The best sterilisers for bottles, pumps, and more, as tested by UK parents

Awarded Silver for Best Steriliser/Sterilising Product at the Mother&Baby Awards 2023 and 2024

The Advanced Pro UV Steriliser and Dryer from Vital Baby was a hit in our Mother&Baby Awards, nabbing silver, and it's not hard to see why; Sleek, efficient and fast, this steriliser works at the speed of light, eliminating bacteria in just seven minutes in a longer cycle. Impressed?

Our parent testers commented on how easy it was to use: "We've loved this steriliser, a lot more than other brands we’ve tried in the past. It is so easy to set up, completely hassle free and incredibly easy to use! There’s no faffing around with water and other parts, just shove everything in wet and it dries and sterilises. This steriliser could not be any easier and makes busy mum life a lot more simple."

While some mums wished it was ever so slightly bigger in size, other mums loved how easily the product could neatly fit on kitchen sides. Our Reviews Editor Emily also mentioned how stylish it looked and didn't mind having it out in the kitchen as opposed to some other alternatives.

This handy bit of kit also has a drying cycle that automatically switches to a sterilising cycle. Plus, it's not just for babies, it can take keys, cosmetic brushes making it a fantastic investment in the long-run.

Read our full Vital Baby advanced pro UV steriliser & dryer review

The Philips Avent Premium Bottle Steriliser + Dryer allows you to sterilise, dry, and store all in one. Our tester said it was simple to use, getting bottles for your baby's next feed in 40 minutes. This bottle steriliser and dryer uses jets of filtered air to dry bottles before turning off and the steriliser is quick and hygienic, killing 99.9 per cent of germs, for peace of mind at every feed.

Each of our mum testers agreed that it worked efficiently. Mum tester Cat commented on how nice it was for everything to be in one unit and out of the way, too, and more importantly, sterile for 24 hours. Rebecca, who tested it, said that it has the advantage of fitting 6 tall bottles plus their lids and teats all in one go. "After sterilising, it can then also ‘dry’ the bottles for you too - sterilising takes about 10 minutes and drying an extra 40 minutes. Being able to sterilise so many bottles at once really saves me time." She went on to say, "If you are looking for an all-in-one product that sterilises, dries and stores, then this is definitely the product to choose."

Sulu explained that she didn't have to waste time having to read any instructions: "All you need to do is add water to the tank (which can conveniently be measured directly using a baby bottle) and press a button!"

It's even got the celeb mum stamp of approval with Charlotte Crosby commenting, "I love the Avent steriliser, it’s my favourite one. It’s the best one you will get. You can fit so many bottles in it. Mine has lasted me through Alba and now Pixi and it’s never broken once."

Read our full Philips Avent Premium Bottle Steriliser & Dryer review

Using UV light, the Tommee Tippee Ultra is a safe and dry method of sterilising which kills 99.9% of harmful germs without using heat, steam or harsh chemicals. It sterilises those hard to reach areas, getting rid of germs that may linger in bottles, teats, breast pumps and other accessories even after thorough washing.

Our tester, Hollie, liked how it made her life easier as a busy mum. "I can now sterilise all of my breast pump parts with this product because the UV doesn't damage the materials, unlike my previous steam steriliser. There's also no risk of burning myself with hot water or steam, with UV, which I did plenty of times with a steam steriliser when opening it too soon.

Another tester liked how easily her husband could sterilise and store the bottles to be ready for when the baby wakes up hungry.

Maria, who also tested it, commented that although it is quite large, it’s a stylish design and crucially large enough to sterilise multiple bottles and expressing equipment at once. Hollie, however, thought it could be larger: "I could use it less often and save more time. I can fit six bottles in it, but if I could fit eight or nine in, I'd only need to sterilise them once a day or less."

It takes longer to sterilise than most others, so you might prefer something quicker, such as the Advanced Pro UV Steriliser and Dryer. The steriliser suits a variety of bottle brands and can keep items sterilised for up to 24 hours.

Read our full Tommee Tippee Ultra UV 3-in-1 Steriliser, Dryer and Storage review

Bronze Winner for Best Steriliser/Sterilising Product for M&B Awards 2023

Just like the Tommee Tippee Ultra UV, the Nuby UV Steriliser system uses UV light to sterilise and kill 99.9% bacteria, but this one does it all in 3 minutes! Yes you read right! As it doesn't use steam, the bottles don't get wet either, so they are literally ready to use.

Our parent testers loved how easy the Nuby was to use. It also saved them plenty of time when prepping bottles, essential when you have a hungry baby. "I found it much less time consuming when trying to make my child a bottle with the peace of mind that the quickness of the sterilisation has been complete."

While the lighting speed steriliser wins on convenience, one of our testers did mention that she was limited on how much she could clean due to its size: "I did however not use this product much due to not being able to fit many bottles in - as a mum of twins I need to be able to bulk sterilise when I get a spare moment!" Another tester also commented that it could only fit two bottles, which didn't always prove practical.

It's also lightweight, meaning our parent testers found it very convenient when going travelling, which was a big win, and it didn't take up much space.

Read our full Nuby UK UV Steriliser review

Awarded Bronze for Best Steriliser/Sterilising Product at the Mother&Baby Awards 2024

An oldie but a goodie, Milton Sterilising Fluid allows you to sterilise in just 15 minutes. It's a well-trusted brand that you can pick up from supermarkets and has been even been approved by midwives. It is also perfect for travelling when you might not have a microwave to hand, and it allows you to sterilise all sorts of other items, not just bottles - think dummies, toys, teething aids and more.

Our parent tester noted how easily it can sterilise anything, and the bottle container is easy to store, open, and doesn't leak! "The other great thing is that the dose used can be adjusted for the volume of water you’re using, which you aren’t able to do if using water sterilisation tablets."

Some of our mum testes used it to sterilise other items including feeding bowls, high chairs and even dish cloths. "I had previously only used Milton sterilising tablets and found the fluid to be more versatile as I could easily adjust the quantity required without waste. It also means you can apply the fluid directly on a stained item, which worked brilliantly on my daughter’s bibs and high chair tray after tomato or turmeric dinners."

While some may not find it as convenient as other electric sterilisers, the majority of our mum testers loved this product.

Read our full Milton Sterilising Fluid review.

If you're fed up of scrubbing bottles, pacifiers, and even breast pump parts, this all-in-one system does it all for you and saves you time compared to the faff of handwashing or putting in the dishwasher and having to sterilise afterwards.

Stack it up, fill up the water tank, pop in some all-natural detergent and turn it on. It holds up to 8 small bottles and six larger ones, and you can throw in other essentials like dummies and breast pump gadgets too. It's a much more stylish and minimalistic design compared to others on the market and has great eco creds too, saving up to 88% more water and energy than handwashing and using filtered hot air to dry everything inside. Bebello will also buy it back when you've finished using it, so it doesn't end up in a landfill - now that's impressive!

One thing worth mentioning is that it keeps parts fresh and germ-free for up to 72 hours. Users agree that it saves time and is quick and easy to use. "I got the Bebello for my third baby, and it has been a total game changer. I use it twice a day, to wash not only bottles but also pumps parts. It saves me so much time, and only one machine to wash, dry and sterilise and saves counter space." Another user noted how easy it was to just pop in the boot of the car, ready to use for weekends away as you simply plug it in, load it up and turn it on. However, some customers found that the water tank does get quite heavy when full so a handle would have been practical.

This product is currently being fully tested by our Mother&Baby tester, Chloe.

Awarded Silver and Gold for Best Steriliser/Sterilising Product at the Mother&Baby Awards 2024

The MAM Easy Start Bottle & Microwave Steriliser Set holds up to six bottles, which are also included in this set. This steriliser can be used as both a microwave steam steriliser or with cold water tablets. Bottles can stay sterile for up to 48 hours if stored in the steriliser and are ready in just five minutes.

Our parent tester found that it didn't actually fit in her microwave, but it did her in-laws', so it's worth double-checking the measurements of your microwave before purchasing.

Another plus of this set includes a SkinSoft™ silicone teat and a ventilated base designed to reduce colic. Our parent tester said that their son really took to the MAM bottles after breastfeeding. "I couldn't recommend the MAM bottles more as it helped him with his wind (the bottles are designed with valves on the bottom to help with air flow.) We really noticed a difference in how long it took to wind him with these bottles." Our mum tester also liked that it took the stress out of making sure his bottles were ready for the next feed. 

Read our full MAM Easy Start Bottle & Microwave Steriliser Set review

An Amazon bestseller, this Milton cold-water steriliser kills all harmful bacteria in 15 minutes. It comes with a 5-litre capacity unit which is super handy and a lockable lid to prevent it from accidentally being knocked open.

Once sterilised, the contents inside stay sterile for 24 hours. The unit can hold up to 6 standard bottles and can clean lots of other items, including soothers, teething rings, small plastic toys, plastic cutlery, weaning bowls and more. It also has a handle to make it easier to transport; one dad was thrilled with it, saying that it's more practical than steam sterilisers.

One parent mentioned that it lasts a long time, so you can use it for your second child, too. The large capacity means you can store lots, and the best bit is that all you need to do is fill it with water and pop a tablet in. Simple! Another user commented on how much you can actually sterilise: "The steriliser is great for keeping bottles, dummies, and even straws or school water bottles clean."

Parents did find it to be bulkier, so if you want a sleeker design, you might prefer the Vital Baby Advanced UV Steriliser. They also find it did require more effort than other sterilisers, as the contents needed steriliser fluid and had to be dried.

Shortlisted for Best Steriliser/Sterilising Product at the Mother&Baby Awards 2021
If you're looking for something that is really convenient, then these Munchkin Steriliser Bags are brilliant. They are an easy way to sterilise anytime, anywhere, and are handy for packing in your bag. They kill up to 99.9 per cent of common bacteria on bottles, pump parts and accessories in as little as 90 seconds (high-wattage microwave), with each bag having up to 30 uses, six in a pack so 180 uses is good value for money.

One parent tester, Anjalee, commented that it was ideal for travelling. "It means I can leave a few bags at my parents' house as well to help with bottles."

Another mum tester, Lyndsay, said: "As long as you have access to a microwave, then they provide a compact space-saving solution to sterilising on the go, rather than taking bulky cold water sterilising equipment. They are particularly useful if you are just going out for a day or two to visit friends or family and want to travel light."

Read our full Munchkin 6pk Steriliser Bags review

The Baby Brezza Bottle Washer is a great choice as a steriliser for your baby bottle and nursing products, as it's the ultimate all-in-one system for busy parents. An automatic wash, dry and sterilising system makes cleaning bottles a lot easier and more efficient.

While quite large and takes up a lot of counter space, the Baby Brezza uses a lot less water than hand washing the bottles first, meaning it's more eco-friendly, too.

Our parent tester loved how it gave her back freedom in her day. It does take a lot longer than some of the others, so you have to be more organised with the items you need when sterilising, but overall, our tester thought it was a brilliant steriliser. "There are two racks which help separate the bottles, teats, collars, and lids."

It is a fairly large product, so our tester did have to make space for it, but didn't mind as it has so many multifunctional purposes.

Read our full Baby Brezza Bottle Washer review

These Medela Quick Clean Micro-Steam Sterilisation bags work like microwave steam cleaners for all your feeding accessories. Each bag fits most breast pumps, teats or bottles and cleans and disinfects in around three minutes.

The only downside is that you have to ensure the bags are properly sealed when using them, as otherwise the sterilisation isn't effective. One bag can be used up to 20 times, though, so this is a great idea if you are travelling and don't want to carry your normal steriliser with you.

One review said, "They have a check mark system so you know how many uses each has. It's a shame to use plastic and to have to throw it in the bin eventually, but I guess the environmental option is to just boil everything on the stove, and sometimes you don't have time.

"Remember that you can only fit the pump parts in, and then the bottles; you can't throw it all in together. And it would be handy to include a measuring cup or something to get the water exactly right every time."

The Philips AVENT Microwave steam steriliser is compact and easy to use. While easy to clean, it only holds four AVENT bottles and perhaps the odd dummy too but its saving grace is that it only takes 2 minutes to sterilise. It's also compatible with various other bottle brands and can keep items sterile for up to 24 hours if the lid is left unopened after the two-minute sterilisation cycle.

It's quite a neat and fairly compact (although some may say, a little big) but it's light enough to take with you on weekends away to see the grandparents. As far as sterilisers go, it's pretty foolproof and easy to use with no hassle.

It's convenient for its quick sterilisation, but it is a large steriliser so ensure your microwave is big enough.

If you're looking for a simple-to-use steriliser that you can use out and about, then the Milton Portable Soother Steriliser would be great. It's particularly a good buy if your little one is constantly dropping their dummy.

While it can't sterilise bottles, our parent tester found it really convenient to take on the go, thanks to its small size. This watertight sterilising device allows you to clean the dummy in 15 minutes, with the contents staying sterile for 24 hours.

Our mum tester Kayleigh loved that it made her life easier as a mum, as it can be used on the go. "It is a perfect small size and so easily carried in my nappy bag or handbag. It fits one soother in perfectly and gives me the confidence that I am giving my baby a completely clean and sterile soother once the sterilisation process is complete."

Most of our mum testers agreed that while it was a good concept, the downside was that you need to remember to take water and a sterilising tablet to actually use it.

Read our full Milton Mini Portable Soother Steriliser review