Electric Steriliser Help

[Shengji]

i,

I really hope this is in the correct place in the forum, apologies if it is not!

I am the single father of a 3 day old baby (don't ask, a very long story, and apologies if mums net is mums only!!!) and I really nead some help.

I have a Tommee Tippee Electronic steam steriliser which I have mistakenly run with no water in twice tonight. Both times it came up with an error symbol, but the heating plate has brown burns on it and even though I have cleaned it 4 or five times, everything I put through it comes out smelling of burnt rubber.

I am going to run out of sterilised bottles very soon and I am desperate to find a way to clean it properly or is it ok to use now? I would be grateful for any help, thanks, Will

It sounds frazzled to me sorry.

Can you use it as a cold water steriliser, ie is it a multi purpose one you can take the heater part out of and use it as a big tub with cold water plus milton?

Or you can sterilise the bottles by boiling them in a pan for 10 mins in the meantime, don't panic.

Hello Will,

Mumsnet definitely not just for mums! There are dads here, and grannies: all sorts...soon, I predict, there will be a flood of other MNers to welcome you and offer advice.

I'm afraid the steriliser does sound a bit terminal. It might be worth ringing the Tommee Tippee helpline (which from their website appears to be 0500 97 98 99) to explain the problem - they may know of a cunning way to clean the frazzled hot plate. Probably not open yet though.

Otherwise, Moaning Minnie is spot-on. Scrub the bottles and teats etc clean and then lob them into a pan with lots of boiling water and just keep it on the go for 10 minutes. Make sure you let them cool.

Hope this helps, and good luck

Hi Will, and welcome to mumsnet. hope you find the great support i have had over the years.
I agree, it sounds like it's given up - i did this to mine a few weeks ago, the smell is grim! I third boiling the bottles for now, but just wanted to let you know that Avent sterilisers are on some sort of offer in boots at the moment, if you need to get a replacement eventually.

good luck, and congratulations on your new baby.

Hi everyone, thankyou so much for all your help!!! It's a shame that it errored but didn't stop heating the plate! Nevermind, that's one mistake I won't be making again, one of many I suspect!

Hi Will

Do you have a microwave? You can use a microwave-safe container with a lid, bung in a couple of inches of water, add the bottles etc. and bung on full power for 8 mins or so - cheaper than other forms of power-use, too.

Good luck with your baby!

Hi Will

The other option is to half fill a large saucepan with water & to put a colander on top of it. Find a saucepan lid that fits the colander snugly, heat the water to a really good boil, and then put the bottles etc into the colander.

Does the same job as an electric steriliser if you keep the lid really snug & steam them for about 10 - 15 minutes. They should be properly hot when they come out.

Good luck!

I never owned a steriliser when I had my first dc. I did what pogger suggested and used a pan of boiling water with colander on top, put the lid on for 10 mins and bobs your uncle!