When you become a parent, you really do start to think about what goes into all the products that come in contact with your baby. May it be body soaps, laundry detergent, or dish soap.
It can be so overwhelming to try and decipher what is harmful, and what is not harmful. You’ll usually have bottles, breast pumps, and other utensils that you need to clean. It can a real challenge to clean with regular dish soap.
Also, you don’t really want your little one ingesting any of the harsh chemicals that are contained within regular dish soap that’s left behind after washing.
You need to find a product that is safe but that also is effective at cleaning your baby’s bottles and leaves behind no residue. Here is our list of the best dish soaps for baby bottles, that are both effective and safe.
Our list will help you to make the best choice and all those on our list are free from harmful chemicals.
In this article
- Short On Time? Here Are Our Top 3 Choices
- Best Dish Soaps for Baby Bottles
- 1. Dr. Bronner’s Aloe Baby Castile Soap
- 2. Better Life Dish Soap
- 3. DAPPLE Baby Bottle Dish Soap
- 4. Puracy Dish Soap
- 5. Babyganics Foaming Dish and Bottle Soap
- 6. Elysium Natural Baby Bottle Liquid Dish Soap
- 7. MADE OF Foaming Organic Baby Dish Soap
- 8. Earth Friendly Baby Bottle & Dish Wash
- 9. Seventh Generation Dish Liquid Soap
- 10. Medela Quick Clean Breastmilk Removal Soap
- Buyer’s Guide
- Ingredients Baby Dish Soap Shouldn’t contain
- The Best Way to Hand Wash Your Baby’s Bottles
- FAQ
- The Final Thought
Short On Time? Here Are Our Top 3 Choices
| Title | Price | Prime | Buy | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Top | Dr. Bronner's - Pure-Castile Liquid Soap | PrimeEligible | Buy Now | |
 | Better Life Dish Soap | PrimeEligible | Buy Now | |
 | DAPPLE Baby Bottle and Dish Soap | PrimeEligible | Buy Now |
Best Dish Soaps for Baby Bottles
- Dr. Bronner’s Aloe Baby Castile Soap
- Better Life Dish Soap
- DAPPLE Baby Bottle Dish Soap
- Puracy Dish Soap
- Babyganics Foaming Dish and Bottle Soap
- Elysium Natural Baby Bottle Liquid Dish Soap
- MADE OF Foaming Organic Baby Dish Soap
- Earth Friendly Baby Bottle & Dish Wash
- Seventh Generation Dish Liquid Soap
- Medela Quick Clean Breastmilk Removal Soap
1. Dr. Bronner’s Aloe Baby Castile Soap
Some of the best features of this dish soap are that it’s made with over 90% organic ingredients and over 70% of the ingredients are certified fair trade.
The soap is preservative-free, detergent-free, and foaming agent-free. This makes it perfect for cleaning baby’s bottles
Dr. Bronner’s liquid soap is fully biodegradable and uses all-natural, vegan ingredients that are not harmful to the environment. The liquid soap is made with plant-based ingredients and organic oils. It also has no added fragrances.
Not only is this great for cleaning baby’s bottles, but it can also be used for laundry, hand-soap, washing pets and as an all-purpose cleaning product around your home.
Pros
- Uses all-natural ingredients
- Multiple uses
- No synthetic preservatives, thickeners, or foaming agents.
- The packaging is made from 100% recycled plastic bottles.
Cons
- Quite harsh on the skin
- Very thin consistency
2. Better Life Dish Soap
Better Life Dish soap is another great product for washing your baby’s bottles. It contains no sulfates, bleach, dyes, perfumes, or alcohol. It is made from 100% natural ingredients that are plant-based.
This product is great at cutting through the residue that formula and breastmilk often left in baby’s bottles. It works just as well and is 100% natural.
Pros
- 100% natural ingredients
- Cuts through milk residue
Cons
- Quite expensive
- Although it is unscented there have been some reviews stating there is a terrible chemical smell.
3. DAPPLE Baby Bottle Dish Soap
DAPPLE is a great option for cleaning your baby’s bottles as it is formulated without parabens, sulfates, phthalates, mineral oil, SLS, phosphates, or formaldehyde.
Their formula is made with plant-based solutions that really pack a punch. It has been proven in tests to work up to 50% better at removing milk residue from bottles and breast pumps than the industry average.
It also uses this great formula in order to remove any odors. It is also multi-use and can be used to clean any of your baby accessories such as pacifiers, breast pumps, and sippy cups.
They’re also a member of the Clean Label Project which is a non-profit that focuses on health and transparency in consumer product labeling.
Pros
- 50% better at removing milk residue
- Part of the Clean Label Project
- Does not contain harmful chemicals
- Thousands of 5 star reviews
Cons
- Some issues with the pump dispenser
4. Puracy Dish Soap
Puracy Dish Soap is sulfate-free, with no harsh chemicals, or caustic ingredients that can damage your skin. So you throw away those dish gloves as this dish soap also nourishes your hands at the same time.
It is biodegradable, gluten-free, vegan, and certified cruelty-free. This dish soap has coconut-based ingredients that create plenty of suds to gut through grease, odor, and milk residue.
It comes with fresh lime and green tea fragrance. It is super economical because of its high foaming formula, a little bit goes a long way. Approximately one bottle can clean 160 sinks full of dishes.
Pros
- Contains no harsh chemicals
- Nourishes your hands
- A little goes a long way
- 160 sinks full of dishes per bottle
- Nice fragrance
Cons
- The strong smell remains on hands for a long time
- Leaves a film on glassware
5. Babyganics Foaming Dish and Bottle Soap
Babyganics is a great product that is plant-based, fragrance-free, and is non-irritating to the skin. It is a super popular choice due to its list of natural ingredients and great foaming action.
It comes with a pump dispenser that immediately transforms the liquid into a lovely foam that cuts through milk odor and residue. This also means that you need less water to wash the dishes.
It is fragrance-free and contains no phthalates, phosphates, dyes, and synthetic fragrances. So there is less chance of it irritating your skin
Pros
- Plant-based formula
- No phthalates, phosphates, or dyes.
- No synthetic fragrances
- Great foaming formulation
- Dispenser
Cons
- Some issues with the pump dispenser
6. Elysium Natural Baby Bottle Liquid Dish Soap
Elysium Natural Baby Bottle Liquid Dish Soap is a premium choice with a unique herbal formula. It is free from parabens, alcohol, phthalates, sulfates, and SLS.
It is vegan friendly and has been created explicitly for baby dishes and bottles. It has an impressive list of natural ingredients which is why it is so popular with lots of moms.
It also comes in beautiful packaging as do all their products, and has a really handy pump action dispenser.
Pros
- Premium choice with a herbal formula
- Natural ingredient list
- Beautiful packaging
- 100% recyclable
Cons
- Quite expensive
- Unpleasant fragrance
7. MADE OF Foaming Organic Baby Dish Soap
MADE OF foaming baby dish soap has quite a few certifications such as NSF Organic, Vegan Certified, USDA BioPreferred, and Leap Bunny.
It is made from 81% organic ingredients. All of this makes it a brilliant choice for cleaning baby’s bottles, dishes, and pacifiers.
It also has an allergy-free formula eliminating some of the most common allergens such as soy and nuts. It is also free from a wide range of synthetic ingredients such as sulfates and parabens.
Pros
- A host of great certifications
- 81% organic ingredients
- Allergy-free formula
- Pump dispenser
Cons
- No foaming action
- Very few reviews
8. Earth Friendly Baby Bottle & Dish Wash
Earth Friendly Baby Bottle and Dish Wash comes in cute packaging that has Disney characters on. It’s specifically designed for baby’s bottles, dishes, and breast pump accessories.
This is a gentle formula that cleans using the power of plants, it works in all water temperatures. The dish soap is highly concentrated and a little drop will go a long way.
It is made without dyes, parabens, and phthalates. It can also be used for baby’s clothes and is suitable for colored and delicate clothes.
Pros
- No harmful chemicals
- Hypoallergenic
- Can be used on clothes too
- No harmful residue left behind
Cons
- Not many ratings
9. Seventh Generation Dish Liquid Soap
This dish soap is great if you’re on a budget or are looking for good value for money. Seventh Generation Dish Soap contains no fragrances, dyes, phosphates, or triclosan.
Made with plant-based ingredients making it a safe and effective way to clean your baby’s bottles. It is also an EPA safer choice certified product and is USDA certified biobased product 95%.
Pros
- Contains no harmful chemicals
- EPA safer choice certified product
- Thousands of 5-star reviews
Cons
- Doesn’t always break down the grease
- Although concentrated does not last as long as other similar products.
10. Medela Quick Clean Breastmilk Removal Soap
This product as its name says is designed for moms who specifically feed their little ones breastmilk in a bottle. Breast milk leaves a residue on the inside of the baby’s bottles. This is due to the fat that is contained in it.
Most soaps find this kind of residue very difficult to thoroughly clean this. The Medela Quick Clean is a no-scrub hypoallergenic dish soap with no added fragrance or taste.
Pros
- Fragrance-free
- Hypoallergenic
- Clinically tested
Cons
- Although it states no scrub, reviews have stated that even after soaking bottles in Medela they still needed scrubbing.
- Regular dish soap worked better
Buyer’s Guide
Do I need a special soap to clean baby bottles?
Many of the traditional dish soaps that we use in our homes contain nasty chemical ingredients that are harsh on your skin. These are not really the best option for baby’s bottles, pacifiers, and dishes.
They often leave behind a residue that through their milk or water could then be ingested by your baby, causing them to have an upset stomach or become toxic.
Many standard dish soaps find it challenging to cut through the milk fat residue that is left on bottles and breast pumps.
You need a dish soap that is unique and specifically designed for cleaning bottles, pacifiers, and breast pumps to cut through the fat residue while not leaving any harmful residue behind.
Prevent chemicals residue
Many dish soaps are laden with chemicals that leave behind a residue on baby’s bottles. This residue can make its way into your baby’s stomach, which in the long run can be harmful and give them an upset tummy.
The dish soaps that we have looked at are specifically for baby’s bottles, contain no harsh chemicals, and are eco-friendly. They leave behind no chemical residue protecting your baby.
Better at cleaning milk fats
Baby milk, especially breast milk, leaves a fat residue on bottles and breast pumps that a normal dish soap struggles to get rid of.
These specially designed dish soaps cut through this milk fat residue leaving behind clean bottles ensuring a more thorough cleaning.
Safe for the baby
Dish soaps that are designed for cleaning baby’s bottles tend to use ingredients that contain no harsh chemicals. They are often unscented, made with natural organic ingredients, and therefore leave no harmful residue behind.
No harsh scent
Dish soaps that are organic tend to have no scent or a very mild scent that comes from the natural ingredients.
Ingredients Baby Dish Soap Shouldn’t contain
Our dish soaps contain some very harsh chemicals that are used in order to ensure a thorough clean that cuts through grease. But you don’t want these harsh chemicals coming into contact with your baby’s bottles, pacifiers, breast pumps, or dishes.
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However, gentle dish soap doesn’t mean that it won’t perform as well as or even better in most cases than these standard dish soaps.
The products that we have listed above are very gentle, contain no harsh chemicals, and are the most effective at thoroughly cleaning those baby items.
Below are some things that you should avoid when you are looking to purchase baby dish soap.
Numbered Dyes
These are considered an unnecessary addition to soaps. Most of these numbered dyes are petrochemical-based and have been shown to cause behavioral issues in children from prolonged and continuous exposure.
Any dish soaps that are suitable for cleaning baby’s bottles should not contain any numbered dyes.
Fragrance
Everyone loves the fresh smell that comes from the fragrance of our dish soap. But it is these fragrances that are often the cause of many irritations.
Cleaning products often contain hidden ingredients in the form of artificial fragrances, such as phthalates.
When you are looking to purchase baby dish soap, it is always best to look for one that either has no scent or that uses natural organic ingredients for the fragrance such as tea tree, lime, or lavender.
Antibacterial Agents
As parents, we all think that we should definitely be using dish soap that is antibacterial to ensure that all our baby’s bottles and other items are bacteria-free.
However, many antibacterial agents like triclosan and benzalkonium chloride also leave behind a residue even after thoroughly rinsing them.
The FDA has stated that there is no clear study to show the benefits of using antibacterial soaps and so they do discourage the use of them.
It has also been revealed by experts that exposure to high levels of antibacterial chemicals can lead to immune-related sensitivities, this is especially so in children.
So again when looking to purchase baby dish soap, it is best to steer clear of any that contain antibacterial agents.
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Sodium Lauryl Sulfate (SLS)
SLS is made from coconuts but due to its manufacturing process is highly toxic. It is a common ingredient in many personal care products such as soap.
It is often associated with side effects such as skin irritation, organ system toxicity, and endocrine disruption. Dish soap for baby’s bottles is usually free of these surfactants. If not, then it would be best to steer clear of them.
Always check the labels carefully.
Sodium Laureth Sulfate (SLES)
This is a slightly gentler surfactant that is manufactured from SLS and is still linked to skin irritation and organ system toxicity.
Even though this is gentler than SLS it still has a risk of contamination so it would be best to avoid products that include this ingredient.
Parabens
Parabens are very common in personal care and beauty products. But if it is mentioned on any product, it indicates the presence of a disrupting chemical in the product.
Parabens are used as a preservative in many products. The effects of fo exposure to parabens can include serious health problems, cancer, endocrine disruption, and organ-system toxicity.
The Best Way to Hand Wash Your Baby’s Bottles
There are many bottles available on the market that are dishwasher-safe. Although it’s not recommended due to the high temperatures that occur during a washing cycle, which may cause the bottles to leach chemicals.
It is advised to wash baby’s bottles and other related items in hand-hot water using a clean brush.
Use a Bowl
Sinks may harbor a lot of bacteria from food residue and spills so we would advise that you use a bowl instead. Put a separate bowl for all of your baby’s items such as bottles, pacifiers, and pump parts.
Things can all be placed into the bowl ready to be washed.
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Use Hot Water
Use hot water with plenty of dish soap. This will help to remove those stubborn milk odors and stains. It will also help to cut down the milk residue.
Follow the instructions on the dish soap, some tell you to add directly to the water while others advise placing on a brush first.
However, add the dish soap directly to the bottles first and let them sit for a few minutes before rinsing. This allows all the particles to be dissolved and gives the dish soap the opportunity to cut through the milk fat on the bottles.
Use a Bottle Brush
A bottle brush is a really important piece of kit for keeping your bottles clean and in good condition. While the liquid is still inside the bottle, use your bottle brush to clean the inside thoroughly. Repeat the process if needed.
Clean Bottle Nipples
Wash the nipples separately with a smaller nipple brush to ensure they are all clean. Then rinse the nipple thoroughly and squeeze all the water out.
Dry on a Rack
Never put wet bottles away while they are still wet, this will turn them into a breeding ground for germs and bacteria. Place all the bottles, nipples, and other accessories on a drying rack and ensure that they are completely dry before you put them away.
FAQ
What size of dish soap should I buy?
This will depend on your own personal circumstances. It depends on how many children you have that still have sippy cups, bottles, or pacifiers. It also depends on how many times a day you are washing these things.
The best advice would be to pick a size that will save you a little bit of time and cash by not having to go to the store again anytime soon.
Are vegetable-based dish soaps better for my baby’s bottles?
In addition to plant-based dish soaps such as the ones in our list, vegetable-based soaps are similar and just as gentle so are perfect for baby’s bottles.
The Final Thought
The dish soaps that we have included on our list are there because they are specifically designed for baby’s bottles. They have no harsh chemicals or any toxic ingredients yet they still do a tremendous job at cutting through milk fat and residue.
This ensures that all the baby items that you wash are clean and have no harmful residue left behind.
I don’t think that you can go wrong no matter which product you choose and I think it will very much come down to personal choice.
If I had to pick one, it would be Dr. Bronner’s Aloe Baby Castile Soap as it uses all-natural ingredients, contains no synthetic preservatives, and also has multiple uses making it a good value for money too.
