How to Clean and Store Your Drying Rack and Bottle Brush

Quick answer

Clean your drying rack and bottle brush every day with hot soapy water, rinse them thoroughly, and let both air-dry fully before the next use. Once a week, give the rack a deeper clean in warm soapy water and, if it is dishwasher-safe, run it through a hot cycle. Store the brush upright and off the rack so it can dry between uses, and keep the rack in a spot with moving air rather than a sealed cupboard.

Why drying rack and brush hygiene matters

A drying rack and bottle brush are two of the few feeding items that stay wet for hours. That lingering moisture, plus milk residue and warm indoor air, is exactly what mould and bacteria need to multiply. If you notice a sour smell, a slimy film, or dark specks in the rack's corners or the brush bristles, that is a sign the routine needs tightening. Cleaning these accessories is not about sterilising every surface; it is about removing milk residue and drying them completely so nothing has a chance to grow.

Daily cleaning routine

After your last feed of the day, wash the rack and brush in hot water with a small amount of mild dish soap. Use a separate sponge or cloth for the rack so you are not spreading milk residue from other dishes. Pay attention to the drip tray, the slots where bottles sit, and the base of the brush where milk collects. Rinse everything under running water until no suds remain, then shake off excess water and stand the rack pieces and brush upright to air-dry. Do not dry them with a tea towel, because a damp cloth can transfer bacteria back onto the surfaces.

Weekly deep clean and mould prevention

Once a week, take the rack apart as far as it will go and wash each piece in warm soapy water, using a small brush to reach into the corners and the drip tray channels. If the manufacturer states the rack or brush is dishwasher-safe, a hot dishwasher cycle is an effective way to clean them, but check the instructions first because heat can warp some plastics. For extra reassurance, you can pour boiling water over a heat-safe rack or soak it in a sterilising solution, then rinse and air-dry. The key step is drying: mould prevention depends far more on thorough drying than on how often you sterilise.

Storing the rack and brush between uses

Keep the drying rack on a clean countertop with space around it, not pushed against a wall or inside a closed cabinet. Air needs to move through the rack so bottles and the rack itself dry faster. Store the bottle brush upright in a holder or in the rack's designated slot, bristles up, so water drains away from the base. Do not store the brush inside a sealed container while it is still damp, and do not leave it lying flat on the sink where it stays wet. If you use a travel drying rack, dry it fully before packing it away.

When to replace rather than clean

Bristles flatten and splay over time, and a worn brush cleans less effectively even after washing. Replace the brush when the bristles no longer spring back or when the handle shows cracks where water can sit. For the rack, replace any part that has persistent dark spots, a lingering smell, or cracks that trap moisture. Replacement parts for bottle accessories are often inexpensive and easier to keep hygienic than trying to scrub a degraded surface.

Step-by-step: clean and store your rack and brush

1. 1. Empty and rinse after every use: Remove bottles and teats from the rack as soon as they are dry, then rinse the rack and brush under warm running water to clear fresh milk residue before it sets. Mistake to avoid: leaving bottles on the rack overnight, which keeps the rack damp and gives residue time to harden.
2. 2. Wash daily with hot soapy water: Wash the rack, drip tray, and brush in hot water with mild dish soap, using a small brush for corners and the brush base where milk pools. Checkpoint: no visible film or milk smell remains after rinsing.
3. 3. Rinse thoroughly and skip the tea towel: Rinse until the water runs clear and no suds remain, then shake off excess water instead of drying with a cloth. Mistake to avoid: drying with a damp tea towel, which can put bacteria back onto clean surfaces.
4. 4. Air-dry fully, bristles up: Stand the rack pieces and brush upright in a spot with moving air, leaving space between items so water can drain and evaporate. Checkpoint: everything is completely dry before the next feed, with no droplets trapped in the drip tray.
5. 5. Deep clean weekly: Take the rack apart and wash each piece in warm soapy water, or use a hot dishwasher cycle if the manufacturer confirms it is dishwasher-safe. Mistake to avoid: assuming sterilising replaces cleaning; sterilising does not remove milk residue or biofilm.
6. 6. Store smart between uses: Keep the rack on an open countertop and store the brush upright in a holder or rack slot, never sealed in a damp container or left flat on the sink. Next step: replace the brush when bristles splay or the handle cracks, and replace rack parts that stay stained or smelly.

Product facts that help with cleaning and storage

• Dr Brown's Insulated Straw Cup Replacement Kit 2pk: Includes 2 replacement Sippy Straws and 1 Cleaning Brush; the straws are dishwasher (top rack) safe. The slim cleaning brush reaches inside straws where milk residue collects, and top-rack dishwasher safety means you can clean them without hand-scrubbing every time.
• Dr Brown's Deluxe Bottle Warmer and Steriliser: A 2-in-1 device that warms bottles and food jars and provides a steam steriliser for bottles, teats, soothers, and more, with pre-programmed warming settings. If you already steam-sterilise, you can add cleaned rack parts or brushes only if the manufacturer confirms they are heat-safe; otherwise stick to washing and air-drying them.