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Most baby equipment on the market advertises themselves as being easy to clean. No matter how particular you might be about your child being clean and not making a mess in the car, it is inevitable that spills and mess will happen.
It is essential for your baby and child’s well being that things are clean, especially their baby capsule and car seat. They spend a lot of time nestled within those comfy confines.
Small messes like food crumbs and spilled milk may seem like little nuisances, but they ultimately pile up. That said, daily clean-ups may not be practical or even possible, so have a regular schedule to keep up with the mess that occurs.
Cleaning your baby’s car seat or baby capsule does not have to be complicated. Once you have a routine down, it can be achieved in a short time and with minimal fuss.
Clear the Area
First, of course, you have to remove the car seat from the car. Take off any attached accessories and put away the items that you may keep with the seat such as blankets, napkins, toys and bottles. These items might need to be cleaned, or at least aired, as well.
Lay the car seat or baby capsule on an old blanket or sheet or even just an empty space. Next, you should remove any large particles sticking on the car seat or baby capsule. You can achieve this by giving the thing a good hard shake.
Then, get a vacuum out and vacuum up any remaining pieces. Make sure to get to those cracks and other hard-to-reach places. An additional furniture attachment for the vacuum may be needed for a better clean.
Wash
Most baby car seat and baby capsule covers can be removed from the equipment itself. These should be thoroughly cleaned. Check if yours is washing machine safe.
If so, throw it into the tub along with your baby’s other things. If not, you can wash the worst areas by hand. Doing so can also help to make the cover last longer.
If your car seat or baby capsule does not have a removable cover, you should spot clean instead. Use a soaped-up rag to scrub dirty areas or more prominent stains. You can then leave the entire thing out in the sun to dry.
Plastics
Wipe down the plastic surfaces of the car seat and baby capsule with a good all-purpose cleaner. To make sure that your baby does not react to the soap, try to use something hypoallergenic or scentless. You can also rinse the entire plastic frame with water and wipe it down afterwards.
Buckles and such are typically able to be removed as well. Rinse these in warm water but do not soak thoroughly. Avoid using detergents or soaps on these as well. A simple rinse is good enough. You can dry buckles with a dry towel.
Be sure that the plastic portion of the car seat is completely dry before reinstalling. For buckles, test to ensure that they are in working order before putting them back.
Reinstalling
Once everything is clean and dry, you can proceed to reinstall the parts for your baby’s use. It is imperative to refer to the manual or guide to ensure that everything goes where they are supposed to.
Replacement
In the process of cleaning your baby capsule or car seat, keep an eye out for broken pieces or parts. These can pose a dangerous threat to your baby if left as is. Damaged parts should be fixed or replaced immediately.