Review: Coral UV 3-in-1 Sterilizer & Dryer vs Wabi Baby Sterilizer | Which Is Better?

Looking for an alternative to the Wabi Baby Sterilizer? In this post we'll look at what the Coral 3-in-1 UV sterilizer and dryer is? Does the UV sanitizer really work? And how Coral UV compares to the Wabi Baby Sterilizer. After a year of using the Coral UV sanitizer I'm sharing my experience!

Plus use Coral UV discount code “CLEANSAVING” for 5% off your purchase by clicking here!

Like a lot of parents, sanitizing common household items took on a whole new level of priority for me during the pandemic. Between the anxiety of trying to sterilize groceries to constantly wiping down surfaces, phones, credit cards, and toddler toys, 2020 forced all of us to step up our cleaning routines. 

And it also made many of us, myself included, take a good hard look at how we probably should have been sanitizing commonly used items all along. It shouldn’t have taken a global pandemic to make us realize this!

But here we are. The biggest issue in my household was that wiping down items or using mini UV sanitizers weren’t exactly efficient. 

Most people don’t realize that disinfectant wipes are only effective if you leave surfaces wet for extended periods. This allows the solution timeto work and kill bacteria and viruses. Don’t believe me? Read the back of your wipes canister! 

And mini UV sterilizers that are designed to hold your phone are great, but often you can’t sterilize multiple items simultaneously. Because I keep credit cards and my ID in my phone case, on more than one occasion, I grabbed my phone and left my house without my driver’s license or primary bank cards because they were still in the sterilizer. 

And the Wabi Baby Sterilizer was pricey and didn't feel quite right for our family.

After multiple botched grocery trips, because I forgot my ID or cards at home, I felt that there had to be a better way. Thankfully, I upgraded our sanitizing routine with the Coral UV 3-in-1 Sterilizer and Dryer.

What is the Coral 3-in-1 UV sanitizer and dryer?

Originally designed as an all-in-one solution for parents to sterilize and dry baby bottles or toys, the Coral 3-in-1 UV sanitizer and Dryer can also work to sanitize plenty of household items including car keys, credit cards, favorite toy bunnies, reusable cloth masks, and anything else that can fit inside it. 

While the sterilizer is big when compared to compact UV sterilizers you find on Amazon, it’s still small enough to easily fit on your kitchen countertop or even on a side table by your home’s entryway. 

In our home, it sits on my husband’s DJ table and he still has room for a full battle set up — two Technic turntables and a Rane mixer. It measures 10.5 inches long and wide, and 10 inches tall. 

This sterilizer features a flip-up lid that’s opened by pressing the large button on the front of the container.

When opened, you’ll see that there are two UV-C lights located behind a stainless steel grate. This can provide up to 6,000 hours of sterilization life before needing to be replaced. There’s also a built-in dryer that only reaches a warm temperature intended to gently dry plastic, fabric, glass, or silicone materials. 

More importantly, the interior is quite roomy, coming in at 10 inches long, 8 inches wide, and 7.5 inches tall. It’s also only 5.7 pounds which makes it very lightweight and portable if you want to move it around your home. 

Another nice feature is the included stainless steel basket. This helps to expand the internal storage if you need to clean several small items. Inside, you'll find three internal hooks for you to nest the basket so that it’s elevated if you want to use it.

The interior floor has raised grooves to ensure that items laid in the base can be reached by UV light from all angles. 

For example, when I use it to sterilize my essentials after a grocery trip, I can comfortably lay my phone (an iPhone X) in its case on one side of the interior floor, lay my 3 cards on the other side, and then store my fabric mask in the basket. 

And as a nice precaution to protect the device from little hands — and little eyes from harmful UV light — if the front button is pressed to open the lid during operation, the light will shut off and the sterilizer will stop running. 

Coral UV Sterilizer and Dryer vs. Wabi UV Sterilizer

The biggest functional differences between the Coral UV Sterilizer and Dryer and the Wabi UV Sterilizer is the size. The Wabi Baby Sterilizer has a larger countertop footprint, but can also hold more.

Secondly, the Coral UV is a top-loading sterilizer, the Wabi UV is a front-loading model.

Additionally, the Coral UV 2 is significantly cheaper than the Wabi UV, making it a good choice for budget-conscious parents. However, you will need to replace the filter of the Coral UV, whereas you just wash the Wabi Baby's ventilation system when it gets dirty.

How to use Coral UV sanitizer to protect your family from germs

One of the nice things about the Coral 3-in-1 UV Sanitizer and Dryer is that it’s intended to work on practically anything that needs to be sterilized. While my household tends to rely on it for cleaning phones and sterilizing my daughter’s favorite bunny, I’ve also used it to sterilize my retainers, makeup brushes, and even my husband’s Apple Watch. 

Because you can also place damp items inside so that they’re sterilized and dried, the Coral 3-in-1 UV Sanitizer and Dryer becomes a great alternative for trying to clean soft-sided toys that shouldn’t go into the laundry. I usually spray or spot clean my daughter’s bunny with a sanitizing spray, put it in the sterilizer, and then set it to sterilize and dry. 

I like that there are multiple settings. You have a choice to sterilize only, dry only, sterilize and dry, and even store bottles for up to 24 hours of continuous sterilization. But since my daughter is now a toddler, we’re out of the bottle sterilizing stage. 

What to know before you buy or use:

While a lot of items can go into the Coral 3-in-1 UV Sanitizer and Dryer, you’ll want to be mindful of a few things that could make this product ineffective if used improperly.

Hands down, the most important thing to remember is that items shouldn’t be laying on top of each other — especially if you’re trying to sterilize them. 

For best results, nothing should be touching.

If you need to put an oversized item in it — like say a cute toy bunny that smells like strawberries — as long as you can safely close the lid without forcing it, that item should go in by itself. 

Also note that in the drying mode, the Coral 3-in-1 UV sanitizer and dryer gets warm – not hot. So, if you put a dripping wet fabric product into the device, it might not dry completely, even when using the longest drying time. 

How do you use a Coral UV Sanitizer, Sterilizer, + Dryer?

One of the nicest things about the Coral UV Sanitizer and Dryer is that it’s pretty goof-proof. While I consider myself fairly tech-savvy, this product has virtually no learning curve. It features an intuitive control panel that’s user-friendly. 

In our household, we tend to use the Sterilize Only and Sterilize & Dry functions the most. But the other features are also easy to use. 

How To Use the Sterilize Only Function with Coral UV

With the sterilize-only option, you can toggle between 10, 15, or 20 minutes. On sterilize only mode you’ll get UV light only. The digital readout will display a countdown clock, and you’ll get a bell notification sound when sterilization is complete. 

Simply put your items in the container, close the lid, and tap the “Sterilize Only” button. It will default to 10 minutes but you can tap it again if you want it to run for 15 or 20 minutes. After a few seconds, the sterilization process will begin and the countdown clock will run. 

How To Use the Coral UV Sterilize and Dry Function

For “Sterilize and Dry” operation is similar to sterilize only, except you’ll be pressing the Sterilize and Dry button. The default start time is 40 minutes but can be increased to 70 in 10-minute increments. Regardless of which time you select, the first 10 minutes are dedicated to UV light sterilization with the remainder for drying the contents. 

How To Use the Dry Only Function on the Coral UV Sanitizer

Unlike the other settings, this mode will not sterilize your contents. Instead, it’s simply drying any excess water or liquid. You can choose between 30 to 60 minutes, in 10-minute increments. Note that you cannot use this device to dry electronics. 

How To Use the 24-hour Storage Function

Whether you’re storing baby bottles or something else that you want to keep sterile, the 24-hour storage option is great. It starts with a 50-minute sterilize and dry cycle. After that segment is finished, every two hours the device runs a two-minute UV sterilization cycle for up to 24 hours. 

What is new/different in the Coral UV 2? 

While I have the original Coral UV, there’s a newer model that’s currently in the crowdfunding stage through Indiegogo. It looks pretty similar to the original but features a lid where the UV lights aren’t as easily accessible or visible — which is a nice safety feature.

The exposed UV-C light bulbs are now replaced with LEDs which are more energy efficient. 

Additionally, along with the basket and replacement filters (which are standard on the original Coral UV), the Coral UV2 also comes with a stand as this model is marketed as being effective for all household items, not just baby bottles and toys.

It also features a larger countdown clock that shows minutes and seconds. 

FAQS about UV Sanitizers + Sterilizers:

Do UV sterilizers actually work?

Yes, they do. Before coronavirus upended our lives, UV sterilization had long been a brand standard used by hospitals, dental practices, nail salons, and even tattoo shops to clean reusable instruments because it’s incredibly thorough at killing both viruses and bacteria. 

Is UV sterilizer safe for babies?

Yes, as long as the UV sterilizer is UL Safety certified – which has to meet regulatory child safety features/standards – the UV sterilizers are safe to use for baby items and around babies and kids.

The Coral UV sterilizer boasts 𝐅𝐃𝐀 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐄𝐏𝐀 𝐑𝐄𝐆𝐈𝐒𝐓𝐄𝐑𝐄𝐃 and 𝐄𝐓𝐋 (𝐔𝐋/𝐂𝐒𝐀) certifications

Does UV light sanitize phones?

Yes, UV light sanitizes phones and is just as effective — if not more effective – than simply using rubbing alcohol or a disinfectant wipe. 

Because phones are usually made from nonporous materials, they’re especially ideal for use with UV-based sterilization processes. And since no liquid chemicals are needed, you don’t have to worry about getting water or liquids inside the phone which could damage it. 

Considering that you often have your phone touching your face when you send or receive calls – or touch your phone while eating with your hands – you should consider sanitizing it regularly.

Can UV sanitizer damage phone?

If you’re using the UV sanitizer-only mode, it can not damage your phone.

However, heat settings such as the “Sterilize and Dry” option with the Coral UV are not recommended on your phone or other electronics as the heat from the dryer could damage it. 

Are UV sterilizers worth it?

Yes, UV sterilizers are financially worth it compared to continuously purchasing disinfectant wipes or having to run a wash (whether that's dishwasher or laundry) from a cost and environmental perspective.

Ultimately, this is going to depend on your thoughts on cleanliness and peace of mind. For my household, it’s become a go-to item that we use as soon as we return home. Knowing that we can toss multiple items inside at once, and have them sanitized within 10 to 15 minutes is priceless. 

Final Thoughts:

Both the Wabi Baby Sterilizer and the Coral UV are effective choices that do what they claim with plenty of storage and multiple modes to keep a wide array of household items clean between uses. 

Ultimately it comes down to your budget and how much countertop space you want to dedicate to a UV sanitizer.

For us, keeping items clean — whether that's baby bottles and toys, or regularly used things like smartphones and credit cards — was so important to prevent passing germs to little ones or around the house and we never felt like the Coral UV was “too small.”

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