The sterilizer is super easy to use, but there’s zero drying function, so everything comes out soaking wet. You have to wait for things to cool off, then either hand dry them or move them to a drying rack. Kind of a hassle. If you’re just needing a sterilizer though, this one is quick and easy to use.” — Kate M

Pros:

• Versatile, modular design
• Sterilizes in just five minutes
• Easy to clean

Cons:

• No drying cycle
• Some say it’s difficult to put together

Using the power of steam, this Chicco sterilizer features a modular design with three different configurations for sterilizing: full-size, compact and a microwave option. It takes just five minutes to complete the sterilization cycle (not including warm-up time) and with jthe push of just one button, it’s simple to use. Even in its full size, the sterilizer has a small footprint, not taking up much counter space. It can fit up to six bottles and their parts in this configuration. The compact mode is great for sterilizing smaller bottle parts and feeding accessories. And the microwaveable portion pops off for quick (and small) sterilizing jobs. Some parents say there is a learning curve when setting it up, so be sure to read through the instructions. The sterilizer’s coated heating plate prevents mineral residue from building up—making it easy to clean—and it also has an automatic shut-off for safety.

Real Parent Reviews

“The 3-in-1 sterilizer does exactly what you would expect it to. You can sterilize your bottles and/or pump parts on the counter in a large or small container or use it in the microwave. I have used the bags prior to this sterilizer and I was impressed. They felt cleaner. I personally like using it on the counter and the design is simple and not too much of an eye sore if left out. Once I read the directions and did a pre-clean cycle, it was as simple as pulling out of the cabinet and adding the water. I like that you can have two levels. I put the bottles and larger pump parts in the bottle and nipples and small items on top. One issue I have with the sterilizer is once you run a cycle, it says to let cool down before using again. I would like to be able to run cycles back to back and do all my baby items quickly. You also have to factor in letting it fully dry before putting it away to prevent bacteria. Because it is quite large, I most likely will use it and want to put it away to not take up so much counter space. Thankfully the design makes it easy to wipe down.” — Becca33

“I vividly remember turning down a steam sterilizer from a friend while I was pregnant. Now that my baby has been here a little while, I really dreaded having to boil all of the bottles and pump parts. My son had a rough start so, making sure everything he eats from or puts into his mouth is clean is very important. Despite rinsing immediately, sometimes our bottles have a leftover milk smell that sterilization seems to take care of. Such a time saver! It is a bit on the larger side but I do have the space and it’s worth it to me because I use it often. However, this sterilizer doesn’t dry the parts. They need to be manually dried or set out on a drying rack. For some reason, bottles can take a day to dry. I don’t generally experience this after hand washing so it might have to do with the sterilization process. Just something to note. It gets very hot, which is a good thing but be aware. This is a really great choice for a steam sterilizer, it works quickly and I feel confident that my bottles and pump parts are clean.” — dbaxter3

Pros:

• Affordable
• Travel-friendly

Cons:

• Contents get very hot
• Won’t work if yellow tab accidentally slides off

Want to sterilize when you’re not at home? Microwave steam bags are a great option. Simply fill one of these XL bags with whatever items you need cleaned and a little bit of water, pop it in the microwave and you’re good to go. This set includes six bags and each bag can be used up to 30 times. There’s even a spot to mark each steam cycle so you can keep track of how many times you’ve used them. Just be sure to let the bag and contents cool before handling (both will be hot and there may be some steam when you open it). Some parents say the yellow closure tab comes off easily and prevents the bags from sealing properly.

Real Parent Reviews

“I love these bags! I have used them multiple times to sterilize bottles, pump parts, pacifiers and more and they work great. No issues here. They fit SO many things and the pack comes with 6 bags that can each be used 30 times which is a steal for the price! There’s even a section on the bag where you can check off each time you use it to help keep track which is helpful and I have used a sharpie before and after the sterilization and it completely stays on, no issues with washing off. I definitely recommend this product. I have had other sterilizing bags and products but this has been my favorite by far and the easiest to use.” — Marissa

“Love these bags! Received as a baby shower gift and have since purchased more. They are easy to use and a lifesaver for sanitizing bottles and breast pump pieces. We also have a popular electric steam sanitizer and dryer but it takes +45 min! Who has time for that! These are great when you’re short on time or just worn out or middle of the night cleanings. Great for traveling and visiting friends and family or at work when you need a clean bottle or equipment. Super easy to use, just be sure to add enough water and don’t tear off the yellow closure tab. My tired husband has forgotten to fill with water and melted my breast pump accessories before… the bag is quite large and can fit several bottles and other items in it successfully. You are working with steam—a lot of user error could occur and cause burns if [you’re] not paying attention. Apparently you’re only supposed to use each bag 30x and it has little check boxes for you to tally off.” — Ralynch