How to Sterilize Small Glass Bottles With Plastic Tops

Baby bottles are one type of bottle that benefits from being clean and sterilized.

Small glass bottles with plastic tops, such as baby bottles or empty food bottles, can be reused and re-purposed. Cleaning the bottles and tops to remove food or liquid residue and odor-causing bacteria is often not enough. To ensure the bottles do not have mold, mildew or bacteria lurking on the surface or in the grooves of the top, they should be sterilized.

Things You'll Need

• Dishpan
• Dish detergent
• Bottle brush
• Old toothbrush
• Large bowl
• Bleach
• Kitchen towels
• Large pot
• Tongs
• Bottle drying rack

Instructions

1. 

   Wash bottles and tops before sterilizing and sanitizing them.

   Fill a dishpan with warm water and add a squirt of dish washing detergent to form a soapy solution. Place the glass bottles and plastic tops in the soap solution and allow them to soak for a minute.

2. Scrub the inside and outside of the glass bottles with a bottle brush. Use a toothbrush to clean small spaces and the inside and outside of the plastic tops. Rinse the glass and plastic with warm water.

3. Soak the plastic tops in a bowl with a solution made of 1 tbsp. bleach and 1 gallon water. Allow the plastic tops to remain in the bleach solution for a few minutes. Rinse them with water and lay them on a clean kitchen towel to dry.

4. Bring water to boil in a pot large enough to accommodate the bottles. Use tongs to gently place the glass bottles in the boiling water. Leave the glass in the pot and boil them for 10 minutes to sterilize them.

5. 

   Dry bottles completely before storing them away.

   Turn off the heat under the pot. Remove the glass bottles with the tongs and place them on a bottle drying rack or dry towel to air dry completely.

Tips & Warnings

• Bottles can be sanitized in the diluted bleach solution to kill germs.

• Ensure the glass bottles and plastic tops dry completely before putting them together. This prevents mildew or mold from forming in the bottle or beneath the plastic top.

• Washing glass bottles and dishwasher-safe plastic tops in the dishwasher will also sterilize them.

References

• Colorado State University Extension; Resource Tipsheet: Water Storage; Pat Kendell et al; May 2010
• Oregon State University Extension Service; Fruit or Herb Vinegars Make Great Holiday Gifts; Carol Savonen
• North Dakota State University; Safe Food for Babies: Handling Breast Milk, Formula and Baby Food; Julie Garden-Robinson, Tami Totland; March 2007