Sterilizing?

Opinions needed - on sterilizing bottles, pacifiers, etc.

What do you recommend?
Are the microwave sterilizers good?
Or do you just use boiling water?
Do you sterilize every time or just before the first use?

This first time Mommy thing should come with a tell all manual!

I haven't had children, but I do know that if you have a dishwasher you can use it as it uses hight temps to clean your dishes, also you can add some javex (bleach) to the cycle as well.  I have seen on TV that you can clean your bottles and then put them in the sink with some bleach and water, rinse and let dry.  Not sure though, this is what I would do (dishwasher method).  Hope it helps.

I am 12 years older than my sister and 15 years older than my brother. I know my Mom strialized everything with my sister but with my brother just gave it a good washing in the hottes****er she could stand. To be honest, I will prolly just toss everything into the dishwasher and be done with it. My brother and sister both are as normal as their personalities let them be. I say that because my sister would be a pro student since she loves going and my brother is a little obsessed with all sports and cats.

i just use the dishwasher

I purchased a microwave sterlizer and a regular stand alone sterlizer...I never used either.  I just put everything into a pot of boiling water for 5 minutes.  I only sterlized the first time....everytime after that I just wash in very hot soapy water.

I only "sterilized" the first time in boiling water.

Now, I hand wash, then throw in dishwasher.

I wish I had a dishwasher! 

I boiled everything before first use, and then would wash with ho****er and mild soap after that. Then about once a month I would fill up a huge pot with water and bring it to a boil and then toss everything in it. I never liked putting bottles in the dishwasher because I felt like they never got really clean (I think its the shape of the bottles that make it hard for the water to really get in there), so even though I have one, I never used it.

I have not sterilized anything but my breast pump parts.  I hand wash everything.  I don't like the job my dishwasher does, it sucks and it is brand new!

We boil the first time we use something when it's brand new, then after that I just hand wash everything that goes in her mouth.  The dishwasher occasionally leaves a little soap residue and when I handwash I can make sure it's all rinsed off, so I prefer it that way.  I have used the microwave sterilizers but gave up on it as it is too time consuming to me and was unnecessary.  If she got sick, I would have done it, but she has had no problems.