In Depth Baby Product Reviews Led by a Pediatrician
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We tested top brands like Boon, Munchkin, Philips Avent, OXO, and more to find the best
Credit: Abriah Wofford
By Molly Bradac ⋅ Senior Research Analyst ⋅ May 30, 2024
The Best Bottle Drying Racks for 2024
Need a bottle drying rack that can handle your washing needs? Our review ranks this year's top 10 bottle-drying racks that are worthy of taking up premium countertop space. We extensively researched the market to determine the best before purchasing the most promising and popular contenders for hands-on testing. For many parents, the daily grind involves washing and drying feeding gear, like bottles, spoons, plates, and the best breast pump components. So, that's exactly what we did. We spent hours washing and drying gear to evaluate and compare performance among the drying rack competition, focusing on factors like functionality, durability, and how much effort is required to clean the drying rack. Our review with expert recommendations will help you find the best product for your needs and budget.
Is your baby or toddler joining you at the table for meals? Our list of the best baby feeding gear showcases only top-performing feeding products and can help you prepare for family meals. For easier cleanup after mealtime, use one of our favorite baby bottle brush to help scrub the mess, and don't forget that your baby's best pacifier and the best baby teether toy will need regular cleaning and drying. A collection of these smaller items makes for a great baby gift kit.
Editor's Note: We updated this review on May 30, 2024, to ensure product availability and pricing accuracy.
Solid construction, capacity, removable cup holds small parts
Easy to clean, compact for easy storage, minimal footprint
Portable, travel-friendly, includes bottle brush and detail cleaner
Designed for limited countertop space
Foldable, affordable
Spins, high-capacity, affordable
Low-profile design, decent space for items that range in size
Customize layout, minimal footprint, includes travel bag
Affordable, spins, small footprint
Layout, carry handle
Cons
Large footprint
Limited space for small items
Holds minimal amount of parts
Might not fit under all cabinets
Pegs close together, may need to clean nooks and crannies with bottle brush
Not the sturdiest, drip tray doesn't attach, takes up vertical space
Check tray for grime, extra cost for some accessories, requires handwashing
Capacity best for few bottles and accessories, requires hand washing
Limited capacity, not easy to clean
Time-consuming to assemble and dismantle, requires hand washing, hard to reach items
Bottom Line
If you have countertop space to spare, this durable drying rack can hold multiple bottles and parts and is dishwasher-safe for easy cleaning
With elevated prongs for ample airflow, this dishwasher-safe drying rack is easy to clean and equally as convenient to store
A smallish travel-friendly case with a bottle brush that unfolds to dry a few items while away from home
A verticle drying rack that clears up countertop space but might not fit under all cabinets
With a compact fold for easy storage and an affordable price tag, this drying rack with pegs close together it more suitable for more narrow bottles than wide ones
A spinning, two-tier, high-capacity drying rack that lacks stability, making it best for lightweight items, like plastic bottles instead of glass
Despite requiring handwashing, this option is low-profile and stylish, making it one you may not mind showcasing on your countertop
If you seek customization and a travel bag you might be able to overlook the rack's handwashing and limited capacity
An attractive drying rack with a small footprint that spins for easy 360-degree access but requires hand washing
A drying rack with a thoughtful design but can be time-consuming to setup and dismantle, which hinders an already involved cleaning process
The OXO Tot Bottle Rack offers functionality, durability, and generous capacity to dry lots of stuff regularly. As a top-rack dishwasher-safe product, this contender is easy to clean if you don't have time for handwashing. The rack holds up to eight bottles (including glass baby bottles), or you can use it to dry pump parts, sippy cups, plates, bowls, utensils, and more. The detachable container can hold and dry smaller items like medicine droppers, feeding utensils, and straws. The tray's bottom features ribs, which keep the parts lifted and away from draining water.
With greater capacity comes a larger footprint, so this rack may not be ideal for families with limited counter space. The tray also lacks drainage holes, which causes water to pool in the grooves, increasing the odds for gross things to collect or grow. Still, you can avoid any long-term issues with regular cleaning and some TLC. Considering everything, this rack can meet almost any need if you have the countertop real estate to spare. If you don't have the space, consider a more compact contender like the easy-to-clean Philips Avent Drying Rack.
The Philips Avent Drying Rack is sleek and modern, and despite its minimal footprint (which is excellent for small spaces), it can dry several parts at once. The branches hold up to eight items, like baby bottles, sippy cups, and water bottles (plastic or metal). Since the branches run down the middle, accessing items is easy. The removable prongs make this rack easy to dismantle and compact for storage. Plus, it is top-rack dishwasher safe, so cleanup is effortless.
Although we consider this product functional, smaller items may not fit on the wider prongs and will end up on the tray. Although not a deal-breaker, depending on your needs, it is a factor to consider if you frequently wash small items. Despite this drawback, this rack is for you if you want a dishwasher-safe drying rack that can be dismantled for easy storage. If you have the space, the OXO Tot Bottle Rack offers plenty of drying room and a detachable container for smaller items.
The OXO Tot On-the-Go is a travel set great for an overnight trip or an adventure to the grandparent's house. The sturdy case opens and features a few pegs and a bottle brush with a built-in stand to keep it upright while items dry. The case's bottom has ribs that lift items and keep them away from standing water. It measures 10.8" when open and 5.5" when closed, making it compact and perfect for diaper bags or travel. This rack is easy to stow almost anywhere from your luggage to your workspace for cleaning breast pump parts. It is top-rack dishwasher safe, perfect for busy parents, but hand washing is also a snap.
The OXO Tot On-the-Go has limited space and capacity. It holds a couple of bottles and accessories or pump parts, but not much at once. If you need more capacity while traveling, other contenders in our lineup provide more drying space and still break down into a compact size (though they don't all include a bottle brush). We love that this product offers an all-in-one travel solution if you only have a handful of items to wash and dry. Another compact option you should consider is the Philips Avent Drying Rack. It's affordable, and you can easily dismantle it for optimal storage.
Important
Always start with a clean and dry rack. Regular cleaning will help ensure your baby's bottles are clean, with limited opportunities for germs and bacteria to grow.
Compare Products
BabyGearLab team has tested a variety of baby gear over the years, and has a unique set of skills and experience to offer expert recommendations to our readers.
Credit: Abriah Wofford
How We Test Bottle Drying Racks
We extensively researched the market before selecting the most popular and compelling products for hands-on testing. We tested each product side-by-side for ease of cleaning, capacity, and more to find the best in the bunch. If you've never used a rack before or you aren't sure what you need, our tests can help you find the best fit for your needs.
The OXO Tot Space Saving's drip tray and a top compartment are removable and dishwasher safe, but the main base is not.
Credit: Abriah Wofford
Why Trust GearLab
The BabyGearLab Team is exceptionally passionate and equally knowledgeable about baby gear. Over the years, we have extensively tested multiple products, from various car seats to strollers for every occasion, even nursery must-haves, and more. Leading our review is Molly Bradac, Senior Review Editor and nanny with over 15 years of childcare experience. For Molly, proper bottle cleaning, drying, and sanitizing are familiar territory.
The First Years Spin Stack has a top-level perfect for small items.
Credit: Abriah Wofford
Analysis and Test Results
To simulate everyday use and compare drying rack performance, we completed lots of washing and drying of commonly used feeding items, including top-ranked baby bottles, components from our favorite breast pumps, medicine droppers, pacifiers, and more. We also cleaned each baby bottle drying rack following the manufacturer's care instructions.
What's the Best Value?
Among the competition, the Philips Avent Drying Rack is minimal and sleek in appearance; it is functional and affordable and good for baby bottles, sippy cups, or kids' water bottles. We appreciate that it's easy to clean, and the tray is removable to reach the grime that can accumulate over time. Gunk collection isn't unique to this product; it happens with most drying racks, so we appreciate a dishwasher-safe rack to ease the cleaning task. If you don't mind stretching your budget, the OXO Tot Bottle Rack is a top performer. Like the Philips Avent, this option is dishwasher-safe, offering greater capacity and a designated container for small items.
The Boon Sprig easily breaks down, which makes cleaning easier.
Credit: Abriah Wofford
Ease of Cleaning
Standing water is a no-go because it can create an environment for bacteria and mold growth. Therefore, we consider the best drying racks to have thoughtful designs that keep gear elevated out of standing water, allow ample airflow, and include a removable drip tray so that you can empty drained water. Also, having a dishwasher-safe drying rack can be convenient as it will need regular cleaning to remain a hygienic place for your baby's things.
Among the competition, the Philips Avent Drying Rack holds a top spot in this metric. This feat is directly related to the product's design. We consider helpful features to maintain a hygienic place for your baby's items. These include a removable tray, sufficient airflow to benefit dry time, and minimal nooks and crannies for grime to hide. With that said, just a word of wisdom: don't forget to check the removable tray for standing water and grime; this goes for any product. Sometimes, out of sight means out of mind, and it's easy to forget about this area. Therefore, we recommend making cleaning a habit and marking it on the calendar if you need the reminder.
Conversely, the Prince Lionheart Deluxe ranks the lowest. This product is not dishwasher-safe and will need handwashing, and with many nooks and crannies to inspect, we consider the job time-consuming and difficult. Given the hassle, we worry that parents will not frequently clean the bottle drying rack as they should.
Wash Your Cleaning Tools
Keeping the drying rack and supplies clean is essential to avoid building up or transferring bacteria and grossness. Rinse your bottle brush thoroughly, and, if possible, run it through the dishwasher or sterilize it occasionally.
The Boon Springs offers medium capacity with a smaller footprint.
Credit: Abriah Wofford
Ease of Use
We value a product that is easy to assemble and dismantle, collapses for storage, and offers the necessary capacity to dry the number of bottles you will need in 24 hours and any pumping parts, pacifiers, or other baby items. We suggest pre-determining your ideal capacity to narrow down potential products. Still, if you have the countertop space to spare, we recommend considering one with more room because, let's face it, no busy parent has time to play Tetris with a drying rack.
The Boon Grass, Stem & Twig and OXO Tot Bottle Rack rank the highest among the lineup. These products were easy to assemble and dismantle, had low profiles, and could hold various items. Overall, we didn't mind using these contenders regularly.
Unfortunately, we can't say the same for the Prince Lionheart Deluxe. Assembling and dismantling this bottle drying rack is oddly time-consuming and challenging due to the multiple plastic clip-together tabs, which don't feel very durable. Also, while it appears to be a highly organizational layout, it isn't. Accessing specific items when fully loaded with bottles and accessories was tricky.
The OXO Tot On-the-Go has a useful case, making it a great travel-friendly companion.
Credit: Abriah Wofford
Durability
A bottle drying rack can be a handy kitchen tool beyond babyhood as you can use it to dry other feeding items like your child's snack catcher, mealtime dishware, a favorite water bottle for your kid, and more. While testing the competition, we noticed that some bottle drying racks feel durable and sturdy, whereas others feel flimsy. We suggest selecting a better-quality product for the best chance of long-term service.
Scoring top of the group is the OXO Tot Bottle Rack, outshining most of the group in this test metric. This drying rack feels sturdy, solid, and high-quality, and we believe there's a great chance it will provide longevity. However, we can't say the same about the The First Years Spin Stack. This option doesn't feel as sturdy. Although the pegs felt snug during testing, we worry they will grow weak after repeated use, and compared to other contenders, we worry about their durability over time.
The Boon Stem and Twig are accessories that help hold small items, like bottle rings.
Credit: Abriah Wofford
Conclusion
Washing and drying a mountain of bottles and accessories isn't anyone's favorite chore. Especially if there are a bunch to clean at one time. However, a functional drying rack can help make the task more manageable by providing a single location for everything to dry. Our review includes the information you need about each rack to select the best product for your washing needs.
