Did you know that car seats can be a real pain to clean? Not only do they accumulate lots of dirt, dust and debris over time, but they also often contain harmful chemicals. If you have to remove your car seat to clean it, here are a few tips to make the process as easy as possible.
What You’ll Need
In order to clean the car seats, you will need a bucket and some water. Make sure that the bucket is large enough to fit all of the car seats comfortably. Fill the bucket with water and wet each car seat. Let the water sit on the car seat for a few minutes so that it can penetrate into the fabric. Then use a cloth or a sponge to wipe off any dirt or dust that was removed.
How to Remove Car Seats Easily and Fast
If your car seats are starting to look a little grubby, or if they need to be cleaned badly, there is an easy way to do it. Follow these steps:
1. Remove the child safety seat from the car. This can be done by undoing the straps or buckles that connect it to the car seat console.
2. Wipe down both the back and sides of the seat with a soft cloth or a Sponge-Bath® pad. Do not use harsh cleaners on car seats, which can damage the fabric.
3. If necessary, use a vacuum cleaner with a crevice tool attachment to clean between the cushions and the upholstery on either side of the seat. Be sure not to remove any foam padding; this should simply be wiped dry with a cloth afterwards.
4. If there is dirt or dried-up food residue on either the back or side of the seat, use a pressure washer with a hose attachment to blast it clean – taking care not to wet any velcro fasteners holding the cushion in place! Once clean, wipe down both surfaces again with a soft cloth or sponge-bath pad.
Tips for Removing Car Seats Safely
If you have to remove car seats to clean them, follow these tips:
1. Use a bucket and sponge. Fill the bucket with water, then add enough soap to cover the bottom of the sponge. Swish the sponge around in the water until it is sudsy.
2. Lie down on your back on the floor of the car so that your head and shoulders are hanging over the edge of the car seat. Hold onto one armrest with each hand and lift up on the other side of the car seat until you can reach into it from below and grab hold of both sides of the restraint straps. Pull up gently until both straps come free from the car seat base.
3. Let go of one armrest and use your hands to slowly lower yourself down onto the floor of the car seat, being careful not to fall off or get pulled into any sharp edges! Once you’re down, use your wet sponge to wipe away any dirt, debris, or residue left behind by cleaning fluids or waxes. Repeat steps 2-3 on the other side of the car seat.