How do you wash the Britax carseat cushion?

[poppy]

It says handwash with gentle soap but can I throw it in the wash and put it on the delicate cycle? Has anyone done that? How did you wash this carseat?
My DS threw up on it so it really needs a good washing.

TIA!

[lbess]

I've washed mine on delicate/cold, and it came out fine.

[SammyeGail]

Me too, hung to dry, it took a few days, don't remember how many (2-3?), we need to wash them again!

[o_mom]

I've done delicate on cold, drip dry. Mine never take more than overnight to dry. If you put it in the dryer, do it on no heat... they can scorch pretty easily.

[mariza]

same here, but my washer doesn't have a "delicate cycle" I just wash on cold and put in the dryer on "fluff" for a few minutes to shake out any excess water, then just leave it out to air dry.

[poppy]

Thank you for your replies. It's helpful.

What about the buckles? Those don't seem to come off.
Also, does it matter whether or not the washing machine has an agitator?
Ours does but I can go to the Laundrymat if I need one w/o an agitator.

Thanks again.

[jjordan]

The straps come out of the seat but the buckles do not come off the straps. You shouldn't put the straps in the washing machine. Just rinse the straps as best you can in a sink (or, since you're in CA, you could go outside and use the hose.) The cover itself should be okay in the machine on delicate, regardless of whether the machine has an agitator.

[AnnieW625]

I hand washed mine in Forever New in the sink and it was fine. I also did it in the washer with Woolite, but had to rinse twice because I thought the Woolite left a little residue on it.

[o_mom]

Just to clarify - I have washed the cover in a machine (both with and without an agitator) with no issues. The foam pad (aka comfort foam - dark grey, under the cover) is really handwash only - just rinse really well.

The straps can be removed as well as the crotch buckle, you just have to unhook them from the bottom of the seat. Pay attention when you do it so you get them back on correctly. Do not machine wash them, soak them or use anything more than a very mild detergent on them, wipe with a damp washcloth to start and maybe rinse under plain water.

[poppy]

Thanks again. Should I wash the dark grey cushions? Should I just rinse everything--the whole seat (cushions, I'll machine wash) in the sink and leave outside to dry? Do you just use water or do you use some type of gentle soap?

Thanks for the info about the buckles. I was planning on using Kirkland environmentally safe detergent.

[o_mom]

I would machine wash the cover on gentle and drip dry.

The grey foam, I would rinse well in the sink/tub and then drip dry.

Then, make a bucket of very dilute dish detergent - say a gallon of warm water with a few drops of detergent. Wet and wring well a washcloth and use it to wipe down all the straps, rinse them quickly under running water and drip dry (sun is OK). Use the rest of it to wipe off the shell as best you can, then get a bucket of clean water to wipe off again as a rinse. I would avoid hosing down or rinsing if you don't have to, just to keep the LATCH straps and tether from getting soaked if they don't need it.

[poppy]

Thank you again. I'm going to print out your response and do it step by step.

Sorry, one last question. As to the white foam part underneath the gray foam, I assume, I do not wash that, just leave out in the sun?

[mom2binsd]

Just to clarify, when you say "cushions" do you mean the cover??? That is totally safe to put in the machine, like others say. I use regular laundry detergent, gentle cycle, and dry overnight hanging over a chair.

The grey padding can only be hand washed/dipped/wiped and carefully squeeze out the water.

[poppy]

I just wanted to say thanks for the cleaning tips. :)

[HIU8]

I wash it on cold. Then I run it through the dryer on air dry. it takes about 5 or 6 times (my air dry cycle maxes out at 30 minutes) to get it dry enough to put back on the shell. I have washed the seat cover numerous times.