First Time to Clean a Car Seat? – Ultimate Guide on How to Clean Baby Car Seat
Congratulations to you on your bundle of joy. Now your baby is growing and has been using the car seat.
As with anything we own, at a time they start to get stained and often times will need maintenance such as cleaning.
But a baby’s car seat can get all that messy from all their activities from eating, oil, vomit, poop, and mold stains. But guess what?
Cleaning a car seat is not an arduous task and only needs a little of your time and attention to detail, and you are done.
In this article, you shall be learning how to clean baby car seats. It’ll be helpful for both first-time parents and old-timers.
Even though cleaning a car seat is quite similar for all car seat brands, there are some unique cleaning features about some brands that you can do in some and cannot do in others. I have researched a good number of brands’ car seat models and written them all here. Depending on your brand, you’ll find something useful for you.
How to Clean a Baby Car Seats
Basics
1. Set to action quickly – one thing you want to avoid is letting the wet stains get stuck to the seat. Spilled food and liquids on the car seat may result in mold or bacterial growth. You want to have a wipe in your vehicle to clean off simple stains like food drops immediately before it gets dried. When you get home, you can do a proper cleaning.
2. Cleaning supplies – Or maybe you are on a trip, you may need to have these extra cleaning supplies handy to use instantly. They include:
- Baby wipes
- Soft towels
- Light sponge
- A small handheld vacuum
- A small bucket for water
- Mild soap or detergent
3. Instructions from the car seat manufacturer – As I mentioned earlier, each brand model has different instructions for cleaning a car seat due to the different materials used. I have taken the time to sort out these differences from 5 brands so far, and you’ll find them all in this article, keep reading. You can find car seat manuals for each brand model on this page, how to check if your car seat is expired.
4. Misinformation – you have to be aware of some information you may come across that do not follow the guidelines from many car seat manufacturers’ manual. You can clean your car seat by yourself, but there are some things the manuals do not mention to do, and those include;
- Deep cleaning
- Hosing a car seat
- Using bleach
- Using strong soap or detergent or using at all when required not to.
However, to maintain a clean car seat, I recommend you follow the first step in the basic process I mentioned earlier – set to act quickly.
Always have a baby wipe; as soon as there’s a spill, clean it off so it doesn’t get stuck or dried on the car seat, making it difficult to clean later or causing mold. Then when you get home, you do a proper cleaning.
General Steps to Clean Baby Car Seat Fabric, Straps, and Car Seat Cover
Step 1: Remove as much debris as possible using a vacuum or a soft bristle brush to remove loose dirt and debris from crevices, nooks, crannies, and the harness adjuster.
Step 2: Remove the cover and padding. Refer to your car seat manual for specific instruction on removing your baby car seat cover. Ensure to do this with care. Many car seat manufacturers require hand washing the cover and line drying to avoid shrinkage.
Step 3: Cleaning the Harness, Buckles, and Tether Straps. Clean harnesses with warm water and mild detergent or soap, then air dry. Do not disassemble the harness.
Use warm water to rinse the buckle and test that it is functioning by repeatedly fastening and unfastening the buckle tongues till you hear a ‘click’ sound, then towel dry.
Spot clean the tether straps. Do not submerge in water.
Step 4: Drying and Assembling. Depending on the car seat part and the manufacturer’s instruction, you will either towel dry, air dry, or line dry. Then you reassemble the car seat in reverse. Don’t forget to take a picture when starting or even make a video; this will help you reassemble easily.
Instructions for Cleaning Baby Car Seat by Brands
How to Clean Britax Car Seats
Britax car seats DON’Ts.
Do not bleach or iron the car seat cover/canopy/anti-rebound bar cover.
Do not disassemble/bleach/iron the anti-rebound bar.
Do not use abrasive cleaners on the car seat shell and the side impact cushions.
Do not disassemble the harness.
Do not bleach/machine wash/machine dry/iron the harness.
Do not soak/lubricate/use solvents/soap or household detergents on the buckle/harness buckle.
Britax Car Seat DOs
Car seat cover/canopy/anti-rebound cover: Refer to the label on your car seat for wash instructions. If the care label indicates ‘machine washable,’ always refer to https://us.britax.com/faqs for further important car information.
As much as I’ve highlighted instructions from nearly all Britax car seat models, I still recommend you follow the above instructions provided by the car seat manufacturer.
Cover/Canopy – B-Safe 35, B-Safe 35 Elite, Marathon ClickTight Convertible; use mild soap and hand wash using cold water, then line dry.
Shell, Harness, Anti-Rebound Bar – use a sponge, mild soap, and warm water to clean the shell, harness, or anti-rebound bar, then towel dry.
Anti-Rebound Bar for Emblem® Allegiance® (unfollow) – hand wash using cold water and mild soap, then lay flat to dry.
Harness Buckle – use warm water to THOROUGHLY rinse the harness buckle, then towel dry. TEST THE BUCKLE by fastening and unfastening each buckle tongue until you hear a ‘click’ sound. If you don’t hear the click sound, you should repeat the cleaning, then towel dry.
How to Clean Diono Car Seats
Removing the Cover (Booster seats): Separate the seat back section from the seat bottom section.
Remove the plastic fasteners and elastics securing the fabric cover to the bottom, the seat back, and the headrest.
Remove the fabric cover pieces (from the booster seat sections).
To attach the cover, follow these steps in reverse.
How to Remove Dried Liquids or Foods from Car Seat:
- Secure the car seat in a folded position.
- Clean with only a damp, warm cloth (squeeze the cloth well, so there’s no water dripping).
- Towel dry.
- Check that there is no debris and then release the mechanisms’ function.
NOTE: Do NOT use any solvents, bleach, soap, abrasive cleaners, or detergents. Use ONLY water to clean.
Diono car seats DOs and DON’Ts
Cover (booster seat):
Hand wash using mild detergent in cold water, then line dry to prevent shrinkage.
Do not wash the cover in hot water.
Do not machine wash, machine dry, or bleach.
Fabrics
– seat pad, infant support, buckle pad, shoulder pads, and toddler liner:
Machine wash using a mild detergent in cold water on gentle cycle.
Dry on a flat surface under shade and away from direct sunlight.
You should remove the form insert from the seat pad before washing.
You should remove the infant support wedge from the infant support cushion before washing.
You should remove the foam insert from the newborn protection insert before washing.
Do not wash the foam.
Do not bleach, iron, or dry clean the fabrics.
Harness and Buckle Straps:
Use warm water and spot clean, then air dry under shade.
If there is food stuck on the buckle, rinse ONLY the buckle mechanism in mildly hot water or soak overnight so the hardened food or dried liquid can loosen.
Then towel dry.
Test the buckle is functioning properly by fastening and unfastening both tongues until you hear a ‘click’ sound. If you don’t hear the click sound, repeat the cleaning, then towel dry.
Do NOT bleach or iron the harness and buckle straps.
Do NOT use any solvents, bleach, soap, abrasive cleaners, or detergents. Use ONLY water to clean.
Do NOT get the buckle strap wet.
Do NOT soak or submerge the harness webbing.
Harness Adjuster:
Periodically check the harness adjuster that it is clean and functioning properly. When lifted, the harness adjuster should spring back immediately.
Use a soft bristle brush to remove loose dirt and debris.
Use a damp, warm cloth (squeeze the cloth well, so there’s no water dripping) to clean, then towel dry.
Check that there is no debris and then release the mechanisms’ function.
Do NOT use any solvents, bleach, soap, abrasive cleaners, or detergents. Use ONLY water to clean.
Do NOT disassemble the harness or unthread the adjuster mechanism.
Plastics – Seat shell and components:
Use mild detergent or soap and warm water, spot clean, then towel dry.
Do NOT use solvents, bleach, or abrasive cleaners.
Buckle, Seat Frame, and Lower Anchor Connector Hardware:
Rinse under warm running water. Test the buckle by fastening and unfastening both tongues until you hear a ‘click’ sound. If you don’t hear the click sound, repeat the cleaning, then towel dry.
Do NOT use detergents or lubricants.
You are encouraged to read your car seat manual for the specific cleaning instruction for your car seat model.
You can also read more on installing Diono car seats and about Diono car seats expiration. Exclusive guides on both topics are covered. You will also find all Diono’s car seat manuals on the latter.
How to Clean Evenflo Car Seats
Evenflo car seats DOs and DON’Ts
Do not lubricate or immerse the LATCH/LUAS/ISOFIX connectors, the buckle, or any part of Evenflo car seats in water except there’s an instruction on the back of the buckle of your child seat to rinse with water.
Do not use abrasive cleaners or solvents on plastic and metal parts. Wipe only with mild soap and water, and towel dry.
Do not damage any labels.
Use mild soap and water to clean the harness, then air dry.
Cup holders for booster seats are dishwashers safe (only the top rack).
Machine wash soft parts* separately in cold water on gentle cycle. Then tumble dry on low heat for 10-15 minutes and remove immediately. Do not bleach.
*Soft parts (seat pad, headrest pad, back pad. head pillow, body pillow, harness cover, and crotch buckle cover).
To clean models with leather pads (e.g., Titan®65), use mild soap and water or a mixture of 10-parts water to 1-part mild alcohol to spot clean. Then allow to air dry. Do not machine wash leather pads.
NOTE: NEVER use a Evenflo car seat without the seat pad.
Evenflo advises that to protect the car seat from damage from environmental elements, you should remove the seat pad and thoroughly clean the seat and pad before storage. Also, clean areas where food crumbs and other debris could accumulate.
You are encouraged to read your car seat manual for the specific cleaning instruction for your car seat model.
You can also read more on installing Evenflo car seats and about Evenflo car seats expiration. Exclusive guides on both topics are covered. You will also find all Evenflo’s car seat manuals on the latter.
How to Clean Car Seats Graco
To clean the seat pad:
- Loosen the harness straps by pushing down the harness release lever while pulling out the straps.
- Remove the harness straps from the splitter plate.
- Pull out the harness straps from the front of the baby car seat.
- Then pull out the plastic flaps from the car seat sides.
- Pull off the pad shell.
- You can also remove the canopy, if necessary, by unfastening the strips on the sides of the canopy.
- Machine wash the pad and canopy in cold water on gentle cycle, then drip dry.
- Do not use bleach.
- To attach the seat pad, follow these steps in reverse.
To clean headrest pad:
Use a damp sponge with mild soap and cool water to clean the headrest pad.
To remove the headrest pad, raise it to the highest position, unfasten the elastic loops on the back of the headrest and remove the pad.
Machine wash the pad in cold water on gentle cycle, then drip dry.
Do not bleach.
To re-attach the headrest pad, follow these steps in reverse.
To clean the buckle/crotch buckle:
Place the buckle in a cup of warm water and gently shake the buckle. Press the red button severally while in the water.
Shake off excess water, then air dry.
Do not immerse the buckle straps in water. This may weaken the straps and won’t be able to hold a child firm when there’s an accident.
Do not use soaps, detergents, or lubricants.
To clean the harness, tether, or LATCH straps:
Use mild detergent or soap and a damp cloth and spot clean.
Do not immerse the harness straps, tether straps, or LATCH straps in water. This may weaken the straps and won’t be able to hold a child or the car seat firm when there’s an accident.
If your car seat harness straps or LATCH straps are frayed or heavily soiled, you should contact Graco Customer Service at www.gracobaby.com or 1-800-345-4109.
How to Clean Safety First Car Seats
Cleaning the Pads and Accessories:
Machine wash pad and accessories separately in cold water on gentle cycle. Ensure the harness covers are enclosed, so the fastening strips are not exposed. Then tumble dry separately on low heat for 10-12 minutes and remove immediately. Do not bleach.
Cleaning the Harness Straps:
Using damp cloth and warm water, spot clean the harness straps.
Do not bleach or use harsh cleaners.
Do not dry clean.
Cleaning Buckle and Car Seat Shell:
Using damp cloth and warm water, spot clean the buckle.
Do not submerge the buckle in water.
Spilled food and liquids on the car seat may result in mold or bacterial growth. These spills can also attract insects or rodents.
FAQs
Can You Use Lysol on Leather Seats?
Most child seats are not made of leather. On the other hand, Lysol can cause deterioration over time. Instead, you should use mild soap and water or a mixture of 10-parts water to 1-part mild alcohol to spot clean.
Can I Hose Down a Car Seat?
No, you shouldn’t hose down on a car seat. Car seat manufacturers recommend that water does not drench some parts of a car seat like the harness straps, buckle straps, etc. Instead, you should spot clean or remove the cover and machine or hand wash as instructed by the car seat manual.
Can You Wash and Dry Car Seat Covers?
It is not recommended to dry clean car seat covers. Instead, you should hand wash in cold water and line dry to avoid shrinkage as instructed by your car seat manual.
