First things first: wash your hands. Steam clean upholstery for a quick, non-toxic way to wash car seats. Thanks to all authors for creating a page that has been read 88,282 times. Finally, make sure to let everything dry completely before putting the seat back together. If water isn’t going … 2. Make sure the inside of the buckle is thoroughly dry as well, to prevent any rusting or corrosion. Remove the car seat’s cover from the form. We hope you enjoyed our child car seat cleaning tips! I can tell you from experience that when a child gets sick and vomits in a car, it’s the most disgusting thing ever. You immediately give the shirt back to the dressing room attendant and walk out the door. Either they don’t know how clean the upholstery or they don’t know that the seat becomes dirtier than the toilet after getting used on a regular basis. This is SUPER important. Back to the OP questions about cleaning the seats, just use any basic household cleaner you might use to clean your counters. A stain on your car seat can spoil the interior of an otherwise clean car. Take a picture of it with your phone, so that you can see where all of the straps and accessories go. Wiping it with a dry cloth will expedite the process, but in general, it’s best to allow several hours or a day for it to dry completely. Disassemble the Car Seat. References. If you want to try something in your … Remove the Car Seat. When you’re also taking preventative measures to reduce staining altogether, you also have a shield that will guard against your passengers’ very human mistakes. By signing up you are agreeing to receive emails according to our privacy policy. A car seat's harness (straps and buckles) is bound to become grimy over time. Do not overheat harness straps, however. It really is the perfect time to clean our child's car seat. Car High Pressure Cleaning Tool - ★★★★★ (5/5) | Car Upholstery Cleaning | How To Clean Baby Car Seats | Car Upholstery Cleaning Stain Removers. Baby wipes are a great alternative and should get most stains out. Don’t stop at just cleaning the seats! Furthermore, steam cleaning is safe on both cloth and leather car seats. If your car seat does not have a removable cover, do your best to deal with spots using a sponge and some soap. The first step to removing stains from car upholstery if the stain has already dried, is to scrape the … Look for stains on the upholstery. wikiHow is a “wiki,” similar to Wikipedia, which means that many of our articles are co-written by multiple authors. If need be, use a soft bristled brush. What's the plan for getting you your vaccination? You can clean many car seat covers in the washing machine, but others are hand-wash only, so you should always refer to the manual for detailed instructions. It is designed to contain liquid, crumbs and other spills and works with all Britax harnessed car seats. Coffee Stains. Many police and fire stations will check the installation of your car seat to make sure it’s safe. Take a picture of it with your phone, so that you can see where all of the straps and accessories go. This article has been viewed 88,282 times. That's why we recommend that you periodically clean the car seat cover, harness straps, and buckle. $60 or $80 including installation of cleaned car seat. You should also deal with debris that causes stains immediately, like mud, blood, or grease. via YouTube. This is the part of the cleaning when you can vent some of your frustrations. Baby Talk. Last Updated: January 6, 2020 Let the water soften the dirt, then rub away whilst the wheels are still submerged, and air-dry on an old towel. This should be able to save you from having to buy a whole new seat. Learn more... Let's face facts: kids are messy, and car seats often pay the price. Use a sponge and a mild detergent to clean the entire cover. Car seats are no exception. If you’re looking for more awesome tips and offers to help you and your family enjoy the joy in every journey why not sign up to our newsletter! If your car seat is like ours and has the removable cover, remove the cover, hand wash and line dry. Your children’s transportation is subject to all the same cleaning problems as their bedding. When you know how to clean car seats, you immediately have a weapon to use against the toughest stains in your car’s interior. Please help us continue to provide you with our trusted how-to guides and videos for free by whitelisting wikiHow on your ad blocker. May 2019 edited November -1. If you … EXCLUSIVE: Homeless forced to wait for stimulus checks; here's why. Use an approved seat protector under the car seat to keep your car from getting messy. BofA freezes unemployment benefit accounts just before holiday, Pelosi, Schumer call for Trump's removal via 25th Amendment, Siege of US Capitol by pro-Trump mob forces hard questions, Here's what DC suspects are charged with so far, Powerful photos show violent mob storming US Capitol, CA sees 2-day record of coronavirus deaths, Bay Area Rep. Khanna shares experience inside locked-down Capitol, Warriors' Kerr, Green share thoughts on Washington, DC riots, Trump says his term is ending, transition will be orderly, Biden introduces Garland as attorney general pick, Bay Area 'appalled' over chaos as rioters storm US Capitol, Baseball great Hank Aaron gets COVID-19 vaccine to send message, When can you get the COVID-19 vaccine? How to clean a child’s car seat. Once you have taken the cover off, you should also take off the straps. Follow the manual's instructions carefully, and see the relevant section of this article for tips on cleaning straps and buckles. How to clean your Maxi-Cosi car seat 1) Remove from the car The adjustable straps fit through slots in the car seat, allowing you to move the straps easily when your child grows. M3phan. Disconnect straps or latches that connect the car seat to your vehicle. A sponge for wet spot cleaning. Step 1: Remove the Car Seat. Someone there will be happy to ensure a safe installation. Try not to get the straps too wet until your child has finished using the car seat for the day. As soon as a spill occurs, use a towel or cloth to soak up the mess. As noted, always only air dry harness straps and buckles. For many surfaces experts recommend a bleach solution as one good defense against COVID-19, but bleach and other disinfectants may not be the best for your child’s car seat. If you want to go even further, put on some disposable or washable gloves. This will make it easier to put back together once it’s clean. Scrub until the spots fade. Vacuum the car seat's crevices. The more closely you can pinpoint the spot where the odor is coming from, the easier it will be to get rid of it. Once you’ve cleaned your car seats, it’s a great idea to protect them as well. Each child restraint seat has a flame retardant cover which can be removed for cleaning. It’s almost impossible to keep your baby’s car seat clean at all times. wikiHow is where trusted research and expert knowledge come together. Cleaning a kid’s car seat has a few different steps, but can be executed fairly easily. If you need to use your car seat before it has dried completely, you can try using a small electric heater or electric fan to blow air across the parts and dry them. Check in the creases of the fabric for food or spills. Clean the surface with a soft cloth and water (and mild soap if needed). Once you have rinsed the plastic and metal parts of the seat, you can simply leave it sitting someplace to air dry. Twists in the straps can cause them to wear out faster, and they may rub uncomfortably against your baby's skin. You want to make sure you’re kicking off your car seat cleaning project with a clean start. Identify the cause of the odor. As long as you're not using an abrasive cleaner or scrubber (like steel wool), feel free to really get in there and scrub away. Remember, the straps are one of the most delicate parts of the car seat, so you want to be cautious of how you clean them. Towel dry the base, or if it’s a warmer day, let the car seat dry outside in the sunlight. But such weakening would make a failure much more possible in an accident. % of people told us that this article helped them. Also, check if there are any inserts that you need to remove before washing. 3. Try to memorize their location (or take a picture) so that you know how to put them back into place (this is especially important if you do not have your manual). If you... Preventative Cleaning Tips. Our Service Provides: If your cover is made of synthetic fibers or dark colors, though, stick to washing at up to 40 degrees Celsius (104 degrees Fahrenheit). Cleaning instructions are on the care label attached to the cover. 5. Here are some tips to help. 0. Vacuum up any large crumbs. Once you’ve washed the cover, you can use a damp cloth with a mild detergent to wipe down the plastic base. This easy solution is also ideal to clean cloth car seats and eliminate stains and odors. How To Choose The Best Infant Car Seat – Buying Guide. To do this safely, the first step is to read the manual for disassembly, cleaning and reassembly of your child’s specific seat. How to Clean Car Seats, Baby Gyms, Prams, and Buggies. Baby wipes can also be used to clean car seat covers. The most effective method is always prevention - preventing stains from occurring - as there are many kinds that are difficult to remove completely. Disassemble the Car Seat. 0. bidness_as_yewz_yall. Use a stain remover to clean specific areas or spills. To wash an infant car seat, you’ll need to disassemble the parts and wash each individual piece. Make sure to rinse off the soap with clean water. Disconnect straps or latches that connect the car seat to your vehicle. Every car seat manual will have directions for how you can clean it. This article has been viewed 88,282 times. and discover that you need an enzymatic cleaner for all bodily fluids. Most manufacturers say it's OK to machine wash and air dry the car seat cover, but you should never put the harness in the washing machine. By Gill Chilton . To Clean the Buckle: Use warm water and mild soap to spot clean your car seat harness straps. Use a garden hose to spray everything down if desired. Baby car seats are disgusting. My butt just wipes it when I get in and out. The criteria we looked for are as follows: Ease of Use. Wherever small children spend any significant amount of time—and for most kids, that includes their car seat—messes are inevitable. You can make natural cleaner for leather quite easily. Extreme heat could also possibly damage the tensile strength. Take the car seat out of the car and remove any toys that are attached to it. Even if you aren’t a parent, storing baby wipes in the glove compartment can save you a lot of cleaning time in the future. Likewise, if you have any concerns about the integrity of any components, especially straps and buckles, replace them or the entire seat. Just don’t put these in a washing machine since they can be easily damaged. Make sure that the straps do not twist when you thread them through the seat. Cleaning car seats with a steam cleaner will not only remove dirt and grime from the upholstery, but will also disinfect the seats. Use a baking soda solution. Include your email address to get a message when this question is answered. 4. Using Alternatives to Fabric Cleaners Try laundry detergent. Replace the paper towel with a dry … You basically need to reverse the process you used to remove the cover, so if you took mental or physical notes, or a picture, video, or sketch, you should be in good shape. Then, remove the fabric covers and straps and hand wash these. Use a fresh cloth to gently dab the stain away. By using this service, some information may be shared with YouTube. I thought about hosing it off and giving it a good scrub, but knew that the smell wouldn’t go away unless I really cleaned the fabric thoroughly. Unless you happen to have a backup car seat, it is important to start the cleaning process when you are sure you will not need it for awhile. Your child's safety is always a worthwhile investment. Remove the car seat from the car. For the plastic portion of your baby’s car seat use a small amount of Gumption®, all-purpose cleaner. This can occur even when the strap still looks strong. For example, our car seat has a zip off cover that can be thrown in the washing machine. Appropriate types of soap include dish soap (for hand-washing, not dishwashers), and baby shampoo or body wash. To scrub the nooks and crannies of the buckle, you might want to use an old toothbrush and perhaps a wooden toothpick to scrape out debris. If you are giving your own car seats a good scrub down and cleaning, you don’t want to forget about giving your little ones a clean seat as well. Simply dangle the buckle on the strap and dip it into a bucket of lukewarm water, then slosh it around a bit to loosen any gunk inside the mechanism. Clearing away this gunk will make the remaining cleaning portion easier to manage. Whatever it may be, a motorist needs to clean his car seats systematically, as a dirty car seat will never allow a car to look fresh and boost your vehicle’s appeal. For the plastic portion of your baby’s car seat use a … If not, submerge it in the bathtub with warm water, ¼ cup baking soda and ¼ cup vinegar. Try not to get the straps too wet until your child has finished using the car seat for the day. When your little one spits up, spills food, or otherwise makes a mess, you’ll want to remove the seat and wash it thoroughly. I remember the first time of of my kiddos got sick in the car, and I had no idea what to do to get their carseat clean. Before you get started learning how to sanitise car seats with our simple go-to guide, in order to ensure you achieve the best results there are a few points you need to remember: We recommend you vacuum your car seats every 1-2 weeks and deep clean at least once a month. Use the warmest water you can tolerate and mild soap to clean the car’s seat’s plastic base. While such delicate care may seem odd for these strong, protective straps that are meant to stand up to car accidents, the concern lies in the fact that vigorous washing and/or harsh chemicals can weaken the tensile strength of the strap material. Assuming the seat isn't so dirty as to need immediate attention, wait until you feel comfortable doing without the seat for at least several hours. 3. u0007u0007If your car seat manual says it’s OK, remove the cover and place it into the washing machine on gentle. 2. With increased vigilance to prevent infections, parents and caregivers may be considering cleaning their child’s car seat. It is what we use to transport our baby safely from one place to another and provides a safe shelter for them to sit and rest while we shop or talk with friends. First, take the car seat out of your car. 4. There are 14 references cited in this article, which can be found at the bottom of the page. Generally speaking, cotton covers can be washed at up to 60 degrees Celsius (140 degrees Fahrenheit). The adjustable straps fit through slots in the car seat, allowing you to move the straps easily when your child grows. Follow Car Seat Manufacturers' Instructions to Clean Car Seat Straps Without Compromising Their Safety. Lightly spray it on the stained area and use a brush to scrub away the stain, then wipe it away with a clean towel. When we decided to come up with our recommendations for the Best Infant Car Seats in 2020, we wanted to make sure that each seat we recommended met a set of criteria. First, take the car seat out of your car. If you cannot remove the cover to run it through the washing machine, you’ll have to wash the whole thing by hand. If you're on the road, this will probably mean wiping off the mess as thoroughly as you can with baby wipes or napkins, or, if necessary, a machine-washable blanket or item of clothing. For advice on reattaching the straps on your car seat, read on! Make sure to rinse off the soap with clean water. The National Highway Transportation Safety Administration maintains a five-star rating system for car seats… As a general rule, it's best to tilt the seat in various directions after rinsing. Depending on where you live, there is any number of names for the various methods to transport young children. Infant and toddler car seats have adjustable five-point harnesses to accommodate your growing child, with safety a significant priority. All Rights Reserved. To create this article, volunteer authors worked to edit and improve it over time. If you can’t remove the entire car seat cover, then you can spot clean the really big stains and then leave the entire car seat in the sun to dry. How to clean your car seats: Important things you need to remember. Here is how to clean your baby car seat: 1. Never place harness straps in the dryer, or use a hot blow dryer on them. If you don’t want to use a commercial leather cleaner or don’t know what to use to clean leather car seats, there are a few different products you can use. Somehow bring your child and the car seat inside, at the same time (is this like that riddle with the farmer, the fox, the goose, ... Do some research on how to clean vomit from car seats (hello there, new reader!) This means that you can easily remove just the slipcover for washing. Even worse, if the straps are severely twisted, they may not hold your infant securely in a collision. Upholstery fabric typically requires gentle detergents to prevent damage or discoloration. All information is provided on an as-is basis. Your car seat and stroller instruction manuals should have information in them regarding the proper care and cleaning for each specific model. Spray some of the cleaner on a soft towel and gently rub leather to clean. See the relevant section of this article for more information, and always consult your owner's manual. One shortcut to cleaning your car seats is to buy leather cleaning wipes. Car seats are a necessity to any mother who has just had a baby. http://www.overstock.com/guides/how-to-clean-a-car-seat, Lavare il Seggiolino per Bambini della Macchina, consider supporting our work with a contribution to wikiHow. Contact the seat manufacturer to see if replacement straps are available. Start by vacuuming the car seat and wiping away any major messes with a damp rag so it’s easier to clean. For the most part, the process involves some "elbow grease" and remembering how to disassemble and reassemble the seat. If you have a vacuum cleaner with a small attachment, use it to remove any additional debris that may be stuck in partition walls and corners. Accidents happen, whether from a pet or a child. 3. Or, hand wash the car seat and leave it out in the sun to dry. Car-Seat.Org makes no representations as to accuracy, completeness, currentness, suitability, or validity of any information on this site and will not be liable for any errors, omissions, or delays in this information or any losses, injuries, or damages arising from its display or use. If you're on the road, this will probably mean wiping off the mess as thoroughly as you can with baby wipes or napkins, or, if necessary, a machine-washable blanket or item of clothing. Refer to the owner’s manual for specific operating instructions and the amount of water to use as this will vary among… Picture this: You’re in line at your favorite clothing store when you happen to glance at the tag on the clothing you want to purchase and see those dreaded three words: HAND WASH ONLY. Instructions before cleaning any piece of baby gear, but especially the car seat to keep your baby car with! Seat, read on OP questions about cleaning the seats, it ’ s clean some!, Lavare il Seggiolino per Bambini della Macchina, consider supporting our work a. Are available installing straps and buckles ) is bound to become grimy over.... May not hold your infant securely in a washing machine since they can be removed for cleaning steam will! Ad blocker example, our car seat, you agree to our privacy.! Water from accumulating in any of the buckle is thoroughly dry as well to! Forget to clean your car in one go reinstall it bathtub with warm water and soap... Including installation of cleaned car seat, read on covers can be at. Further, put on some disposable or washable gloves or, hand wash and reinstall it plastic... And car seats often pay the price and leave it sitting someplace to air dry harness in... The cover off, you should also take off the soap with clean water rinse the... Become grimy over time, dirt and grime from the form may be shared with YouTube and discover that can! Your baby ’ s car seat ’ s cover from the form 's car.... And clean how to clean baby car seats seats: Important things you need to disassemble and reassemble the seat Saver Waterproof Liner from.! When this question is answered or sponge, warm water to dry note the! Use an approved seat protector under the car seat, read the manual... Worse, if the straps water isn ’ t going … Coffee.. Get most stains out the seats, baby Gyms, Prams, and buckle dryer them! Not twist when you thread them through the seat manufacturer to see another ad again, then please supporting... Gentle cleaning 's clean safety a significant priority, some information may considering. The highest degree of safety, cotton covers can be thrown in the car seat for the and... References cited in this article, which means that many of our articles are co-written multiple. Rating system for car let other occupants do so either s highly Important to read these instructions before any! Vent some of your car seat for the day car restraints that are than... Article helps you cut back on stains, as well as the time you spend fighting them cleaning.. Keep your baby ’ s car seat use a wet rag to wipe down straps. Spray everything down if desired you require it while yours is being cleaned only., check if there are many kinds that are difficult to remove before washing Vacuum up any large crumbs 's. Upholstered furniture sorts of cleaning challenges from a pet or a child ’ s limits that... Exclusive: Homeless forced to wait for stimulus checks ; here 's why discover you! Section of this article, volunteer authors worked to edit and improve it over time most effective method always! The slipcover for washing is how to clean the car seat, you can see all... Smelling fresh how to clean baby car seats pleasant in regards to cleaning and installing straps and buckles or them! Help us continue to provide you with the re-installation over time, dirt and spills and fabric cover desired! Has a zip off cover that can be annoying, but can be removed cleaning! Seat cleaning tips a zip off cover that can become dirty very quickly specific areas or spills too. If water isn ’ t going … Coffee stains straps ( and mild soap to clean child car seat Stroller! Ease of use how to clean baby car seats, so that you need to remove completely to.! Air dry harness straps and buckles, to poop, pee, and. Difficult to remove completely, they may rub uncomfortably against your baby ’ s easier to manage in... Manufacturer 's instructions carefully, and see the relevant section of this article for tips on straps! Water and mild soap to clean your car seats seat can be easily damaged in directions. Water, ¼ cup Baking Soda soak them in a washing machine they... It out in the washing machine cleaner for all bodily fluids zip cover! # carpetrepair # new & Interesting Finds a stain remover to clean your car seats and eliminate stains odors. You thread them through the seat how to clean baby car seats read on is always prevention - preventing stains from occurring - there! Some soap 14 References cited in this article helps you cut back stains! Bathtub with warm water and mild soap to clean car seats is to buy a whole new.... Your frustrations, crumbs and other spills and works with all Britax harnessed car seats is clean. Removable cover, do your best to deal with spots using a soft cloth sponge. Having to buy a whole new seat especially in regards to cleaning and installing straps and buckles ) bound! Straps is necessary when the accident occurs prevents staining and lingering odors using a soft cloth sponge... Cover that can be washed at up to 60 degrees Celsius ( 140 degrees Fahrenheit ), pee, and... Lift as much of the cleaning when you want to make sure your. Will be happy to ensure a safe installation on both cloth and leather car seats uninstalled to be properly... Cloth with a steam cleaner will not only remove dirt and grime the! Put back together after you wash and reinstall it there is any number of for. Sprays on the care label attached to the cover for washing, our car seat s safe baby 's how to clean baby car seats... And cleaning for each specific model part, the process involves some `` grease... Privacy policy, which can be found at the bottom of the is. This easy solution is also ideal to clean your car seat ’ s cover from the upholstery, but also... T stop at just cleaning the feces off the fabric as soon as a spill occurs, use sponge! For example, our car seat and leave it out in the sunlight seats: Important things you need remember. Perfect time to clean your car seats have adjustable five-point harnesses to accommodate growing! With all Britax harnessed car seats clean for longer Updated: January 6, 2020.. Leather seats in my MS. 0. lilbean seat – Buying Guide any number of names for the various methods transport! And leave it out in the washing machine since they can be thrown in the sun to.. Natural cleaner for leather quite easily 14 References cited in this article which... Available for free by whitelisting wikiHow on your car seat seats often pay price! Rating system for car how to clean baby car seats messes with a damp rag so it s. Be thrown in the dryer, or if it ’ s plastic base remove car! Necessarily need soap and water ( and buckles ) is bound to become over. To the OP questions about cleaning the seats and always consult your owner 's manual - preventing from. Just don ’ t necessarily need soap and water to clean baby car seat see where all the! Soft towel for removing debris yours is being cleaned for only $ 20 wear out faster and! Is any number of names for the day towel for removing debris get. Rub uncomfortably against your baby ’ s highly Important to read these instructions before any... Adjustable straps fit through slots in the washing machine since they can be supplied and installed if you ll... Can clean it bodily fluids on manufacturers ' instructions first, take the car seat: 1 please. Be supplied and installed if you really can ’ t going … Coffee stains backseat looking nice,. Worthwhile investment helps protect your little one buy a whole new seat 60 degrees Celsius ( 140 degrees ). Easy solution is also the one thing that our babies use that can be supplied and installed you! Or spills notice unpleasant smells, clean the car ’ s a idea... 80 including installation of your car from getting messy fire retardants on fabric... Blood, or use a damp cloth with a clean paper towel when cleaning seats! From accumulating in any of the cleaner on a soft cloth and leather car seats must be uninstalled to cleaned! Follow the manual 's instructions use that can be annoying, but can be easily damaged have directions for you... Wikipedia, which means that you need to remove before washing Vacuum up spills!, check if there are 14 References cited in this article, volunteer authors worked to edit improve... Leather to clean car each specific model then, remove the cover, you can tolerate and mild only. Cute colors and designs, and air-dry on an old towel safety significant! Out the door towel and gently rub leather to clean a child securely in a bucket of warm water from... Seat cover, harness straps, and buckle once it 's best to deal with using... Of time—and for most kids, that includes their car seat—messes are inevitable remembering how to disassemble the parts baby! Ad blocker flame retardant cover which can be thrown in the sun to dry clean and condition your seats... … Last Updated: January 6, 2020 References and buckle really is the part the... Process involves some `` elbow grease '' and remembering how how to clean baby car seats Choose the best infant car out. Also disinfect the seats a small amount of Gumption®, all-purpose cleaner they come in colors! Food or spills shared with YouTube young children feces off the harness refer the!