The sterilization of baby bottles by parents has one reason beyond all others, and that is safety. Infants are particularly susceptible to dangerous bacteria that may persist in the first months of their life, as they have weak immune systems and therefore may fall prey to these bacteria even after normal washing. Using soap and water will get rid of the visible milk traces, as well as everyday germs, but sterilizing will meet the high standards of hygiene.
This guide discusses the way in which sterilizers are operated, the effects of various types of water, the dangers of using tap water, and how limescale can be prevented or removed.
The Purpose of Sterilizing Baby Bottles
Sterilization of the baby feeding equipment can kill 99.9% of the bacteria, viruses, and other pathogens that may cause a baby to become ill. Germs may be hiding in small crevices in the nipples, caps, and collars of the bottles, even when they have been washed thoroughly. In the case of babies born prematurely, the sterilization offers additional protection in case a baby has a weaker immune system or is born prematurely.
Steam sterilizers, such as the Momcozy sterilizer for feeding bottles, pump parts, soothers, and other minor feeding products, involve the use of high-temperature vapor to clean the bottles, pump parts, soothers, etc, without the application of chemicals. Many baby bottle sterilizers also function as bottle washers, offering a combined cleaning and sterilization function.
Can You Use Tap Water for a Bottle Sterilizer?
In theory, yes – the majority of electric steam sterilizers can be run using tap water, and the majority of parents do so successfully. However, it depends on the tap water you have in order to determine whether you should or not.
To maintain the purity of the reaction product, manufacturers in many cases suggest distilled or purified water since tap water is dissolved in mineral components (such as calcium and magnesium). These minerals are extracted when the water is heated over and over again and form limescale, covering the heating plate and the inner sections of the sterilizer.
Due to this fact, certain sterilizer manuals, such as many currently available in the market, make references to the use of distilled water in order to retain performance and long life. In the case of a city or area where people use hard tap water, it is possible that using it in your sterilizer will cause a lack of effectiveness in the near future and an increase in cleaning rates.
Understanding Hard Water and Limescale
To begin by knowing why water choice is important, it is good to know what the difference is between soft and hard water.
- The soft water contains minimal minerals.
- Hard water contains plenty of minerals such as calcium carbonate and magnesium.
In the UK, a large number of households have hard water in their tap. These minerals form a chalky white layer, called limescale, when the tap water is boiled (as it happens in a steam sterilizer).
You have probably read this accumulation in:
- Electric kettles
- Coffee makers
- Bathroom fixtures
- Shower glass
The same is possible in a sterilizer. Over time, limescale can:
- Coat the heating plate.
- Reduce steam output
- Clean out leave white spots or left-over in sterilizer.
- Glorify a baby bottle and nipples.
All these mineral deposits are not harmful to your baby, but shorten the life of the sterilizer and makes it disrupt its operation.
Risks of Using Tap Water in a Sterilizer
There will be no major harm involved in using tap water overnight in the sterilizer, though, over time, there will be a number of problems encountered when sterilizers are used many times.
Limescale Build up
The minerals deposit in the bottom and on the heating plate. With accumulation, the sterilizer requires more time to heat effectively. The machine may start:
- The steam takes a longer time to form.
- Running louder
- It takes a longer time to sterilize.
- Decreased performance of sterilization.
Steam production can be reduced when the scale interferes with the heating process. This implies that the sterilizer is likely to be less efficient in killing bacteria, despite running a normal cycle.
White Spots or Films on Bottles.
After sterilizing, parents tend to observe chalky white scars on the bottom of the bottles, nipples or caps. These are mineral deposits that are harmless to the baby, although they are not appealing to the eye.
More Frequent Maintenance
Tap water will require more frequent descaling – perhaps every week in a hard-water house.
Possible Warranty Concerns
In case a manufacturer does the instructions on distilled water and scale accumulation leads to malfunction, assistance can suggest descaling prior to the procedure or can fail to indemnify the problem on the conditions of wear-and-tear.
How to Clean Limescale from Your Sterilizer
The good news is that limescale is simple to clean, and with regular cleaning, your sterilizer works like new.
Vinegar Method (Most Common)
Mineral deposits are easily dissolved in vinegar. Here’s how to descale safely:
- Switch off and empty the sterilizer.
- Add an equal amount of white vinegar to the plate space in the heat.
- Allow to soak for as long as 30 minutes to 1 hour.
- Pour out the mixture.
- Wipe a plate with a soft cloth.
- Rinse with clean water.
- Wash one sterilizing program with plain water to wash out any vinegar smell.
Descaling Powders or Citric Acid.
A food-grade citric acid is also effective, and it is widely used in kettles or appliance descaling agents. In case of commercial descaler:
- Dilution instructions of the manufacturer.
- Rinse thoroughly afterward
Routine Wiping
Wipe the heating base with a wet cloth after every few uses in order to delay the accumulation between deep cleansing.
Frequency of Descaling
The frequency of descale is dependent on the water:
- Soft water areas: once every 3-4 weeks.
- Moderately hard water: every fortnight.
- Very hard water: weekly
When you begin to observe cloudy accumulation, slow steaming, or white spots on the bottles, then it is time to descale.
Best Water Choices for Your Bottle Sterilizer
These are the most widespread ones, best suited to workable:
Distilled Water (Best Choice)
- Contains no minerals
- Practically deters limescale.
- Helps sterilizers have a long life.
- Maintains steam efficiency
This is the water that many manufacturers recommend.
Osmotic Pure or Reverse Osmotic water.
Almost as good as distilled, and has a very low mineral content. Home filters and dispenser use of filtered water have been a lot of success with many parents.
Tap Water
Safe to use, but:
- Foams a quicker deposition of minerals.
- Needs to be descaled more often.
- May result in caries on bottles.
In case you find it convenient or cost-effective to clean with tap water, it is good to have a cleaning routine.
Bottled, softened or mineral water.
Not advisable, as added minerals and salts may increase accumulation.
Final Thoughts
Yes, it is safe to put tap water in a bottle sterilizer, and a good number of parents will. Nevertheless, this will accelerate the formation of limescale and decrease the service life, performance, and frequent of maintenance, particularly in hard water regions. These issues can be minimized by using distilled or purified water, which may also enable your sterilizer to run well for a long period.