Tricks to keep the baby car seat always clean

Children and cleaning: a complicated friendship

When there are children nearby, everything that has to do with cleanliness and hygiene is of vital importance, basically for two reasons:

Babies are more vulnerable than adults to viruses, bacteria, and germs, because their immune systems are still “immature” and just beginning to develop.
In turn, and by their very nature, children get dirty. On the one hand, because they like to explore and play with everything around them (they don’t see if it’s dirty or not; what’s more, sometimes they seem to feel a special attraction for the most sticky places or toys). On the other hand, and due to their own growth, children do not have the same skills as adults when it comes to eating, for example.

That is why we can say without a doubt that all families dedicate a part of their time to cleaning, whether it is bottles, toys, high chairs, or strollers, among others.

Today we will explain how to clean the car seat And, even more importantly, how to keep it clean! Because surely you prefer to spend time playing with your child and avoid spending more hours than necessary cleaning their trail 😉

And if your doubts are not about cleanliness but about deciding which car seat to buy, we recommend that you consult the post how to choose the baby car seat: safety tips.

Why do car seats get so dirty?

There are several factors that help to understand why some car seats get dirtier than others. Si eres de los que tiene la sensación de estar siempre limpiando el automóvil, evita comparaciones con los vecinos y recuerda unas reglas básicas:

The more time children spend in the car, the more likely they are to get dirty.
The more children in the car, the more likely they are to get dirty.
If they eat in the car, they are more likely to get dirty.
The smaller the baby… No, there is no mathematical formula here, because what changes with age is, above all, the type of stain that we are going to find (passing, for example, from the reflux of the little ones to the gum of the older ones).

And beyond these circumstances, when it comes to more or less soiling, they also play an important role:

The color and fabric of the car seat, some absorb and hide stains more.
The baby himself and his characteristics (if he gets dizzy regularly, if he sweats a lot, if he travels alone or with an adult behind him, if he has a calmer character or not…).
Chance. No olvidemos que cuando se trata de niños hay que ser conscientes que siempre habrá una parte que no podrás controlar: si es día concreto le da por jugar con las galletas, si en ese viaje tiene un percance con los pañales…

Tricks to keep the baby car seat always clean

For all of the above, some keys to keeping the car seat always clean can be:

Use a protective case, undoubtedly a very useful and practical accessory, as it will be easy to remove and put in the washing machine. Of course, make sure that it adapts to your car seat (group, model…).
Avoid, as much as possible, children eating in the car. Si no hay alternativa, piensa en prepararles un snack apetitoso e inteligente: será más fácil limpiar unas migas de pan que una mancha de aceite o chocolate 🙂
On car trips, avoid giving them toys that can easily get dirty: markers, nail polish…
Carry bags on hand in case children get dizzy, especially if they are older and can more or less control vomiting.
Always travel with tissues and wipes in accessible places (for children and adults), so that you can do a first cleaning of the stain as soon as possible.

How to wash the baby car seat

Depending on the type and number of stains to be cleaned, we can differentiate between:

A routine cleaning of the car seat, which we can usually do quickly and easily.
A thorough cleaning of the car seat, which requires more time and we will have to do on certain occasions.

For day-to-day cleaning, here are a few tricks:

Keep a brush near the car seat, so you can run it almost automatically when you take your baby out of the car.
Use a vacuum cleaner (either small or that of gas stations and washing centers) to remove dust and crumbs. Be sure to go over every corner.
If there are any small stains you can wash it just with a little water, or add laundry detergent or a few drops of dishwasher. Using a sponge or brush, carefully rub the stain in different directions to remove it. Rinse, with clean water, and dry naturally or with the help of absorbent paper.

For a more thorough cleaning we recommend:

Choose the right time. Parece obvio pero a veces nos damos cuenta que la silla de coche está sucia cuando montamos el coche para irnos de vacaciones. Éste no es un buen momento para limpiar a fondo la silla de coche sino que hay que escoger un momento tranquilo, en el que puedas dedicarte a la tarea y contar también con suficiente tiempo después para dejar secar los textiles y volver a montar la silla con calma.
Before uninstalling the car seat, remove as much dirt as you can with the vacuum cleaner and/or a damp cloth. Evitarás ensuciarte más de la cuenta.
Take the car seat out of the car seat, allowing you to wash more comfortably and deeply. Follow the instructions to do this and, if necessary, take photos and then reassemble it properly (especially recommended if you have lost the instruction book).
Brush or vacuum the surface, making sure you get through all the nooks and crannies.
Remove the cover of the car seat, which in most cases is removable. Then you can also remove the safety straps and straps. If you have any doubts, consult the instruction manual on how to do this and make sure that you will be able to reinstall them correctly in place (the effectiveness of the car seat depends on this).
Rub the stains on the cover with detergent or dishwashing dissolved in water. Si el téxtil lo requiere y lo permite, puedes aplicar algún producto específico para el prelavado.
Wash the entire cover, if possible in the washing machine (it will surely be advisable to use a gentle program, you can confirm this on the label or instruction book).
Clean the plastic base and other accessories, with soap and water. Rinse thoroughly and make sure there is no water left in the holes.
Clean the straps and buckles, always according to the manufacturer’s instructions, as they are a key element and if they degrade they can be less safe. In case the tapes are extremely dirty, it may be better to buy replacement ones.
Let all parts of the chair dry thoroughly.
Reassemble it following the process done in reverse. No nos cansaremos de repetir, ¡asegura, una vez más, que la instalación es correcta!