How to Get Odor Out of a Carseat

Car seats are necessary to transport your small children safely. Each state has its own law governing the age or weight a child must be before he can stop using the car seat. During the years the child uses the car seat, it is bound to become dirty. Juice, food and even a leaky diaper can get on the car seat, leading to an odor that you will want to get rid of.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Vacuum
• OxiClean Baby
• Water
• Vinegar
• Empty spray bottle
• Febreze Extra Strength Spray

1. Take the car seat out of the car and vacuum up any crumbs or remaining food pieces. You can't get rid of the odor if you don't get rid of the cause of the odor.

2. Clean your car seat with OxiClean Baby or a similar product that will clean tough stains but is made without perfumes and dyes that could irritate sensitive skin. Add a tablespoon of the powder to a bowl of warm water and work it into the car seat with a wash rag or small scrub brush. This will get out any juice spills that might cause odor. Allow the car seat to air dry.

3. Fill an empty spray bottle half full with vinegar. Fill the rest of the bottle with warm water. Shake the mixture and spray all over on the car seat. Vinegar is a household product that is excellent at removing strong odors. Let the vinegar dry on the car seat.

4. Spray your car seat with Febreze Extra Strength Spray or similar product that is designed to eliminate odors instead of just mask them. Choose a product that is safe to use around pets and children. The air freshener will get rid of the vinegar smell. Let car seat air dry. Unpleasant odors should be gone.

Tips & Warnings

• If your car seat smells like mold, spray on a mixture of 75 percent rubbing alcohol and 25 percent water to kill the mold and remove the smell. Shaklee makes a line of cleaners that are safe to use around children and pets.
• Never use straight bleach on a car seat. It will alter the color of the car seat and leave white spots..