Best way to clean a car seat?

[chody47]

We've just promoted DD to a 'big girl' car seat. I want to freshen up the old one for baby before putting it back in the car. I've wiped down all the plastic, but wasn't sure what to use for the fabric. It doesn't look dirty (its occasionally been wiped down when she's gotten it dirty (vomit for example)), but I'm sure it could do with a clean!

What would you suggest?

[LimeSlice]

Just pull all the straps out, take the cover off and throw it in the washing machine. Don't put it in the dryer. Let it dry, put it back on. Wipe the straps down and dry them and put them back in and Bob's your uncle.

[Phteven]

What LS said
In this weather it will dry in no time.

[~ Zarava Flutterby ~]

As LS said - it's as simple as that
I actually take ours out and wash them every couple of months, the things i find UNDER the cover are disgusting.... thanks to long roads trips & kids eating in there or the amoune of dirt off their gumboots..

[chody47]

Thanks for the info everyone! I've just chucked the cover in the washing machine.

Zarava - I've found quite a collection of things under the cover! Apart from hair ties and stickers there is lots of bits of food. I really is quite gross!

[Kazzo]

Yep, take it off, wash it and put it back on. I agree with what you may find under the actual cover, and sand, my gosh I think we had half the daycare sandpit in the seats when I took them off to be cleaned the other week.

[Cally]

I wash it by hand - had a bad experience where because it is a fairly stiff sort of cover it didn't bend very well in the machine and it 'rose up' to the top. When it spun around, it was in contact with the rim of the washing machine. Because the cover is polyester type, the friction between them resulted in quite severe damage. The car seat cover has this massive burn down one side and the machine had a melted plastic rim that catches clothes as they are pulled in and out.

So I recommend hand washing.

[chody47]

I wash it by hand - had a bad experience where because it is a fairly stiff sort of cover it didn't bend very well in the machine and it 'rose up' to the top. When it spun around, it was in contact with the rim of the washing machine. Because the cover is polyester type, the friction between them resulted in quite severe damage. The car seat cover has this massive burn down one side and the machine had a melted plastic rim that catches clothes as they are pulled in and out.

So I recommend hand washing.

Thanks for the tip! I just got it out the washing machine an it seems fine - ill keep it in mind for the future though, I don't want ruined covers!