How to Clean Baby Feeding Bottle Sterilizer ?

IS IT NEEDED TO CLEAN THE STERILIZER ?

As discussed on the importance of sterilization of the baby feeding bottle in one of the post. On moving further another thing to consider is the need for cleaning the Sterilizer. Sterilization is the process which involves natural steam and kills 99.9% of harmful germs and maintain hygiene. Since in this process natural steam is the source to kill germs therefore water is the main ingredient to produce steam. As the structure of the sterilizer is such that the water is to be filled in the heating plate of it to produce steam. Once the sterilization process gets over, less water remains in it and we refill it on another use. On continuing of its use you notice white to dark brown stains all over the heating plate.

These brown stains arise due to the use of water having high concentrations of minerals such as iron, manganese, etc. Considering the fact I have started using Purified water instead of tap water in the sterilization process. But to my great surprise, the brown stains are still there. To get rid of these stains you need to descale them. Therefore, you need to descale the heating plate of sterilizer at quick intervals.  Further, I will be discussing step by step procedure to descale these brown stains on sterilizer.

It is much needed to provide clean and hygienically safe baby feeding bottle for better health of a baby. The baby is in direct contact with the bottle nipple. All the parts of the feeding bottle are coming in contact with the steam produced by brown stained heating plate. If the heating plate of the sterilizer is not cleaned (i.e. having brown stains) then the sterilization process in itself is useless.

As I have been using the Philips Avent Sterilizer for the past one year, therefore, discussing its cleaning process in detail. However, for all other sterilizers as well, the cleaning process is the same.

The procedure to clean the heating plate of the Philips Avent Sterilizer is as follows:

Things to have:

1. Vinegar
2. Tissue papers
3. Old toothbrush

Procedure:

1. Switch off the button and take the plug out of the sterilizer.
2. Open the lid and remove all the above sections of the sterilizer.
3. Wipe off the remaining water from the heating plate using the tissue papers. After wiping off also the brown stains are still visible on the heating plate.
4. Fill the heating plate with the vinegar so that all the stains are covered with it.
5. Leave the heating plate as it is for 10 mins.
6. After 10 mins, take an old toothbrush and scrub the stains gently to avoid any scratch on the heating plate.
7. Scrub carefully in each and every corner of the heating plate.
8. Wipe off the vinegar with the help of the tissue papers.
9. If all the brown stains are removed completely then the process of cleaning the sterilizer is over. On the other hand, if some stains are still left, repeat the above process untill the plate is completely clean.

It is preferred to repeat the above cleaning process in every 2 or 3 days to maintain safe and hygiene of the baby feeding bottle. Rinse the other parts of the sterilizer under the running warm water. If needed scrub them gently with the brush. Now the sterilizer is ready to use again.

Hope you have find the above suggestions/experience useful and if I missed something to mention therein, do mention in the comment section below. Your valuable comments will be appreciated. Do share the post for others benefit as SHARING IS CARING.