Days out with little ones can be a lot of fun, but they can also get very messy!
From muddy puddles to sandy beaches, the mess gets traipsed back into the car, and ultimately – the car seat.
Here are our top tips for keeping your car seat in tip top condition throughout the years.
Not only is this a choking risk, but crumbs and mess get into all crevices in the seat, and can even become stuck in the safety buckle, causing it to not lock into place. We recommend keeping snacks for stop offs on long journeys. If your car seat buckle is messy, clean it over with a damp cloth and use a vacuum hose to get any debris out.
It is worth wiping over the plastic parts of your car seat on a regular basis to stop dust and debris building up – especially if there are moving parts on your car seat such as rotation. Simply wipe everything over with a damp cloth – mild soap can be used for any stubborn messes! Did you know that harsh chemicals, bleach or solvents can weaken the plastic shell of your car seat?!
The same no chemical rule applies for the harness – yes, even if little one has been poorly over the harness. Strip all the seat covers off and wipe over the harness with a damp cloth and mild soap. The harness should never be removed from the seat.
All Silver Cross car seat covers can be removed and washed in the washing machine on a 30-degree wash. Avoid tumble drying them though, as this can damage the padding. Instead, line dry the covers and re-fit them to the seat when they are very slightly damp.
Hosing down or jet washing should be avoided, as soaking your car seat can cause rusting on the metal parts over time. Jet washing your car seat can damage the seat shell.
It is worth giving your car seat a thorough clean every few months. This is a good opportunity to check your little one still fits within the parameters of the seat and make any adjustments needed, such as increasing the headrest height.
Kat Gemmell joined our car safety team with over a decade of experience supporting parents to choose, fit and use their child car seats safely. She has worked for a national child seat campaign, provided product training for child seat manufacturers, and ran online information websites to support parents in making a truly informed choice. As well as her background in car safety, Kat also spent many years as a breastfeeding peer supporter, having worked for a local feeding charity as well as the maternity ward her children were born in.