How to Clean a Bottle Warmer

As a new parent, I know that I'm always on the lookout for the newest gadget that might possibly make my life a little easier and less stressful. One such gadget that I have grown to love is my bottle warmer (imagine heating a screaming baby's bottle in less than 3 minutes! Miracle!). But one thing I noticed is that, like any other device that uses water to operate, the bottle warmer started getting a bit dirty, showing signs of mineral buildup and even mildew. But considering this device is used to help prepare a baby's bottle, I wanted to make sure to clean it, and clean it with something safe.

Enter white vinegar, generally one of the safest (and cheapest) cleaning tools. According to my doctor, it's safe and gentle enough to use even on humidifiers. Here are the quick and easy steps you can use to clean a bottle warmer.

1. Empty and dry out the bottle warmer well.

It may sound a bit obvious, but make sure to empty out the well where the bottles are placed and where some water is generally added to create steam when the device operates. Let it air dry for a good 10 minutes.

2. Add the vinegar.

Make sure the vinegar you are using is distilled white vinegar, which is a common find at grocery stores and mass merchant stores (like Walmart or Target). Pour about half a cup of the vinegar into the bottle warmer well.

3. Let it work.

Let the vinegar sit in the device for about 30 minutes.

4. Rinse (and repeat, if necessary).

Empty out the bottle warmer, then pour in some lukewarm water and swish it around for a good rinsing. You may have to do this a couple of times to totally rinse out the vinegar, and you'll know you got it all by taking a sniff (vinegar has a distinct smell, so you would know if there was still some in the bottle warmer).

And you're done! Now you can feel good about knowing your baby's bottle warmer is clean, thoroughly and most importantly, safely.

Sources:
physician's advice
pediatrician's recommendation
Avent customer service (Avent is a major brand of baby products, including bottle warmers, and a subsidary company belonging to Phillips)
http://www.vinegarworkswonders.com/faqs.asp