How To Clean Car Seat Straps: Complete Guide

Photo Source: tipsbulletin.com

You use your car seat for so many things: commuting to work, going on road trips, carting kids around… the list goes on. But one thing you probably don’t think about too much is how often you expose your car seat straps to dirt and germs—maybe because it’s something that seems so unimportant. If you think about it, though, this is a pretty awkward place for any sort of bacteria to grow.

After all, there aren’t many other surfaces in your home or car that get as much exposure to the moisture and oils from your body as those straps do. Fortunately, cleaning car seat straps isn’t rocket science. Once you know how they function and what kind of maintenance they need, keeping them clean is more straightforward than you might realize.

How to Clean Car Seat Straps

Photo Source: carseatmom.com

In order to clean car seat straps, you’ll first need to get them detached from the car seat itself. The best way to do this is to use a seat belt removal tool—they’re basically just a long pair of “pliers” that you can use to grab hold of the seat belt and pull it out.

But if you don’t have one, you can also use a standard pair of pliers, just make sure that you don’t damage the seat belt in the process. In any case, once you have the seat belt detached from the car seat, you can start cleaning.

As a general rule of thumb, you should try to clean your car seat straps about once every six months. But if there’s a specific reason you’ve been holding off, like you’ve just had a baby or recently moved the car seat out of a child’s car seat, you can do it sooner.

Things Needed To Clean Car Seat Straps

Photo Source: countrydiaries.com

Before you get in the cleaning mood, make sure you have everything you need. While you can certainly clean car seat straps by hand, you’d be way better off using a machine. You’ll also need the followings:

Detergent

Remember about how the oils and grime from your skin get trapped in the fibers of your car seat straps? To clean them, we need a cleaning solution that can break down those oils and grime but won’t damage the straps themselves. This is where detergent comes in.

It’s specifically formulated to cut through dirt and oils, which is why it’s usually used to wash your clothes. So if you’re cleaning car seat straps, it’s best to use a mild detergent like dish soap or hand soap to avoid damaging the straps.

Washing Machine

With all the buildup that accumulates on car seat straps, they’re almost like a magnet for dirt and grime. If you can’t get them clean with just a sponge and some cleaning solution, another option is to throw them in the washing machine with a very mild, low-possibility-of-staining detergent.

The agitation of the machine will loosen up the grime and oils trapped in the fibers of the straps, and the detergent will help break them down so you can clean them away. Once you’re done, be sure to let the straps air dry before putting them back in your car.

Drying Rack

If you don’t want to throw your car seat straps in the washing machine, you can also put them in a dryer on the lowest setting for about 30 minutes. This will help break down the oils and grime, making them easier to clean with a sponge or cloth. Once they’re dry, you can clean them the same way you would if you put them in the washing machine.

Dry Paper Towel Or Dry Cleaning Cloth

If your car seat straps are really, really dirty, the best thing you can do is put them in the washing machine as described above—but if you don’t have time or don’t want to wait for them to dry, you can also try wiping them down with a dry cleaning cloth.

This will help break down the oils, grime, and stains on your car seat straps, and it will also help them dry faster so you can put the straps back in your car as soon as possible. This isn’t an ideal method and won’t eliminate all types of bacteria from your straps, but it’s better than nothing if you’re in a bind

Spot Clean Car Seat Straps

Photo Source: nytimes.com

Of course, not every cleaning job requires you to take the entire car seat strap apparatus apart. A lot of the time, all you need to do is spot clean the car seat straps. If you notice that one of the straps on your car seat is particularly dirty, you can use a little bit of warm water and a soft-bristled brush to get it looking clean again.

For the best results, you’ll want to use a little bit of soap to loosen any dirt, oil, or grime that’s built up on the straps. But be careful not to scrub too hard, as that could damage the straps.

Tips For Cleaning Car Seat Straps

Photo Source: babylist.com

When cleaning car seat straps, it’s important to follow a few rules:

  • Make sure every part of your washing machine is clean and free of lint, including the lint filter. This will stop lint from getting trapped in the straps and compromising their cleanliness.
  • Wash the straps on a warm cycle and use the machine’s sanitizing setting if it has one. This will kill any germs that might be living on the straps. If you’re hand-washing the straps, use a mild detergent and a clean sink. If you’re washing the straps on a machine, it’s also a good idea to break them up into smaller pieces, so they can be cleaned more easily.

Conclusion

When it comes to car seat straps, a little bit of simple maintenance can go a long way. By cleaning your car seat straps every six months or so, you’ll help prevent any kind of serious bacterial growth and keep your car looking nice and clean.

Clean car seat straps are crucial for both your health and the longevity of your car seats. If you have young children or animals, it’s particularly important to keep them clean. Remember to clean your car seats on a regular basis and use the tips from this article to keep them as clean and germ-free as possible.

That being said, cleaning car seat straps is a straightforward task that can be completed in a short amount of time. All you need to do is follow these tips, and your car seat straps will be as clean as can be in no time at all.

 

Leave a Comment