How often should I sterilise?

Until your baby turns 1, you should sterilise bottles, dummies and other accessories before use to eliminate any harmful bacteria. Once exposed to open air, the effectiveness of the process will start to diminish and you may need to sterilise again. This is why most systems will have a sealed lid and a time limit for storage. For steam sterilisers, this will usually be up to 24 hours, and for UV systems it could be up to 72 hours.

How do I prepare the bottle for sterilisation?

Before sterilising your baby bottles or dummies, they should be cleaned thoroughly. Take them apart and wash each component separately. You can do this with warm soapy water, making sure you remove any milk residue. When finished, you should rinse and dry before placing in your chosen bottle steriliser.

Can I sterilise without a dedicated baby bottle steriliser?

Yes. You can sterilise your bottles in a deep saucepan with boiling water. This can be time-consuming and there is a risk of burns, but it can be a cost-effective option for occasional washes. It may also be possible to sterilise accessories in your dishwasher but you do need to check with your manufacturer for the specifications. If using the dishwasher, it is recommended you still sterilise daily and separate all components before washing. Stick to the top shelf and be careful to not put other things in as discolouration can occur. While it is possible to sterilise without a dedicated product, for a small price you can have a safe and effective solution that will save you time! Whether it is steam, UV, or cold water, there is a sterilisation solution for every parent!

Best Bottle Steriliser Australia: 5 Options Compared

For most families using formula bottles every day, an electric steam steriliser is a practical starting point. Choose a steam steriliser with a dryer if dry bottles are especially useful in your routine. For a setup without a powered appliance, consider a cold-water system. UV units are sold in Australia, but Australian parenting guidance does not currently provide the same method guidance for them.

Updated October 2026. We may earn a commission from links on this page, at no extra cost to you. This researched guide compares five current Australian purchase options. Selection is based on the documented method, capacity, drying function and everyday workflow. We have not measured sterilising performance ourselves.

Table of Contents

Quick comparison: which bottle steriliser suits you?

Option	Method	Documented capacity	Suits
Philips Avent SCF293/00	Electric steam plus drying	Up to 6 bottles	Daily bottle use with a drying cycle
Baby Brezza One Step Gen2	Electric steam plus drying	Up to 6 bottles and accessories	Families wanting selectable drying times
NUK Vario	Electric steam	Up to 6 bottles and accessories	A steam unit without a dryer
Milton Combi	Cold-water or microwave steam	5 wide-neck bottles	A flexible setup for home or travel
Tommee Tippee UV Steriliser & Dryer	UV plus drying	Up to 6 bottles	A method to discuss with your MCHN first

Capacity is a manufacturer or retailer figure. Wide bottles, pump parts and small accessories can take up more room than you expect. Check your actual bottle dimensions and whether their maker permits the chosen method.

Clean first, then sterilise as advised

Cleaning removes milk residue; sterilising is a separate step. A steriliser does not replace washing bottles and taking them apart. None of the five products here is being recommended as a bottle washer.

Raising Children Network recommends sterilising bottle-feeding equipment until 12 months and lists boiling, chemical, electric steam and microwave methods. It also notes that there are no current national or international guidelines for UV steriliser use.

Advice differs for some expressed-breastmilk routines. Pregnancy, Birth and Baby distinguishes formula equipment from bottles used for expressed breastmilk, for which warm soapy cleaning is usually enough. Healthdirect says expressing equipment for healthy, term babies does not need sterilising. Talk to your MCHN or maternity team about your baby’s situation, particularly after prematurity or illness.

Five bottle sterilising options sold in Australia

Philips Avent Electric Steam Steriliser and Dryer: for a daily routine

The Philips Avent Electric Steam Steriliser and Dryer · Check price on Amazon AU is a straightforward candidate if you want both functions in one appliance. Philips’ Australian SCF293/00 listing specifies capacity for up to six bottles, a 40-minute sterilise-and-dry cycle, and a ten-minute sterilise-only mode.

The optional drying step is the reason to compare it with a simpler steam unit. Think about whether your routine actually benefits from dry equipment before paying for the extra function.

Check how your bottles and smaller parts fit into the baskets. “Six bottles” is a maximum claim, not a guarantee that six of every bottle shape will fit alongside a full set of pump parts.

Philips’ cleaning instructions distinguish washable baskets and lid from the electrical base, which needs wiping. The appliance is not dishwasher-safe. This is a good fit for someone happy to maintain a benchtop unit; it still needs cleaning and descaling according to its instructions.

Baby Brezza One Step Steriliser & Dryer Gen2: for selectable drying

The Baby Brezza One Step Steriliser & Dryer Gen2 · Check price on Amazon AU uses steam followed by hot-air drying. Its Australian retailer listing describes capacity for up to six bottles and accessories, plus 30-, 45- and 60-minute drying settings.

Separate sterilise-only and dry-only modes give you more control over the job you run. That is useful to compare if you want different settings for different loads, although it also means remembering which mode you have selected.

The drying settings should not be mistaken for the duration of the complete steam-and-dry process. Read the cycle instructions for the exact model before planning around a time.

Choose this if the range of modes matters to you. If you mainly want a simple sterilise cycle, the extra options may add little. Check the current warranty and fault-return process with the seller before buying; a retailer listing does not establish real-world reliability in your home.

NUK Vario Electric Steam Steriliser: for steam without drying

The NUK Vario Electric Steam Steriliser · Check price on Amazon AU is listed for up to six bottles and accessories, with a six-minute sterilising process and automatic switch-off.

It suits a shopper who wants electric steam but does not need an integrated dryer. Compare the basket layout with your own bottles and any extra parts. The short advertised sterilising time does not remove the need to allow for preparation and safe cooling.

The retailer describes a storage period of up to 24 hours while the lid remains closed. Treat that as a product-specific condition, not a rule for every steriliser. Opening the lid to take out a bottle changes the situation; use the manual’s storage instructions.

The main limitation is simple: this is a steam steriliser, not a steriliser-and-dryer. Do not choose it on the assumption that equipment will come out completely dry. It is a more focused option if steam sterilising is the job you need.

Milton Combi: for cold-water or microwave use

The Milton Combi Steriliser · Check price on Amazon AU was listed in stock by Australian retailer Babyroad. Milton’s Australian product information describes capacity for five wide-neck bottles and two methods: microwave steam or cold-water sterilising.

For microwave use, the stated cycle is two to four minutes depending on the microwave’s wattage. The cold-water method uses an appropriate sterilising solution and a 15-minute contact time.

This flexibility is its main advantage. It gives you an alternative when you do not have a suitable microwave, and it avoids relying on a dedicated electrical steriliser. It does still need a clean preparation area and somewhere safe to keep the container.

Check that the container fits your microwave and budget for replacement tablets or fluid if you plan to use cold water. Follow the method-specific instructions for quantities, immersion, timing and handling. Neither method includes a drying function. A shorter cycle time does not mean you can skip washing.

Tommee Tippee UV Steriliser & Dryer: with an important guidance limit

The Tommee Tippee UV Steriliser & Dryer · Check price on Amazon AU is a current Australian retail option. The listing describes space for up to six bottles, a 60-minute sterilise-and-dry cycle and storage for up to 24 hours if the door stays closed.

Its appeal is a steam-free, water-free appliance workflow. However, washing comes first, and items still need to be compatible with the method and arranged according to the manual.

We are including it to answer the steam-versus-UV shopping question, with a clear limit. Raising Children Network’s current UV caveat means we cannot present it as equally supported by bottle-sterilising guidance or as the best method for newborn equipment.

Discuss your routine with your MCHN before choosing UV in place of a guided method. If you already own one, ask how to handle your baby’s equipment rather than assuming a product’s marketing claims resolve that question.

Steam, UV or cold water: choosing the workflow

Electric steam

Electric steam is worth considering when bottles are a regular part of your day and you have permanent bench space. A dryer adds another function; it is not what makes a steam cycle a sterilising cycle.

Compare how much room the unit needs above it to lift the lid. A tall appliance may be awkward under kitchen cupboards. Look at how the baskets come apart and where you will set clean equipment while loading it.

Microwave steam

A microwave container may suit a smaller kitchen or a trip where a suitable microwave is available. Check the container dimensions against both the door opening and turntable space, not only the microwave’s advertised capacity.

Follow the required wattage and cooling instructions. Some bottle parts cannot be microwaved, so compare the bottle maker’s directions as well as the steriliser’s manual. The cheapest-looking setup is not useful if it is incompatible with your equipment.

Cold water

Cold water avoids heating a powered steriliser, but introduces consumables and preparation. Compare the container size, the solution instructions and the safe storage arrangements. Keep tablets and fluid in their original packaging and follow the product label.

It can suit travel or an occasional routine. If you intend to use it daily, include ongoing consumables in the cost comparison. A low appliance cost and a low total cost are different questions.

UV

UV appliances have their own loading and material-compatibility instructions. Do not assume that a cupboard of clean items will be treated correctly simply because a UV light is switched on.

The guidance gap noted above is the main consideration for this guide. Choose on advice suited to your baby and feeding routine, rather than a generic “kills germs” claim or a list of extra storage functions.

A practical buying checklist

Count how many bottles and separate parts you actually use between washes.
Check compatibility with your bottle, teat and pump-part manufacturers.
Decide whether drying is a daily need or an optional convenience.
Measure the bench space, lid clearance and microwave space where relevant.
Read maintenance instructions and check replacement consumables or filters.
Check the seller’s warranty and returns information for the exact model.

Our bottle guide can help you compare bottle designs before working out steriliser capacity. If dummies are part of the load, check their individual care directions; our dummy guide covers that separate purchase.

What to compare beyond cycle time

A quick cycle is only one part of the routine. Washing, arranging, cooling, unloading and cleaning the appliance all take time. Think about the whole sequence on a busy morning rather than choosing solely from the shortest number in the comparison table.

Also check which items are included. A steriliser does not necessarily come with bottles, and a “starter kit” may contain bottles you do not want. Buying the appliance separately can make more sense if you already have feeding equipment that suits your baby.

For broader planning, see our newborn checklist and feeding pillow guide.

Frequently asked questions

What is the best bottle steriliser?

For a daily formula-bottle routine, compare electric steam models first. Philips Avent and Baby Brezza add drying; NUK Vario is steam only. Milton Combi offers cold-water and microwave options. The best choice depends on compatibility, space and your feeding advice.

What is the best bottle steriliser and dryer?

Philips Avent SCF293/00 is worth comparing for a combined cycle, while Baby Brezza Gen2 offers selectable drying settings. Both have Australian purchase listings. We have not tested drying performance, so confirm the manual, capacity and maintenance needs before deciding.

How long do I need to sterilise baby bottles?

Raising Children Network recommends sterilising bottle-feeding equipment until 12 months. Guidance for expressed-breastmilk and expressing equipment can differ. Ask your MCHN or maternity team which routine applies to your baby, particularly if they were premature or unwell.

Does a steriliser wash dirty bottles?

No. Wash the equipment before sterilising, following your feeding guidance and the product instructions. A steriliser-and-dryer is not necessarily a bottle washer. Milk residue needs to be removed before the sterilising step.

Can I sterilise bottles without buying an appliance?

Yes, guided methods include boiling and chemical sterilising. Follow the full instructions from your healthcare team, an Australian authority and the equipment manufacturer. Do not substitute a quick hot-water rinse for a proper method.

Best Bottle Steriliser Australia: Steam, Drying and Cold Water