From exploding juice boxes to crushed crisps and squashed fruit, your child’s car seat takes a real beating over time. If you don’t clean your child’s car seat regularly, your car interior may start to smell.
Keep things smelling fresh and feeling clean with our top tips and favourite products designed to beat the crumbs and wipe away the dirt.
Step 1: Remove the seat from your car
Take the car seat (or seats, if you have more than one little passenger!) out of your car for better access to the seat itself. By doing this, you’ll also gain access underneath your child’s car seat, which may be hiding some unwanted surprises. Be sure to clean this area separately before reinstalling the car seat, or you risk more dirt build-up and damage occurring over time.
Step 2: Vacuum the seat
Before using any water or cleaning solution, vacuum all the loose grit and dirt from every crevice of the car seat. This will make washing your seat easier and prevent permanent marks or scratches on your child’s seat.
We recommend the powerful and reliable Karcher WD 3 Vacuum Cleaner, which works on both wet and dry surfaces to ensure a thorough clean.
Step 3: Clean the fabric on the seat
After vacuuming, apply a good fabric cleaner, such as the Halfords Carpet & Upholstery Cleaner, which comes in a convenient spray bottle for even coverage. Then, use warm water and gently wipe the fabric with a microfiber cloth like those in the Halfords Microfibre Cloths 5 Pack.
Step 4: Spot-clean stains
Tackle sticky stains and stubborn marks with Halfords Stick Stuff Remover. This strong formula removes sticky residue caused by sweet treats. Apply it to the toughest stains, dab with a good-quality sponge, then rinse thoroughly with water to eliminate any sticky traces.
If your child is old enough to reach the doorframe and windows, check those areas for sticky finger marks too! If your child has left grubby marks on the glass, then grab a bottle of the Halfords Standard Glass Cleaner and the Halfords Advanced Pack of 2 Glass Cloths to combat the grime and restore your windows to their full shine.
Step 5: Clean the harness, buckles, and frame
Use the Halfords Interior Cleaner with Anti-Bac 500ml to clean the harness, buckles, plastic car frame, and hard surfaces. This quick-drying formula kills bacteria and ensures your buckles glide smoothly for maximum safety while your little one is travelling.
Plus, this cleaner helps keep nasty bugs and viruses away from your little one as it contains an anti-bacterial agent that kills bacteria, fungi and viruses – so they’re less likely to get poorly from contaminated surfaces.
Step 6: Wipe away excess moisture and air dry
After cleaning, wipe off any remaining moisture with a Halfords Drying Towel and leave the seat to air dry completely before reinstalling. Failing to dry it properly can lead to dampness and mould inside your vehicle. If you have mould inside your vehicle, it may start to smell. Plus, mould is not healthy for you or your little one to be breathing in when you’re out on the road.
Step 7: Return the seat to your car
Once dry, put the car seat back in place. For the final touch, spray the seat with an Odour Eliminator & Scent Spray to remove any lingering smells and keep things smelling sweet.
Don’t forget, always check your child’s car seat manual for specific washing instructions before you start cleaning.
Some child car seats have removable cover that can be washed in a washing machine and hung to airdry, but it’s still important to hoover any large dirt particles before washing to avoid damage.