How to Clean Baby Bottles That Have a Milk Odor

Many parents have faced the problem of a baby bottle plagued with the sour smell of milk, no matter how much it is cleaned. Although the smell doesn’t have an effect on your baby’s health, the smell and sour taste can transfer to other liquids put in the bottle, creating an unpleasant drinking experience for your little one.[1]

Method 1
Method 1 of 5:

Method 1: Cleaning with Baking Soda

  1. Image titled Clean Baby Bottles That Have a Milk Odor Step 1
    1
    Wash the bottle with warm water and detergent.[2] Try to also remove any visible milk residue on the bottle by rinsing it out several times with warm water and detergent.
  2. Image titled Clean Baby Bottles That Have a Milk Odor Step 2
    2
    Add a tablespoon of baking soda into the bottle. Then, fill the bottle up halfway with warm water.
    • If you fill the bottle completely with water, it will be hard to shake up the contents in the bottle because there is no free space in the bottle.
    Advertisement
  3. Image titled Clean Baby Bottles That Have a Milk Odor Step 3
    3
    Close the bottle with a lid and shake the contents of the bottle. Shake it for about 2 minutes.
  4. Image titled Clean Baby Bottles That Have a Milk Odor Step 14
    4
    Rinse the bottle and smell it. If the bottle no longer smells like sour milk, you have sufficiently cleaned the bottle.
  5. Image titled Clean Baby Bottles That Have a Milk Odor Step 5
    5
    If the odor remains, soak the bottle in the water with baking soda. Find a container that can fit the entire bottle. Then, pour baking soda into the container. For each cup of water, add a teaspoon of baking soda and mix well.
  6. Image titled Clean Baby Bottles That Have a Milk Odor Step 6
    6
    Place the bottle and all its parts into the container. Fill the bottle with water from the container as well. Press the bottle parts, including the nipple, with a plate or some other heavier object so the bottle parts are submerged.
  7. Image titled Clean Baby Bottles That Have a Milk Odor Step 7
    7
    Leave the bottle submerged overnight and then rinse it out in the morning. Smell the bottle to confirm the odor is gone.[3]
    • Let the bottle air dry before using it again.
    8. Advertisement
Method 2
Method 2 of 5:

Method 2: Removing the Odor with Vinegar

  1. Image titled Clean Baby Bottles That Have a Milk Odor Step 8
    1
    Make a solution of one part white vinegar and three parts warm water. Then, fill the bottle with the solution. You can also fill a container large enough to fit the bottle and all its parts with the solution.[4]
  2. Image titled Clean Baby Bottles That Have a Milk Odor Step 9
    2
    Ensure all parts of the bottle are soaked and submerged in the solution. You can do this by pressing the parts down with a heavy object like a plate.
  3. Image titled Clean Baby Bottles That Have a Milk Odor Step 10
    3
    Let the bottle and its parts soak in the vinegar solution overnight. In the morning, rinse the bottle and all its parts with water and detergent.
    • The smell of vinegar may be present for a few minutes, but it will quickly evaporate.
    4. Advertisement
Method 3
Method 3 of 5:

Method 3: Sterilizing the Bottle

  1. Image titled Clean Baby Bottles That Have a Milk Odor Step 11
    1
    Check that the bottle can go in the microwave. It should be marked with a “microwave safe” label.[5]
  2. Image titled Clean Baby Bottles That Have a Milk Odor Step 12
    2
    Wash the bottle well with warm water and detergent. Make sure you rinse out all the detergent.
  3. Image titled Clean Baby Bottles That Have a Milk Odor Step 13
    3
    Fill the bottle halfway with water. Then, separate the bottle parts and put them in a microwave safe bowl.
  4. Image titled Create a Tasteful Wedding Montage Step 1
    4
    Fill the microwave safe bowl with enough water to cover all the bottle parts. Place the bottle and the bowl with the bottle parts in the microwave and turn it on for 90 seconds.
    • Do not remove the bottle from the microwave until it cools to avoid burns.
  5. Image titled Clean Baby Bottles That Have a Milk Odor Step 15
    5
    Sterilize the bottle using the stovetop. Get a pan with a lid, large enough to fit the bottle and all its parts.[6]
  6. Image titled Clean Baby Bottles That Have a Milk Odor Step 16
    6
    Fill the pan with water and place the bottle and all bottle parts in the water. Then, cover the pan with the lid.
    • Boil them for 10 minutes.
    • You do not have to remove the sterilized equipment from the hot water until you plan to use it. So, this way, the bottle will remain sterilized.
    7. Advertisement
Method 4
Method 4 of 5:

Method 4: Using Alternative Solutions

  1. Image titled Clean Baby Bottles That Have a Milk Odor Step 17
    1
    Put the washed bottle in the freezer overnight. The cold temperatures will freeze the bacteria and remove the smell.
    • For the best results, don’t put the bottle in another container or bag, but instead simply place it in the freezer.
  2. Image titled Clean Baby Bottles That Have a Milk Odor Step 18
    2
    Add a few drops of mustard to the bottle. Then, add water and wash the bottle. Rinse the bottle well with lukewarm water.[7]
  3. Image titled Clean Baby Bottles That Have a Milk Odor Step 19
    3
    Remove the milk odor with toothpaste. Use a new toothbrush to do this or use a brush for washing bottles.
    • Add a bit of toothpaste to the baby bottle and give the inside of the bottle a good rub with the brush.
    • Rinse the bottle well with lukewarm water.
  4. Image titled Clean Baby Bottles That Have a Milk Odor Step 20
    4
    Fill the bottle with one part vodka and four parts warm water. The alcohol from vodka will remove bad odors. Close the lid and allow the alcohol to sit in the bottle for 2-3 hours.[8]
    • Rinse the bottle really well to ensure no vodka remains in the bottle, as drinking alcohol can be detrimental to the health of your baby.
  5. Image titled Clean Baby Bottles That Have a Milk Odor Step 21
    5
    Try cleaning the bottle with charcoal. This method requires a few days. Take active charcoal briquettes and crumble them into a small powder. Pour the charcoal into the bottle and fill the bottle with warm water. Close the lid and shake well.[9]
    • Leave the bottle to sit with the charcoal mixture for 3-4 days.
    • Rinse the bottle with the warm water and detergent.
    6. Advertisement
Method 5
Method 5 of 5:

Method 5: Preventing Odors

  1. Image titled Clean Baby Bottles That Have a Milk Odor Step 22
    1
    Rinse your baby’s bottle after every feeding using warm water and mild detergent. Take a bottle brush and give the bottle a good rub on the inside and outside.[10]
    • Make sure you rinse the detergent residue from the bottle with warm running water until the water runs clear and there is no more detergent residue.
    • Always choose a detergent with a mild odor so that in the process of rinsing and cleaning, the bottle does not absorb the detergent’s odor.
  2. Image titled Clean Baby Bottles That Have a Milk Odor Step 23
    2
    Keep your baby’s bottles in the refrigerator to prevent bacterial growth. Bottles that sit out at room temperature can develop bacteria, especially if they are still damp after washing or if they are left unwashed.[11] In the lower, colder temperatures of the refrigerator, bacteria in the bottle will grow much slower and much weaker.[12]
    • In fact, bacteria may be responsible for the bad smell in your baby’s bottle.
  3. Image titled Clean Baby Bottles That Have a Milk Odor Step 24
    3
    Prepare the bottle just before your baby’s feeding time. This will prevent the milk from spoiling in the bottle.[13]
    • If your baby has not fed from the bottle yet, you can leave the bottle out at room temperature for up to two hours.[14]
    • Prepared formula can be left in the fridge for up to 24 hours.[15] But ideally, you should prepare a fresh bottle for your little one every time they feed to prevent the development of harmful bacteria in the bottle.[16]
  4. Image titled Clean Baby Bottles That Have a Milk Odor Step 25
    4
    Throw away any leftover formula in the bottle once your baby has finished feeding. However, you can keep any leftover breast milk in the fridge for up to 24 hours. Serve it to your baby for their next meal, but only once. If any breast milk remains when you feed your baby the second time, discard these leftovers.[17]
  5. Image titled Clean Baby Bottles That Have a Milk Odor Step 26
    5
    Use glass bottles instead of plastic. Glass bottles will absorb fewer smells than plastic alternatives—if you are consistently finding a milk odor in your baby bottles, consider switching to glass bottles.[18]
    6. Advertisement

You Might Also Like

Store Sterile Baby Bottles
How to
Store Sterile Baby Bottles
Use a Bottle Warmer
How to
Use a Bottle Warmer
Boil Baby Bottles
How to
Boil Baby Bottles
Use a Bottle Sterilizer
How to
Use a Bottle Sterilizer
Get Your Child to Hold Their Own Bottle
How to
Get Your Child to Hold Their Own Bottle
Switch Baby Formula
How to
Switch Baby Formula
Sterilize Glass Baby Bottles
How to
Sterilize Glass Baby Bottles
Wash Baby Bottles
How to
Wash Baby Bottles
Advertisement

References

  1. ↑ http://parent.guide/how-to-remove-smells-from-baby-bottles-and-sippy-cups/
  2. ↑ Rebecca Nguyen, MA. International Board Certified Lactation Consultant. Expert Interview. 10 June 2019.
  3. ↑ http://parent.guide/how-to-remove-smells-from-baby-bottles-and-sippy-cups/
  4. ↑ http://www.getsmellout.com/how-to-get-smell-out-of-a-baby-bottle/
  5. ↑ http://parent.guide/how-to-sterilize-baby-bottles-and-nipples/
  6. ↑ http://www.babycenter.com.au/a554982/sterilising-bottle-feeding-equipment
  7. ↑ http://www.thriftyfun.com/Cleaning-Baby-Bottles.html
  8. ↑ http://www.getsmellout.com/how-to-get-smell-out-of-a-baby-bottle/
  9. ↑ http://www.getsmellout.com/how-to-get-smell-out-of-a-baby-bottle/
  1. ↑ http://parent.guide/how-to-remove-smells-from-baby-bottles-and-sippy-cups/
  2. ↑ Rebecca Nguyen, MA. International Board Certified Lactation Consultant. Expert Interview. 10 June 2019.
  3. ↑ http://parent.guide/how-to-remove-smells-from-baby-bottles-and-sippy-cups/
  4. ↑ http://www.babycentre.co.uk/x542032/how-long-can-i-keep-formula-milk-out-of-the-fridge
  5. ↑ http://kidshealth.org/parent/pregnancy_newborn/formulafeed/formulafeed_storing.html
  6. ↑ http://www.babycentre.co.uk/x542032/how-long-can-i-keep-formula-milk-out-of-the-fridge
  7. ↑ http://www.babycentre.co.uk/x542032/how-long-can-i-keep-formula-milk-out-of-the-fridge
  8. ↑ http://www.newhealthguide.org/Can-You-Reheat-Breast-Milk.html
  9. ↑ http://parent.guide/how-to-remove-smells-from-baby-bottles-and-sippy-cups/

About This Article

Rebecca Nguyen, MA
Co-authored by:
Rebecca Nguyen, MA
International Board Certified Lactation Consultant
This article was co-authored by Rebecca Nguyen, MA and by wikiHow staff writer, Hannah Madden. Rebecca Nguyen is a Certified Lactation Consultant and Childbirth Educator. She runs Family Picnic in Chicago, Illinois with her mother Sue Gottschall, where they teach new parents about childbirth, breastfeeding and child development and education. Rebecca taught preschool through 3rd grade for 10 years, and she received her Master’s Degree in Early Childhood Education from the University of Illinois in 2003. This article has been viewed 124,643 times.
1 votes - 100%
Co-authors: 8
Updated: December 14, 2020
Views: 124,643
Categories: Baby Bottles and Formula
Article SummaryX

To clean your baby bottle, try using baking soda, which will absorb any bad odors. First wash it with warm water and detergent to get rid of any milk residue. Then, fill the bottle halfway with warm water and a tablespoon of baking soda. Close the lid and shake the bottle for around 2 minutes. After 2 minutes, rinse the bottle and smell it. If it still smells like sour milk, fill a container with 1 part white vinegar and 3 parts warm water and place the open bottle in it until it's submerged. Leave it to soak overnight, then rinse it out with water and detergent in the morning. For more tips, including how to sterilize your baby bottles, read on!

Did this summary help you?
Advertisement