How to Clean Your Baby Car Seat
Despite a parent’s best efforts, car seats just do not stay clean. You may, in fact, be surprised by all the ways your little one will find to make a mess. Luckily, Orbit Baby car seats are designed for easy cleaning.
Before You Start, Pro-tip: You might be tempted to pick up a strong cleaner or a disinfectant, especially in the event of bodily function disasters. But don’t do it! Orbit Baby car seats should only be cleaned with a mild detergent and water. Never use a disinfectant to clean the car seat, as they can degrade the quality of materials and reduce their effectiveness in a crash.
To Clean the Upholstery
Since the car seat fabric is often the first spot to be affected by baby’s mess, we designed our seats for easy removal of the upholstery, so they can be washed by machine. Here are the simple steps:
- Remove upholstery from seat.
- Machine wash in cold water on a gentle cycle with a mild detergent. It is recommended to wash the upholstery inside a pillowcase, in a front-loading washer. DO NOT USE BLEACH.
- Lay the upholstery flat to dry. Do not machine dry, as this can cause excessive shrinkage and result in improper fit on the car seat.
- Re-install the upholstery once cleaned and completely dried. DO NOT use the car seat without the upholstery.
To Clean All the Other Parts and Pieces
Beyond the car seat’s fabric, there are other elements that need to be cleaned on occasion. Luckily, it’s all pretty easy to do.
Metal and Plastic Parts:
The metal and plastic pieces on the Orbit Baby car seat and car seat base can be wiped clean with a mild soap and water solution. Do not use household detergents, such as bleach or abrasive agents, which can weaken the plastic parts. Towel the pieces dry.
Shoulder straps:
Spot-clean these with a mild soap and water solution, then dry by towel. DO NOT immerse the shoulder harness in water, as doing so may weaken them. Do not disassemble the restraint harness.
Adjuster lock and strap:
Periodically check the adjuster lock to be sure it is clean and free of obstruction from food, coins, dirt, and other objects. If debris is present, it must be removed to prevent interference with the adjuster mechanism. Simply brush away loose debris, then sponge clean using warm water and mild soap. Towel dry. Do not use solvents or abrasive cleaners. Do not separate the adjuster strap from the adjuster lock.
Crotch buckle and buckle tongues:
The crotch buckle and buckle tongues on the car seat should be periodically checked and cleaned of any accumulated debris or liquids- especially if baby eats or drinks in the seat. The crotch buckle may be spot-cleaned with a damp cloth or removed and thoroughly rinsed with warm water. Towel dry. To make sure all debris has been removed, test the crotch buckle by fastening and unfastening until a positive click is heard when inserting the buckle tongues. If a click is not heard, repeat the cleaning procedure. Do not use lubricants, solvents, abrasive cleaners, soap or other household detergents on the crotch buckle or buckle tongues.
For more details on disinfecting your car seat or information on COVID and safe travel, please visit the American Academy of Pediatrics. They are a valuable resource for health and safety precautions- especially during pandemic times.
