Washing Britax car seat cover

[blessedby3]

I really need to take the cover off of my dd's Britax Marathon car seat and wash it. Can someone who has done this tell me how difficult or easy this is and how does the cover hold up after washing? It makes me nerevous to take this thing off and get it back on correctly. Thanks

 

[jas_mom1]

I've removed and washed Marathon covers many times. Although the directions say hand wash, I've always done them in my front-loading washing machine. NEVER put the cover in the dryer. Always air-dry! All of my covers have held up well to machine washing/air drying. I've had 3 Marathons and 4 covers total.

Rethreading the straps is not that difficult. Try to pay attention to how they are when you remove them. You'll leave the straps still attached at the bottom of the seat. Just make sure you put the straps back in correctly at the shoulders.

Dianne

 

[blessedby3]

Thanks, I probably would have thrown the thing in the dryer without even thinking about it. I will pay close attention to the straps- thats what makes me the most nervous!!

 

[SGTex]

It's nice and easy to wash! Definitely do not dry your cover and you can wipe your straps clean (the harness straps) but don't submerge them in water. I prefer to hand wash my covers b/c I can really get to any spot that has something on it and I'd hate for something to happen to my cover in the wash, but I'm a little nutty about my seats!

I actually washed mine today! They've been hang drying all day!

 

[blessedby3]

It's nice and easy to wash! Definitely do not dry your cover and you can wipe your straps clean (the harness straps) but don't submerge them in water. I prefer to hand wash my covers b/c I can really get to any spot that has something on it and I'd hate for something to happen to my cover in the wash, but I'm a little nutty about my seats!

I actually washed mine today! They've been hang drying all day!

I understand the "nutty" you are talking about. When you spend $200 + on a car seat, you dont want anything to happen to it.

 

[CyndiLooWho]

Oh, this is super easy. I even took the buckles off the straps and washed them, too. And I got new covers at one point, when mine were looking pretty bad (my boys didn't hit 40# for a long time).

 

[MickeyMom2Boys]

One of my Britax seats is almost 6 years old. The cover has been washed multiple times and still looks like new. I throw it in the washing machine, then hang it up to air dry. The only thing I would suggest is to make sure you do it when you won't need the seat for the day. The covers are very well padded and take several hours to air dry.

 

[dhardawa]

You can put the cover in the washer on the gentle cycle. Do not use fabric softener though as it can damage the flame retardant material. Then, hang it to dry. I can't tell you how many Britax covers I have washed like this and they come out looking brand new.

One thing to note, NEVER, NEVER, NEVER wash the harness in the washing machine. The machine can stretch the harness and weaken it.

 

[clc053103]

I also washed the Marathon cover in the washer, and in the dryer on low.

It is however important that you do NOT submerge the straps in water, or use any cleaning product on them, they say it compromises them.

 

[natnelliesmom]

One tip- While I take the cover off, I really pay attention to the straps and then rethread them and buckle them back in the seat once I get the cover off. This way I can see exactly how they go when I put the cover back on.

I have also washed the straps by hand in the sink. I use an old toothbrush to clean out the buckles. I use the hairdryer on low heat to dry out the inside of the buckle mechanism.

-Sarah

 

[KelleyD]

well I didn't read the directions...I have washed and dried a couple of times...doesn't shrink and comes out fine...

1. Make sure you pay attention to the straps in the back...one time I ran the straps the worng way, or twisted them and i couldn't tighten it...

also if your child happens to play with the seat before you get it back together, make sure all your parts are there....I just found the foam that is under the cover/against the chair in the living room...apparently my 2 year old took it off the seat and into the living room....it was one of those yeah i see he has it but then forget as you are putting the seat together...I have to put that back in tonight!

 

[JaxJags08]

Do you have to uninstall the seat to take the cover off? We did in the past, but it's a pain to uninstall/reinstall in our car in 90+ degree weather so I'd like to avoid it if possible.

 

[dhardawa]

Do you have to uninstall the seat to take the cover off? We did in the past, but it's a pain to uninstall/reinstall in our car in 90+ degree weather so I'd like to avoid it if possible.

Yes, you'll need to remove the harness which requires you to get to the splitter plate on the back of the seat.