How to Clean Used Newborn Baby Furniture

Borrowing baby furniture or buying it secondhand is a great way to save money. After all, once the baby arrives, you're going to have a lot of other needs, so the saved money will come in handy. But how can you be sure the furniture is clean and sanitary?

Don't worry. Most baby furniture is constructed to be easy to clean, as long as you disinfect all the surfaces, and wash any fabrics in a baby-safe detergent that won't damage flame-retardant fabrics.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Disinfecting cleanser such as Pine-Sol
• Cloth or sponge
• Scotch-Brite pads
• Anti-bacterial cleanser
• Soft-bristled brush
• Spray-on disinfectant
• Baby laundry detergent
• Borax

Cleaning Used Baby Furniture

1. Remove any soft plastic or fabric parts from the furniture for thorough cleaning. Most baby furniture is made to come apart for washing. If the furniture comes with fabric that cannot be washed, you don't want it.

2. Wash wooden furniture with warm water and disinfectant. Pour a wood-safe disinfectant such as Pine-Sol into a bucket of hot water, and wipe the wood clean with a cloth or sponge. Remove caked-on grime by moistening it with hot water and scrubbing with a Scotch-Brite pad. Be careful not to scrub too hard, or you could damage the wood's finish.

3. Spray plastic baby furniture with an anti-bacterial cleanser and scrub it thoroughly.

4. Scrub wicker furniture with a soft-bristled brush dipped in hot water and cleanser. Spray the whole piece with a disinfectant such as Lysol, and allow it to air dry.

5. Toss fabric parts in the washing machine with a baby-safe detergent such as Dreft or Ivory Snow. Add half a cup of borax to the wash to remove stains and strong smells. Borax is a natural mineral that will not compromise flame-retardant finishes or irritate a baby's skin.

Tips & Warnings

• You can rinse cleansers off baby furniture with clear water, if desired, but allow the disinfectant to air-dry first. The disinfectant needs time to work.