How to Wash Bottles in Dishwasher Safely?

A few years ago people had to spend hours standing in the kitchen sink washing dirty dishes. But that is not the case anymore, thanks to the invention of dishwashers. This kitchen appliance has made it incredibly easy to wash dirty dishes and that explains why they are in high demand. Washing dishes in a countertop dishwasher is quite simple; all you need to do is load the dishes in the dishwasher then select the suitable wash and dry cycle, then let it do the magic. But most people don’t know how to wash bottles in the dishwasher safely. In fact, most people prefer washing their bottles by hand because they think that the dishwasher cannot do the job well. However, that is not true. Your dishwasher can clean bottles, including baby bottles safely and effectively. This article will give you a step by step process on how to wash bottles in the dishwasher safely.

Can you wash bottles in the dishwasher?

Before we give you steps on how to wash bottles in a dishwasher, let’s first answer this very common question. The answer is YES, you can wash water bottles in the dishwasher, including those made of plastic and silicone. In fact, the dishwasher is the best kitchen appliance to use to clean your bottles if used correctly.  Steam and high temperature in the dishwasher will get rid of all germs lurking in the bottle, leaving it clean.

Most people usually wash bottles in the sink because they fear that their dishwashers may end up damaging the bottles. Some also fear that dishwasher detergent may not reach all the corners of the bottle. Yes, all these concerns are genuine. However, manufacturers of dishwashers have factored in all of these concerns when designing dishwashers. This means that your dishwasher will clean your bottles safely and effectively if you follow the right procedure.

Step-by-step process on how to wash bottles in the dishwasher safely

Step 1: Check if the bottle is dishwasher safe

The first thing to do before loading the bottles in the dishwasher is to check if they are dishwasher safe. Nowadays most bottles are made of silicone and plastics which are dishwasher safe. However, don’t just assume that your bottle is dishwasher safe, always check to be sure that they are indeed safe to be washed in the dishwasher. For instance, bottles made of aluminum are not dishwasher safe, meaning that if you load them in your dishwasher, you may end up damaging their protective material.  So, the first important thing to do is to check if the bottle is dishwasher safe. If yes, then you can go to the next step, and if not, you should wash it with your hands.

Step 2: Disassemble the bottle

You cannot wash a bottle even by hand while all its parts are still intact. So, once you have confirmed that your bottles are dishwasher safe, the next step is to disassemble the parts to make it easy for the dishwasher to clean the bottle safely and effectively. So, separate all parts of the bottle. For instance, if you want to clean a baby milk bottle, you should separate parts like the caps, membrane, rings, and nipples.

Step 3: Rinse the bottle

The next step once you have separated all parts of the bottle is to give the bottle a quick rinse on running tap water. This step is important because it will help to get rid of any debris stuck in the bottle thus making the cleaning process in the dishwasher much easier. If you are cleaning your baby’s milk bottle, you should first soak the bottle in warm soapy water for a few minutes to get rid of milk residue and also to loosen up stubborn dirt.

Step 4: Load the bottle into the dishwasher

Once you have rinsed the bottle in clean running water, the next step is to load them into the dishwasher. You should place the bottles in the upper rack that is far from the heating element to protect them from damage. If your dishwasher has bottle wash jets, you should place your bottles on them. On the other hand, if your dishwasher does not have a wash jet, then you should place them on the upper rack and they should be pointing downwards. Don’t forget to secure the bottle to protect them from falling during the cleaning process. If you are cleaning a glass bottle, then you can place it in the bottom rack for better cleaning. If your dishwasher is equipped with a third rack, then that is the perfect place to put other bottle parts such as lids, nipples, valves, and much more.

Step 5: Add the right detergent

The detergent that you use when cleaning your bottle matters a lot. If you don’t use the right detergent, then the dishwasher will not clean the bottles effectively. The recommended detergent for cleaning a bottle is one that is clear to ensure that residues are not left in the bottle. Don’t use dishwasher tablets when cleaning bottles because they may leave residues behind.

Step 6: Select the right wash and dry cycle

Once you have added the right detergent, the next step is choosing the right cycle for cleaning your bottles. The recommended cycle for cleaning bottles is the sanitize cycle. So if your dishwasher has this cycle, then you should use it when cleaning your bottles. If it does not have the sanitize cycle, then you should use the hot water cycle.

Step 7: Dry the bottles

Once the cleaning process is complete, the final step is to dry the bottles. There are multiple ways of drying bottles in the dishwasher. First, you can use a rinsing aid to speed up the drying process. You can also use the heated dry option to dry the bottles.

Final thoughts

Washing bottles in the dishwasher is a simple process. However, to avoid damaging your bottles, you need to clean them safely by following the steps given above. Remember that you should only clean your bottles in the dishwasher if they are dishwasher safe. More so, if your bottles are made of plastic or silicone, you should place them on the upper rack to protect them from heat damage.