Parents who bottle feed will know that washing and drying bottles can be quite a chore. It also takes up a lot of space on your sink drying rack and kitchen counters. It’s no wonder then that you may be wondering if you need a baby bottle drying rack.
Baby bottle drying racks create a designated area for drying baby bottles. It’s an ideal way to prevent bottles from cluttering your sink and counters. They’re not only convenient but also excellent for keeping bottles organized. A variety of sizes make it easy to choose the right option for your space.
Key takeaways
When you’re considering a baby bottle drying rack, it’s essential to keep a few pointers in mind.
- Bottle drying racks aren’t a must-have but are very convenient
- Different sizes and styles make enable you to find the perfect unit for your bottles and space
- Drying racks need to be cleaned and sanitized regularly to prevent bacteria growth
- Most drying racks aren’t dishwasher-safe and will have to be hand washed
Do you really need a baby bottle drying rack?
Baby bottle drying racks aren’t a necessity. They can however make your baby bottle-cleaning process considerably more convenient. If you have the counter space, they make it easy to dry without cluttering up the sink, drying rack or counter space.
Benefits of having a baby bottle drying rack
When you’re deciding whether or not to buy a non-essential baby item, the benefits it offers are often the swing vote of whether to get it or not. The baby bottle drying rack has a few benefits that you might find helpful. Let’s look at a few of these.
- Better ventilation: Bottle drying racks are structured in a way that allows proper ventilation, minimizing the risk of bacteria growth.
- Designated space: The average baby bottle drying rack doesn’t require a large space. A small corner on your sink or country creates a designated space for your baby bottles. Everything is kept together and there’s no searching for bottle components in the middle of the night.
- Cost-effective: The good news is that baby bottle drying racks aren’t expensive. You’ll easily be able to find a model within your budget.
- Clutter-free option: If you already have a full household, then you probably have a sink of dishes on the drying rack at a given time. Adding 3 or 4 baby bottles just adds to the clutter on your sink or counter. Having a bottle drying rack away from your regular drying rack easily creates less clutter.
- Time-saving: If it’s time to wash baby bottles, you might have to first clear the existing dishes off the dish rack to create space. Using a baby bottle drying rack will save time in that you can wash the bottles and immediately place them on their own rack.
Which baby bottle drying racks to consider
As with all baby-related gadgets, baby bottle drying racks come in an assortment of types, shapes and sizes. This makes it so much easier to find the right drying rack to accommodate your space as well as the size of your bottles. Here are a few top options to consider.
1. Munchkin High Capacity Drying Rack
This firm favorite holds up to 16 bottles and is adjustable to allow for bottles of different heights. Drying pegs fold up and down for easy set-up and use. Also accommodates bottle components such as valves, nipples and pacifiers. This Munchkin model is round and won’t take up too much space on your counter.
You can get it on Munchkin’s website or on Amazon.
2. Dr Brown’s Universal Baby Bottle Drying Rack
This option from Dr Brown is another popular choice among parents. One of the top reasons for this is that its universal design fits a wide range of bottles and accessories. Additionally, it also folds down for easy storage and a removable tray prevents water from pooling.
Here’s where you can get it on Dr. Brown’s website or on Amazon.
I’ve shared a short clip to show you just how easy it is to use Dr Brown’s Universal Baby Bottle Drying Rack.
3. OXO Tot Bottle Drying Rack
Another nifty bottle drying rack is the option from the OXO Tot Store or from Amazon. This model can easily hold eight bottles upright to ensure adequate drying. It also features a removable cup for smaller accessories such as utensils, medicine droppers and pacifiers. Rounded corners make it simple to pour out excess water.
How do you store baby bottles after drying them?
To keep your baby bottles clean and safe it’s important to store them correctly. A few simple tips to do this effectively include:
- Bottles should be dry before storage
- Assemble bottles to avoid losing any components especially when you’re using an anti-colic bottle (Dr Brown or MAM)
- Store bottles in a cool dry cupboard or drawer where there’s no humidity
- If you don’t have much storage space, consider the options in my article about baby bottle storage ideas
How should you sanitize a dying rack?
Sanitizing your drying rack is as easy as keeping the rest of your baby components clean and sanitized. Simply follow these few easy steps:
- Wash: Wash the drying rack with hot soapy water. You shouldn’t use anything stronger than normal dish soap. Never use harsh chemicals or cleaning agents.
- Rinse: Rinse any soapy residue off with hot water
- Sanitize: While cleaning with hot water is often enough to clean the drying rack, you can scrub the rack down using a small brush and a Milton sterilizing solution. You can also wash the drying rack off with a vinegar and baking soda solution
Can you put a bottle drying rack in the dishwasher?
For the most part, unlike baby bottles, bottle drying racks are not dishwasher-safe. That means you will have to regularly wash them to avoid bacteria or mold build-up. Fortunately, they can easily be cleaned with hot water and dish liquid.
How can you dry baby bottles without a drying rack?
As your mother and your grandmother will tell you, a drying rack isn’t the only way to dry your baby bottles. If you don’t have the counter space, or would prefer to not buy one, there are some easy drying methods to consider. Some of the more conventional ways to dry your baby bottles are listed below.
Standard dish drying rack
You most likely already have one or two standard dish racks in your kitchen. It’s also the most conventional way of drying your baby bottles and feeding accessories. To avoid getting frustrated with no space on the rack, wash the bottles at a time when the dish rack is empty.
Kitchen towels
Placing baby bottles on a kitchen towel laid out on your counter is another way to dry your bottles. However, some parents aren’t keen on this method because there isn’t adequate airflow into the bottle as it dries. Simply place the bottle in a way that accommodates airflow and don’t leave it on the kitchen towel longer than necessary. Or you may read about paper towels as applied for drying baby bottles here in my article.
Dishwasher
If you have a dishwasher, this is an ideal way to not only wash but also dry your baby bottles. An alternative is to hand wash bottles and then simply use the dry heat setting on your dishwasher to safely dry your bottles.
Did you know there are dishwashers designed for baby bottles? They can be quite useful due to their special features and size.
If you’d prefer to use your dishwasher, you’ll be delighted to know that there are a few dishwasher racks specifically created for keeping small bottle components safe during washing.
DIY solution to a baby bottle drying rack
If you don’t want to buy a separate bottle drying rack and you also don’t want your counters cluttered, there are a few alternatives to opt for.
- Use a smaller dish rack that you place in a designated space away from the sink
- Place a small drying towel on the counter
- A creative alternative is to use a mug tree where you can slide the bottles onto
Can you dry baby bottles in the dishwasher?
Baby bottles can easily be dried in the dishwasher. This is how you do it:
- Bottles must be made of dishwasher-safe glass or plastic
- Place the bottle and all loose components into a dishwasher-safe basket
- Ensure the nipples are standing upright
- Opt for the hot water and heated cycle to quickly dry your bottles
Conclusion
As I’ve already mentioned, besides some other essential items, such as Fairy Liquid dish soap, baby bottle drying racks aren’t an essential part of your baby gear. However, I can’t emphasize enough how convenient this little gadget makes the bottle cleaning process. Since many models take up minimal space it’s very easy to find the right one for your bottle needs!
In case you see some strange residue on your baby bottles after drying them, you might want to find out whether hard water residue might be an issue for you in another article I wrote.
Last update on 2024-10-29 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
