Silicone baby feeding gear is brilliant until a Comotomo baby bottle or silicone bowl comes out of the dishwasher looking orange. Tomato sauce, carrot puree, turmeric. They all leave their mark. Add a faint rubbery smell that lingers after washing and it starts to feel like nothing is ever truly clean.
The good news is that most stains and smells are fixable. This guide explains why silicone marks and smells in the first place, and what to actually do about it.
Why Does Silicone Stain?
Silicone is porous at a microscopic level. Highly pigmented foods, think tomato, carrot, beetroot and turmeric, push colour into those tiny surface gaps. Heat makes it worse. Leaving food sitting in a bowl or bottle for hours before washing gives pigment more time to set.
The stain is usually surface-level. It looks worse than it is. The silicone itself has not degraded and the piece is still safe to use.
Does Silicone Stain Permanently?
Not always. Many stains can be significantly reduced or removed. Some deep orange or red stains on light coloured silicone will fade but never fully disappear. That is normal, especially on pieces used daily.
- Rinse feeding gear immediately after meals before food dries on
- Avoid soaking silicone in tomato-based sauces or curries for extended periods
- Wash in warm soapy water as soon as possible after use
How to Remove Food Stains from Silicone
Start with the simplest method and work up from there.
Sunlight. Place the clean, wet piece in direct sunlight for two to four hours. UV light naturally breaks down pigment. This works surprisingly well on orange and red stains. It is free, requires no scrubbing and is the gentlest option.
Baking soda paste. Mix baking soda with a small amount of water to form a thick paste. Spread it over the stained area and leave for fifteen to thirty minutes. Scrub gently with a soft brush and rinse well.
Diluted white vinegar soak. Soak the piece in a solution of equal parts white vinegar and water for thirty minutes. Rinse thoroughly. Do not combine vinegar and baking soda in the same step. They cancel each other out.
Hydrogen peroxide. For stubborn stains, apply three percent hydrogen peroxide directly to the stain and leave for one hour in sunlight. Rinse well before use. Use this occasionally, not as a routine wash.
Getting Smell Out of Silicone
A rubbery or sour smell in silicone is one of the most common complaints. It usually comes from one of three things: absorbed food odours, dishwasher detergent residue, or the natural off-gassing of lower quality silicone when new.
Baking soda soak. Fill a bowl with warm water and add two tablespoons of baking soda. Submerge the silicone piece and leave for several hours or overnight. Rinse and air dry. This is one of the most effective methods for getting smell out of silicone without harsh chemicals.
Boiling. Place the silicone in a pot of boiling water for five minutes. This helps release absorbed odours. Allow to cool completely before handling. Check the manufacturer care instructions before boiling. Most food grade silicone handles it fine.
Sunlight again. Direct sunlight helps with smells the same way it helps with stains. Leave clean pieces outside for a few hours. Baking silicone in a low oven at around 100 degrees Celsius for one hour is another method some people use to drive out lingering odours. Place the piece on a clean baking tray and allow it to cool fully before use. Only do this with food grade silicone you are confident is high quality.
New silicone smell. If a new piece smells strongly of rubber, wash it in hot soapy water, rinse, then leave it in sunlight for a day. The smell from new silicone typically fades within a few uses. How long it takes depends on the quality of the silicone and how much ventilation it gets. Most new pieces settle within one to two weeks of regular use and washing.
The Best Way to Clean Silicone Feeding Gear Properly
A consistent cleaning routine is the best way to keep silicone smelling fresh and looking good. These steps work for bowls, plates, bibs, spoons and bottles.
- Rinse immediately after each meal, before food has a chance to dry
- Wash in warm soapy water using a soft brush or cloth, paying attention to ridges and edges
- For dishwasher cleaning, use the top rack and a gentle cycle where possible
- Air dry completely before storing. Trapped moisture is a common cause of sour smells
- Do a baking soda soak once a week if pieces are used daily
- Bring pieces into sunlight every few weeks to keep stains and odours under control
Bibs in particular tend to trap smells around the food catcher. Regular boiling and sunlight drying makes a real difference. If you are weighing up whether silicone bibs are worth the effort at all, read about why silicone bibs work so well for messy eaters.
Habits That Prevent Stains and Smells Building Up
- Rinse immediately after meals, before food dries
- Air dry silicone fully before stacking or storing it
- Avoid storing silicone in sealed containers or drawers while still damp
- Rotate pieces so nothing sits unused and damp at the back of a cupboard
If you are packing feeding gear for daycare, keeping pieces clean and smell-free matters even more. This daycare feeding pack guide for Australian families covers what to send and how to keep it organised.
When to Replace Silicone Feeding Gear
Staining and mild smell do not mean a piece needs replacing. Look for these signs instead.
- Cracks, tears or surface breaks in the silicone
- Persistent smell that does not improve after multiple cleaning attempts
- Sticky or tacky surface texture that was not there before
- Visible mould that cannot be fully removed
If you are ever unsure whether silicone feeding products are genuinely safe for your baby, this article on silicone safety for babies covers what to look for when buying and what food grade really means.
Browse our silicone baby mealtime range for bowls, plates, bibs and spoons made from food grade silicone designed to last through the mess.
