What a fair price looks like
Condition on WishThrift is described by the seller against five grades, and nobody inspects it on your behalf — so the description and the photographs are what you are buying on.
| Condition | Typical | What it means |
|---|---|---|
| New with Tags | £45 (~$60) | Unused, tags or seals intact |
| Like New | £38 (~$51) | Barely used, no visible wear |
| Good | £29 (~$39) | Light signs of use, complete and working |
| Fair | £20 (~$27) | Heavily used, or a described fault or missing part |
| For Parts | £11 (~$15) | Not working or incomplete, sold as seen |
Sterling guide ranges with an approximate US dollar equivalent at £1 ≈ $1.33 (July 2026). Sellers set their own asking price; these are a starting point for judging an offer. All five grades explained.
The checklist before you pay
Safety history you cannot see. A car seat that has been in a collision, a cot with a replaced part, or an item subject to a recall all look completely normal.
Run through these before money changes hands — they are the things that decide whether a sterilizer is worth what is being asked:
- Heavy limescale on the element
- Missing racks and tongs
- Cracked lids
- Microwave sterilisers, which sell for very little
And the things worth paying more for, because they hold their value:
- Electric steam sterilisers with clear elements
- Recognised bottle and nursery brands
- Complete with racks, tongs and lids
- Larger capacities taking multiple bottles
Common faults and fakes
Counterfeit car seats and carriers exist and fail catastrophically in exactly the situation they were bought for. Buy safety-critical items new.
Ask for the manufacture date and model number, then check the recall lists yourself — they are free to search. Do not buy a used car seat, carrier or helmet at all.
WishThrift does not authenticate, inspect or grade anything, and no marketplace check replaces your own. If a seller will not answer a direct question about condition or origin, that is the answer.
Questions to ask the seller
These are the three that get asked most often about a sterilizer, and the answers tell you most of what you need:
Give the internal dimensions and the brand. Wide-neck bottles fit some sterilisers and not others, and it is the main compatibility question.
Descale it and say so. Limescale is what makes a used steriliser look and perform badly, and it is one cycle of work.
Check and say. Tongs are model specific, easily lost and genuinely useful, so their presence is worth stating.
Also worth establishing before you commit:
- Descale it fully and photograph the clean interior
- Run a cycle to confirm it heats and switches off
- Confirm racks, tongs and lid are present
Photographs to ask for
If the listing does not already show these, ask — a seller who has the item will send them in minutes:
- The steriliser whole, lid on
- The interior with the basket in, descaled
- The control panel and model marking
- The accessories laid out, plus any scale, crack or discoloured element
Details to confirm before you commit
- Type — electric steam, microwave or cold water — and bottle capacity
- Brand, and which bottle types it accommodates
- Cycle time, and whether it has an auto shut-off
- Whether tongs, basket and measuring cup are included, and that it has been tested
Live sterilizer listings
Nothing matching is listed at the moment. Browse baby & kids for what is live now, or everything on the site — stock changes daily and new listings are free to post, so it is worth checking back.
When to buy
Steady year round. Electric steam sterilisers from known brands sell within days because they are a standard purchase for every new baby.
Prices move against that cycle for a buyer: the cheapest time to buy is when sellers are listing most, not when demand peaks.
Paying and collecting safely
WishThrift does not process payments, hold funds or offer buyer protection — you agree the price and the method with the seller directly, which is what keeps the platform free on both sides. Meet somewhere public where you can, inspect before you pay, and keep the conversation on the site so there is a record of what was agreed. Be wary of any seller who wants to move the conversation elsewhere before you have agreed anything.
Selling one instead?
If you already have a sterilizer sitting unused, it is free to list and there is no commission — the price you agree is the amount you keep. Read how to sell sterilizer for what to photograph and how to price, or what sterilizer is worth at each condition grade.
Frequently asked questions
What should I pay for a used sterilizer?
Around £6 to £29 in good condition, more for barely-used examples and less for anything with a described fault. Compare against the seller’s photographs rather than the grade alone.
How do I check a sterilizer before buying?
Ask for the manufacture date and model number, then check the recall lists yourself — they are free to search. Do not buy a used car seat, carrier or helmet at all.
Is buying a sterilizer second hand safe?
Yes, with the ordinary care any private sale needs. WishThrift does not authenticate, inspect or hold funds, so inspect before you pay where you can, meet somewhere public, and keep the conversation on the site. Safety history you cannot see. A car seat that has been in a collision, a cot with a replaced part, or an item subject to a recall all look completely normal.
See also: all buying guides · sterilizer value guide · selling sterilizer · Baby & Kids · condition grades.