Microwave, cold water or UV? Pick the method first
A bottle steriliser kills germs on feeding equipment by steam, UV light or a sterilising solution. If you also express milk, our guide to wearable and double electric breast pumps compares the listings. Microwave steam has the shortest cycles in these listings, from as little as 2 minutes, but it needs a microwave. The Milton uses a cold water method and takes 15 minutes. The Tommee Tippee Ultra uses UV light and also dries.
The six sterilisers below map onto those methods: four microwave steam units, one cold water Milton and one UV unit that also dries. Always follow the instructions that come with your steriliser and let bottles and parts cool before they go anywhere near your baby. The table lines up the method, cycle, capacity and sterile hold wording that each listing states.
| Steriliser | Method | Cycle in the listing | Capacity in the listing | Stays sterile |
|---|
| Philips Avent Microwave Steriliser | Microwave steam | 2 to 6 minutes by microwave wattage | Up to 4 Philips Avent bottles | Up to 24 hours, lid unopened |
| Dr Brown’s Microwave Steam Steriliser | Microwave steam | As little as 2 minutes | Up to 4 Dr. Brown’s bottles plus parts and accessories | Not stated in the listing |
| NUK Microwave Steam Steriliser | Microwave steam | 4 minutes | Four baby bottles plus accessories (description) | Not stated in the listing |
| Tommee Tippee Microwave Steam Steriliser | Microwave steam | 4 minutes | Up to 4 bottles | Up to 24 hours, lid closed properly |
| Milton Cold Water Steriliser | Cold water | 15 minutes | 5L, up to 5 wide neck bottles (description) | Solution stays sterile for 24 hours |
| Tommee Tippee Ultra UV Steriliser and Dryer | UV | 35 minutes, sterilise and dry | Six bottles | Storage mode keeps contents sterile |
Best overall: Philips Avent Microwave Steriliser
The Philips Avent Microwave Steriliser SCF281/02 is the best overall choice. It is rated 4.7 from 5,437 ratings, against 4.6 from 4,230 for the NUK. Its listing says it sterilises baby bottles and other products in just 2 minutes, killing 99.9 percent of germs and bacteria, with the cycle set by microwave wattage.
The listing gives 2 minutes at 1200 to 1850 W, 4 minutes at 850 to 1100 W and 6 minutes at 500 to 800 W. Up to 4 Philips Avent baby bottles can be sterilised at once, standard neck and wide neck, and contents remain sterile for up to 24 hours if the lid is unopened. The listing shows Amazon AU as shipper and seller, and the product information lists BPA Free Materials. The trade off: it needs a microwave, and the product information lists dishwasher safe as No.
Among the four microwave units it has the highest rating count: 5,437, against 4,230 for the NUK, 3,372 for the Dr Brown’s and 119 for the Tommee Tippee. The product information lists the item model number as SCF281/02 and the dimensions as 28 x 28 x 16.6 cm; 500 Grams, so measure your microwave before you buy.
Dr Brown’s Microwave Steam Steriliser
The Dr Brown’s is a microwave steam steriliser rated 4.6 from 3,372 ratings. Its listing says it sterilises baby bottles and parts in as little as 2 minutes and can fit up to 4 Dr. Brown’s bottles at once, plus parts and accessories.
The bullets list included tongs, a compact, lightweight design and top rack dishwasher safe cleaning, and the listing says BPA free. It names pacifiers, teethers and training cups among the accessories it sterilises, and when your baby moves on from bottles our guide to the best sippy cups in Australia covers the next step. The trade off: it needs a microwave, and the listing gives no sterile hold time.
The first bullet is headed microwave steam sterilizer and says steam heat quickly sterilizes baby bottles, nipples, bottle parts, and more.
NUK Microwave Steam Steriliser: 4 minute microwave cycle
The NUK Microwave Steam Steriliser is rated 4.6 from 4,230 ratings, against 4.7 from 5,437 for the Philips Avent in the best overall section. Its listing says it sterilises bottles and accessories in just 4 minutes and is suitable for NUK First Choice and Classic bottles.
The listing also says it is ideal for baby feeding accessories that are used daily, and it shows Amazon AU as shipper and seller. The description says it sterilises four baby bottles plus accessories in just 4 minutes, and the listing does not state a sterile hold time. The trade off: it needs a microwave.
The product information lists the style as Microwave Steriliser and the dimensions as 16.1 x 26.5 x 26.5 cm; 570 Grams.
Tommee Tippee Microwave Steam Steriliser
The Tommee Tippee Microwave Steam Steriliser is rated 4.7 from 119 ratings, the smallest rating count of the six. Its listing says a quick sterilisation cycle of just 4 minutes gives you up to 4 clean, sterile bottles, and freshly steamed contents stay sterile for up to 24 hours when the lid is closed properly.
The listing says the steam kills 99.9% of harmful bacteria and viruses without using chemicals. It works best with Tommee Tippee products but can also fit baby bottles, soothers, breast pumps and feeding accessories from other brands. It measures only 24cm wide, is designed to fit most standard home microwaves, and its listing calls it ideal for travelling. The product information lists the dimensions as 24 x 25 x 8 cm; 900 Grams. The trade off: it needs a microwave.
Milton Cold Water Steriliser
The Milton Cold Water Steriliser is rated 4.8 from 8,711 ratings, the highest rating count of the six. Its listing says it sterilises in 15 minutes and that the Milton Method kills all harmful viruses, fungi, spores and bacteria.
The bullets name a lockable lid, carry handle and weighted grid to keep items fully submerged in the solution, a pouring spout, and a solution that stays sterile for 24 hours with no need to rinse items before use. The product information lists Is portable as No, and the method uses the Milton solution rather than a microwave. The product information lists the dimensions as 25 x 16.5 x 24.5 cm; 500 Grams. On 19 October 2026 the listing showed Amazon UK as shipper and seller, with Amazon's notice that UK imports may differ from local products.
Tommee Tippee Ultra UV Steriliser and Dryer
The Tommee Tippee Ultra UV Steriliser, Dryer and Storage is rated 4.7 from 699 ratings. Its listing says UV lights kill viruses and 99.9% of harmful bacteria, and that it can sterilise and dry six bottles in 35 minutes, with no need for harsh chemicals, heat or steam.
The listing says its storage mode keeps the contents sterile and that it is suitable for baby bottles, soothers, breast pumps and feeding accessories. It is the only one of the six whose listing says it dries. The listing gives package dimensions of 41.7 x 37.5 x 37.4 cm and 6.3 kg, and it does not state a plug type or voltage, so confirm the plug before you buy. On 19 October 2026 the listing showed Amazon UK as shipper and seller, with Amazon's notice that UK imports may differ from local products.
Sterilisers that also dry
A steriliser and dryer is a unit whose listing says it dries as well as sterilises. Of the six here, only the Tommee Tippee Ultra qualifies: its listing says it can sterilise and dry six bottles in 35 minutes. The other five listings do not say they dry.
If drying matters, weigh the trade offs the listings show. The Ultra lists a 35 minute cycle for six bottles and no need for harsh chemicals, heat or steam, but its package is listed at 6.3 kg, while the five units with a listed weight run from 500 Grams to 900 Grams. Check the plug and voltage before you order, because the Ultra listing does not state either.
Google's search overviews for these queries also describe other types: electric steam units with dryers, and all in one machines that wash the bottles with high pressure jets first. None of those is one of our six cards, so we have not checked their listings and make no claim about them.
How to choose the right steriliser for your routine
The biggest mistake is buying for the wrong setting. If you sterilise mostly at home and have a microwave, the microwave listings give the shortest cycles here: 2 to 6 minutes for the Philips Avent and 4 minutes for the NUK and Tommee Tippee. If you want a cold water method, the Milton listing gives 15 minutes with its solution. If you want drying as well, the Tommee Tippee Ultra UV lists 35 minutes for six bottles.
Then weigh capacity and how far ahead you prep. The Philips Avent and Tommee Tippee microwave listings say up to 4 bottles, the Dr Brown’s listing says up to 4 Dr. Brown’s bottles plus parts and accessories, the NUK description says four baby bottles plus accessories, the Milton description says its 5L capacity can hold up to 5 wide neck baby bottles at a time, and the Ultra says six bottles. The Philips Avent and Tommee Tippee microwave listings say contents stay sterile for up to 24 hours, and the Milton listing says its solution stays sterile for 24 hours. Be honest about how many bottles you go through and whether you prefer a quick cycle each time or a batch in advance.
Match the unit to the bottles you own. The Philips Avent listing counts its capacity in Philips Avent bottles, the Dr Brown’s listing counts Dr. Brown’s bottles, and the NUK listing says it is suitable for NUK First Choice and Classic bottles. The Tommee Tippee microwave listing says it works best with Tommee Tippee products but can also fit baby bottles, soothers, breast pumps and feeding accessories from other brands, and the Ultra listing says it is suitable for baby bottles, soothers, breast pumps and feeding accessories.
If you are still choosing the bottles themselves, our guide to the best baby bottles in Australia compares anti-colic venting, teat flow and wide versus standard necks.
For current Australian guidance on cleaning and sterilising baby bottles, read the Raising Children Network page on cleaning and sterilising bottle feeding equipment and the Pregnancy, Birth and Baby page on cleaning and sterilising baby bottles.
What the key specs mean
A handful of details do most of the work when you compare these. Method is the headline: microwave steam, a cold water solution or UV light. Cycle time is tied to method and, for microwave units, to your microwave wattage: the Philips Avent listing gives 2 to 6 minutes depending on power, the NUK and Tommee Tippee microwave listings give 4 minutes, and the Ultra lists 35 minutes for six bottles.
Capacity tells you how many bottles fit per cycle, which matters more the more feeds you do. The sterile hold wording on several listings means you can prep a batch with the lid closed. Washing, sterilising and drying are separate jobs: only the Tommee Tippee Ultra listing says it dries, and none of the six is titled as a washer. Read method, cycle time, capacity and sterile hold wording together.
Size matters in a small kitchen. The product information gives dimensions of 28 x 28 x 16.6 cm and 500 Grams for the Philips Avent, 16.1 x 26.5 x 26.5 cm and 570 Grams for the NUK, 24 x 25 x 8 cm and 900 Grams for the Tommee Tippee microwave unit, 25 x 16.5 x 24.5 cm and 500 Grams for the Milton, and an item weight of 680 Grams for the Dr Brown’s. The Tommee Tippee Ultra lists package dimensions of 41.7 x 37.5 x 37.4 cm and 6.3 kg.
A short checklist before you buy: compare your microwave wattage with the Philips Avent bands, compare your bottle brand with the capacity wording on each listing, and confirm the plug on any mains unit, because the Ultra listing does not state one.
How we checked these sterilisers
NestPath does not run a lab, and we have not tested any of these sterilisers. We read the Amazon AU listing for each one, including the title, bullet points and product information, and recorded the rating, rating count and seller line shown on the page. Specs come from the maker's bullet points and the product information on each listing. We left out anything a listing does not state. We did not weigh, time or run any unit, so every cycle time, capacity and sterile hold figure on this page is the listing's own wording, and a footnote marker such as ** on a listing was not captured with its text. If a listing says nothing on a point, the page says it does not state it rather than guess.
Last checked: 19 October 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What type of bottle sterilizer is best?
It depends on your routine. A microwave steam unit has the shortest cycles in these listings, with the Philips Avent listing giving 2 to 6 minutes by microwave wattage, but it needs a microwave. The Milton uses a cold water method and lists 15 minutes. The Tommee Tippee Ultra uses UV light and lists 35 minutes for six bottles.
Is Tommee Tippee better than Avent?
Neither wins every job. The Philips Avent Microwave Steriliser is best overall here, rated 4.7 from 5,437 ratings. The Tommee Tippee Microwave Steam Steriliser is also rated 4.7, from 119 ratings, and its listing says freshly steamed contents stay sterile for up to 24 hours when the lid is closed properly. Both are microwave units.
How to sterilize baby bottles using a sterilizer?
Follow the instructions that come with your model. For the Philips Avent microwave unit the listing gives 2 minutes at 1200 to 1850 W, 4 minutes at 850 to 1100 W and 6 minutes at 500 to 800 W, and says contents remain sterile for up to 24 hours if the lid is unopened.
Is a bottle sterilizer the same as a bottle cleaner?
No. A steriliser is sold to kill germs, and the Philips Avent listing says it is proven to kill 99.9% of germs and bacteria. Google's search overview describes all in one machines that wash bottles with high pressure jets first. None of the six sterilisers in this guide is titled as a washer.
Is there a machine that washes, sterilizes, and dries bottles?
Yes. Google's search overview lists all in one machines that wash, rinse, sterilise and dry bottles. None of them is in this guide, so we have not checked their listings. The only one of our six whose listing says it dries is the Tommee Tippee Ultra UV Steriliser, Dryer and Storage.
How to use a bottle sterilizer and dryer?
Follow the maker's instructions for your model. The Tommee Tippee Ultra listing says it can sterilise and dry six bottles in 35 minutes, and that its storage mode keeps the contents sterile. The listing does not state a plug type or voltage, so confirm the plug before you buy.
Which brand of baby bottle sterilizer is the best?
No single brand wins every job. Best overall here is the Philips Avent Microwave Steriliser, rated 4.7 from 5,437 ratings, ahead of the NUK, rated 4.6 from 4,230. For a cold water method the Milton is rated 4.8 from 8,711, and for UV drying the Tommee Tippee Ultra is rated 4.7 from 699.
Do you need a bottle steriliser machine?
That depends on your baby's age and your health professional's advice. This guide covers the equipment, not medical advice. For current Australian guidance on cleaning and sterilising baby bottles, read the Raising Children Network and Pregnancy, Birth and Baby pages, then choose a method that fits your routine and how many bottles you use.
