mold in car seat straps?

[hillview]

I have a not expired car seat in the basement (Radian) and there is mold on the straps. A neighbor wants to borrow a car seat. Is it ok to use?

[Joolsplus2]

Does it wipe off easily and will a couple hours in the sunshine make it smell better? Then yeah, I'd be ok with that. If it seems like it's really deep going into the straps and doesn't wipe off easily, then I'd be worried that those acidic fungal rhizomes are weakening the straps (that's my understanding of how molds work, they send out their digestive stuff in front of their visible growing part).

[legaleagle]

You could just order new straps from diono though I know some of the earlier models didn't have replaceable straps.

[hillview]

thanks I am going to pass. It is ALMOST expired and the straps are mangy.

[Multimama]

thanks I am going to pass. It is ALMOST expired and the straps are mangy.

Radians are good for eight years from date of manufacture, I believe. Just thought I'd point that out since going by the age of your kids it should have some life left.

I definitely would replace the harness for any mold though. And I admit when one of our seats got mold on it I didn't keep it. I threw everything out except the plastic shell and then traded it in to BRU.

[Joolsplus2]

IIRC, the 65 and 80 straps can't be replaced, I can't remember offhand when they made the change to replaceable straps (my kid is her kids ages, so I ASSumed her seat is as old as the Radian rotting away in my garage just past it's 7 year expiry). Replacing the straps on a seat with a couple years left if possible is a great idea!

[hillview]

thanks all. The neighbor has a friend coming into town this weekend. I can't get the straps sorted by then -- I got the carseat when DS1 was <1 so yeah it likely has another year plus or minus (he is about to turn 8) that said I don't have a need for it and I really don't know if the straps can be replaced (haven't checked). I plan to cut the straps and cut up the cover and trash it. Thanks again!

[Multimama]

IIRC, the 65 and 80 straps can't be replaced, I can't remember offhand when they made the change to replaceable straps (my kid is her kids ages, so I ASSumed her seat is as old as the Radian rotting away in my garage just past it's 7 year expiry). Replacing the straps on a seat with a couple years left if possible is a great idea!

Oops. Was thinking your '07 kiddo was your oldest! I get it now. ETA: Quoted this because I was wondering, do the older Radians have a 7 year expiry rather than 8?

[Joolsplus2]

The earliest ones were 6, then they were 7, then 8, it went in pretty fast succession to the longer dates, like, first few batches, I think.