How to wash a Graco car seat cover? | Amy Baby Review

Last Updated on May 4, 2023

The vomiting and food spit up have made your Graco car seat cover dirty. You need to wash them up. But you don’t know where to start? How to uncover the car seat? Can I wash them in the washing machine? Which type of detergent and fabric softener should I use for my Graco car seat pad cover? And how to clean baby car seats graco?

All answers you’ll get here in this article, including the best way to wash a Graco car seat cover. So, keep reading!

How To Wash A Graco Car Seat Cover
Image Source – Canva Pro

Can you wash graco car seat covers?

Yes, of course! Cleaning Graco car seat is very simple. You can wash your Graco car seat covers and make them completely hygienic and dirt-free for your baby. We’ve given you the Graco car seat washing instructions below.

how to clean graco car seat straps?

Babies are naturally very messy. They’re always messing around everywhere they go. If you find it is droll or spit up on the car seat straps, you can easily clean them up by following the Graco car seat wash instructions. 

Remember, Graco car seat cleaning is pretty easy. But before washing Graco car seat cover, you should know that most car seat manufacturers do not recommend using harsh chemical cleaners. It’s because these chemicals might separate flame retardant from the straps.

On the other hand, they also don’t recommend throwing car seat straps into the washing machine because they could weaken them by breaking down their fibers.

That’s why we’re showing you the safest way to clean your car seat straps that will do no damage to them.

You’ll need:

– Water

– Mild soap

– Cleaning wipes

– Sponge

– Clean cloth

– Toothbrush

graco car seat cover washing instructions Step by step:

Step 1: First, take a damp clean cloth and wipe the straps. It will remove the solid waste from the straps.

Step 2: Now, get a soft toothbrush and clean the straps thoroughly if any solid waste remains in hard areas.

Step 3: After that, use a damp sponge mixed with warm water and gentle soap to wipe off the straps once more. 

Step 4: Now press the straps with baby wipes or a clean, dry cloth and remove the soapy water.

Step 5: You’ll find the straps are all clean now. Let the straps air dry at this stage, and then they’re ready to use again.

Graco noted in a YouTube video that “If you notice that the stains, stink are still appearing, or the straps or latch belt are frayed or heavily soiled, it may be a great idea to replace your old car seat straps entirely.”

How To wash Car Seat Belts?

Children can also make the car seat belts dirty, along with straps. So, you might need to clean them up. The process is similar to the previous one. Let’s check it out!

How To Clean Car Seat Belts? Step by step guide: 

Step 1: First, you need to secure the seat belt and remove the dirt from its surface with a damp cloth or baby wipes.

Step 2: Then spray some seat belt cleaner on the stained surface and thoroughly clean it with a soft toothbrush. Don’t put too much pressure on it. Otherwise, it may damage the fibers. Instead, gently rub the cleanser into the stained area.

Step 3: After that, clean and remove the cleanser with wipes. Then remove the access water with a clean, dry soft cloth.

Step 4: If you notice there are still some tough stains left, you should spray the seat belt cleaner again and then follow steps 2 and 3. 

Step 5: Now, let it dry for a night and then have your seat belt clean and hygiene in the morning. 

What is the best way to wash a Graco car seat cover?

What is the best way to wash a Graco car seat cover?

Graco is a renowned brand for baby car seats around the world. In almost every home in the United States, you’ll find Graco baby gear for their children. But proper cleaning is required to maintain their high-quality standard. Alternatively, when the little one gets in contact with the car seat, they may be infected with germs and bacteria.

Here, according to Graco, we’ll provide some simple but practical steps on how to wash most of the Graco car seat covers.

How to clean the fabrics?

– First, remove the seat cover from the car seat. We’ve described below how to remove the car seat cover. Please read it for further assistance. 

– Then read the instructions of the car seat manual. If you find the fabric is machine-washable, you can toss it to the washing machine on the delicate cycle using cool water and mild detergent.

– If not, then you may want to hand wash it in a sink with cold water and detergent.

– Allow it to air dry for 24 hours, and then, they are ready to use again on the car seat.

How to clean the buckle?

– Remove all the car seat buckles and put them in a cup of warm water. You don’t need to use any soap to clean the buckles.

– After a few minutes of sinking, take out the buckles, press the button a few times. It will remove the grime. 

– Then again, place them in the water to clean properly.

– Now let it air dry for the next use.

 How to clean the plastic parts?

– Take a piece of microfiber cloth. 

– Apply some gentle soap and water. And clean the plastic parts thoroughly.

– Once you clean them, let them air dry. 

How to clean the harness?

– You shouldn’t submerge the straps or toss them into the washing machine. 

– Spot clean them with mild soap and cold water. 

– Once done, allow them to air dry.

If you want to know how to clean pee out of a car seat, we also have a guide on it. You can follow the link for further information.

Should I machine wash my Graco car seat cover, or can I hand wash it with regular detergent and warm water?

At first, you need to check the graco car seat cleaning instructions manual. Some Graco seat covers are machine-washable. And some are not. If you find that your model is machine washable, you can toss them into the washing machine using gentle detergent and cold water.

But we generally don’t recommend washing the Graco car seat cover in the washing machine or submerging them in the water during hand washing. It may weaken the fibers and decrease the lifespan of the product.

The Pulaski County Sheriff’s office wrote, “Washing car seat straps can weaken webbing, allowing them to stretch in an accident. Additionally, detergents or cleaners can strip car seat straps of potentially life saving flame retardant.”

The best way to wash the Graco car seat cover is spot cleaning. However, if you notice the car seat cover has become very dirty and needs to be washed thoroughly, you can hand wash them with mild soapy water and a soft sponge. Don’t rub them hard. It might make the fabric wear and tear. Instead, gently rub the stained part and wash them away. 

Is there any reason not to use vinegar or bleach when washing my Graco car seat cover?

Graco has strictly prohibited using bleach or vinegar in their car seat covers. They are very harsh chemicals for the Graco car seat covers and straps. They may weaken the straps, which is not safe for the children.

It’s because, in an accident, the weak straps can break. So, if you notice the straps have become weakened, you should immediately replace them.

how to remove graco car seat cover for washing?

Step 1: The first thing you have to do is remove the infant head and body support in the harness covers. To do so, loosen the harness strap just by pressing the button in the front and pulling the harness.

Step 2: Undo the chest clip and crotch buckle of the harness. Once you’ve done that, you can easily pull out the body support. For the head support, you just pull that through the slot that comes out nice and easy. Then take off the harness covers.

Step 3: The next thing you have to do is remove the headrest cover off of the headrest. You have to move the headrest up just to slab easier access to the elastic loops to do that.

If you look on the side of the seat at the bottom, you’ll find an elastic loop down there on both sides. Just undo those. 

After that, turn the seat around. You’ll find two additional elastic loops at the top of the headrest. You should also undo those.

Step 4: Now, you have to move the headrest, work it around the harness straps, and then you should be able to pull off the cover.

Step 5: Next, you need to release the harness straps from the splitter plate. To do so, turn the seat around. You’ll find the harness straps are attached to the splitter plate that keeps the harness straps nice and secure.

You need to detach them. You need to undo those on both sides. Now, pull the harness strap through the front of the seat. It should come out nice and easy.

Step 6: After that, you need to remove the seat pad cover from the seat. For that, you need to recline the seat and release the extension panel. You’ll find there an elastic loop on both sides of the seat. You need to undo those from both sides.

Once you’ve done this, you can put the extension panel back in and put the seat upright. Now you need to cover off of your seat. You need to make sure that you pull through the buckle, and the harness straps should also come through the seat.

So, you need to make sure the buckle and the chest clip go through the slot and the seat cover. As you start pulling the seat cover off, make sure you release it from the corner of both sides.

Now, put down the headrest and turn the seat around. You’ll see that there are two elastics back there. You also need to undo those. 

Now, you can easily pull off the car seat cover. You can watch the manufacturer video on YouTube on how to remove the Graco car seat cover by following the link.

Wrapping up:

Thanks for reading the complete guide on how to wash Graco car seat cover. We hope you’ve found this guide helpful and informative. Now, you can easily clean and wash your Graco car seat cover and keep the baby hygiene and secured.

Don’t forget to share it with your friends and family to benefit from this post.

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Jenny lord

Jenny Lord, MSN, RN is a certified nurse and mother of three children William (11), Phoebe (10) and Daniel (6). She has worked in the healthcare industry for over 9 years. She has done her undergraduate degree from Canterbury Christ Church University and worked as a Nurse at Maidstone & Tunbridge Wells NHS Trust. Jenny is also a former Midwife, so she understands that experience can be very different in the hospital environment than what you may have heard or read about childbirth. Read more

Dr. Leah Alexander

Dr. Leah Alexander is a board-certified general pediatrician and has been practicing pediatrics at Elizabeth Pediatric Group of New Jersey since 2000. Since 2005, she has been working as an independently contracted pediatrician with Medical Doctors Associates at Pediatricare Associates of New Jersey. She also enjoys cooking outside of the medical profession. Read more

4 thoughts on “How to wash a Graco car seat cover? | Amy Baby Review”

  1. Nice. Getting rid of the stains, grime, and odor of a child’s car seat can be every parent’s nightmare. One second they’re happily sipping on their juice boxes, and the next thing you’ll know, the juice is already splattered everywhere. This article is very useful and helps many people.

    Reply

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