BCAA CPS Educator Community

Basic Guidelines for Cleaning Child Seats

Aug 28, 2020

Refresher Course: Basic Guidelines for Cleaning CRs
June 5, 2020
This article originated in the March/April 2020 issue of Safe Ride News.

Here are some basic CR cleaning guidelines. Of course, always refer to specific model instructions. However, these general recommendations can alert caregivers to the fact that, for important safety reasons, rules for cleaning a CR differ from rules for cleaning other items. These rules must be followed to maintain crashworthiness, even given heightened concerns about cleanliness during the COVID-19 crisis.

Read instructions and check websites
Every CR owner’s manual has cleaning instructions, usually broken out by part and usually on one of the last pages of the manual. During education, CPSTs should guide caregivers to these instructions so that caregivers will be able to refer to them quickly when messes occur. For deep cleaning, caregivers should check manufacturer websites, as updated instructions may be posted there, or call customer service. A general CR cleaning statement, issued by the Juvenile Products Manufacturers Association, can be found here.

Take photos before disassembling
Consult the instructions to reassemble any parts removed for cleaning; having photos of how the CR looked before disassembly can be helpful.

Keep it simple
For most situations, it’s enough to vacuum the padding and spot clean spills. This approach is far less likely to cause a problem than taking the entire seat apart.

Keep it gentle
Typically, use only mild detergent and water, and avoid any strong chemicals. Just like when washing hands, mild soap and water are very effective at removing germs. A caregiver who desires stronger disinfecting should consult the manufacturer’s website or call customer service.