Sometimes I believe we are the only family of four in existence without a dishwasher. When we bought our almost 100 year old house it was just my husband and I and dishwashers really weren't a necessity. But two children later and a lot more dishes, I'm beginning to rethink that decision ~ especially when it comes to sippy cups. Washing sippy cups right after their being used greatly reduces the chance of finding a cup full of sour milk or juice – which if ingested could make your child sick, but will also help to ensure that the cups are as clean as possible. But with all of those nooks and crannies for milk and juice to sit and permeate it's almost impossible to keep on top of. We've tried pipe cleaners, brushes, sponges, steaming, soaking, but nothing seems to help … that sour smell just will not go away! And even dishwashers, though the water can get much hotter and the washing more vigorous, over time will still not get to the root of the problem.

After trying many different sippy cup cleaning techniques the one that has worked best for us has been by boiling. Just boiling the sippy cups in water is not going to get to cure the stinkies, but if they are boiled in water with baking soda and a bit of vinegar I have found that they become almost as good as new!

• 4 cups of warm water, or enough to cover sippy cups and pieces

• 1/4 cup baking soda

• 1/4 vinegar

Wash the sippy cups and spout pieces with soap and water to the best of your ability. Then place cups with their pieces in a large pot with the above ingredients. Bring to a boil, reduce heat to medium/low and cover. Boil for 5 minutes. Remove and place on a clean cloth or drying rack to dry.

Unite for HER and author are not responsible for any specific health or allergy needs that may require medical supervision and are not liable for any damages or negative consequences from any treatment, action, application or preparation, to any person reading or following the information in this article. References are provided for informational purposes only and do not constitute endorsement of any websites or other sources. Readers should be aware that the products listed in this article may change.

Unite for HER and author are not responsible for any specific health or allergy needs that may require medical supervision and are not liable for any damages or negative consequences from any treatment, action, application or preparation, to any person reading or following the information in this article. References are provided for informational purposes only and do not constitute endorsement of any websites or other sources. Readers should be aware that the products listed in this article may change.