As my mom always points out, we live in a time where raising babies is completely different than it was 30 years ago. Sure, the basics are the same of diaper changes, bottle feeds, and fussy babies, but we now have innovations and technology that can make the so-called “newborn trenches” easier, or at least, more tolerable. If you’re on the fence about whether or not you should spend the extra money on a bottle washer, here’s my two cents on the popular Grownsy EaseClean Pro Bottle Washer.
This handy “mini dishwasher” for pump parts and dirty bottles is a game-changer. Once you learn to use it and see its beauty, you’ll wonder how (or why) you thought you could ever live without it.
While it’s no necessity, and hand-washing and air-drying bottles will more than suffice, it’s something worth adding to your registry to let someone else “treat you” to a little taste of modern luxury. In this review, I’ll go over everything you need to know about the Grownsy baby bottle washer, from set-up to daily use.
Grownsy EaseClean Pro Bottle Washer
Pros
- Huge time-saver.
- Also cleans pump parts.
- Includes drying and sterilization.
- Easy to learn to use.
Cons
- Requires placement next to sink or bucket for drainage.
- Can be bulky/take up lots of counter space.
- Expensive investment.
- Requires purchase of cleaning tablets.
Grownsy Bottle Washer: Learning to Use/Ease of Use
Learning to use the Grownsy Bottle Washer Pro is pretty simple. While I wouldn’t recommend it, it’s probably so intuitive that you could get away with skipping reading the manual entirely. If you’re like me and prefer a visual demonstration, there are many YouTube videos that go over the basics of how to operate this popular bottle washer.
The product is made of a few key components: the washer itself, a hose to drain dirty water, a fresh water tank (located in the back), the power cord, the cover, and the interior rack. In the base of the unit, you’ll place dirty bottles face down within the gray plastic area.
Next, you’ll place the white plastic rack on top, where you can add pump parts and other bottle parts. You’ll throw a detergent tab (the machine comes with a starter pack, but you will eventually need to purchase more) in the base, then walk away and let the magic of the machine do the rest. The option to also dry and sanitize bottles is great, too.
If you have two parents in the household, I recommend both know how to operate and use this bottle washer, as you may find you need to use it multiple times a day.
Grownsy Easeclean Bottle Washer Pro: What to Know Before You Buy
There are a few key components to consider before you purchase this bottle washer. First, it’s something that you’ll want to think about placement for before you buy. It’s not the smallest and will require you to temporarily rearrange your kitchen countertops. Because it’s essentially a dishwasher for your baby’s bottles, it does take up a good amount of space. But, your baby won’t be using bottles forever.
The machine also requires the hose to be hooked up so that dirty water can drain. The easiest way to do this would be to set it up next to your kitchen sink. However, if your sink is on an island like mine and not near a plug, this could pose an issue. You can also buy a bucket or bowl (must be over 1 gallon) to allow the dirty water to drain into.
Like any appliance that uses water (such as a humidifier), you’ll want to use clean water for this bottle washer. You can use either distilled or purified water. I find the concept of buying regular distilled water bottles so annoying (and expensive), so I choose to use reverse osmosis water from my home.
If you use straight tap water and live in an area with lots of hard water mineral build up, you’ll find that the machine quickly gets build up in it. It does come with descaling tablets, but you’ll need to use this too often if you’re not using clean water to wash the bottles.
Specifications
- Spray Jets: 26.
- Sterilization: 212°F.
- Cleaning Modes: 9.
- Bottle Storage: HEPA-filtered 72-hour sterile storage.
- Size: Holds 4 to 8 bottles and pump parts.
- Warranty: 3-year warranty.
- Dimensions: 17.45 inches high x 16.45 inches deep x 11.55 inches wide.
- Weight: 13.37 pounds.
In My Expert Opinion
The world of baby products is a big place, full of new innovations that can leave you wondering how parents did it before all these were invented. The truth is, if you can’t afford a bottle washer or don’t want one cluttering up your countertop, you don’t need one. There’s nothing wrong with good-ol’ fashioned hand-washing and air drying. But, if you can afford it (or want someone else to splurge on it for a baby registry item), this Grownsy bottle washer will soon become your best friend. The time saved is truly a game changer.
Grownsy EaseClean Pro Bottle Washer
While it is bulky and does require placement next to sink (or a large bucket), I view this as a temporary sacrifice that’s more than worthwhile for the time saved. If you’re planning on having a second child that will be bottle-fed, it will more than pay itself back in the stress and time saved.
