How to Wash a Britax Marathon

Use only a mild soap on your Britax Marathon to avoid damage.

The Britax Marathon is a popular car seat with safety-conscious parents because of its long list of safety features and high safety ratings. Because the Britax Marathon is more expensive that other seats, you might be wondering how you can keep it clean and in great shape. To keep your Marathon looking new, you can wash it, but make sure to do it correctly so that you don't compromise the safety of the seat.

Things You'll Need

• Water
• Mild soap
• Sponge or washcloth
• Soft-bristled brush
• Britax Marathon owner's guide

Instructions

Removing the Cover

1. Loosen the Marathon's harness and unhook the shoulder straps at the back of the car seat.

2. Pull the straps through the front of the seat. Remove the seat's buckle and the belly pad.

3. Remove the top half of the cover. Don't remove or damage the foam under the cover.

4. Pull out the lower harness straps, chest pads, buckle tongues and chest clips through the lower slot in the cover.

5. Remove the rest of the cover.

Wash the Cover and Seat

1. Wash the cover with cold water and mild soap. The owner's manual suggests hand washing and says to avoid washing machines, bleach and irons. Line dry the cover, or you can simply lay it flat to dry.

2. Clean the car seat's shell while the cover is off. Avoid using harsh cleaners or solvents, and stick with a simple soap and water combination. Use a sponge or washcloth.

3. Clean the harness with water and mild soap and a washcloth or sponge. The owner's manual says to never disassemble the harness, and to avoid bleach.

4. Check for loose debris in the harness adjuster to keep it working properly. Debris could interfere with the safety of the car seat. Use a soft-bristled brush to remove debris, the owner's manual suggests. You can also use water and mild soap to sponge clean any dirty areas.

5. Allow all parts of the Marathon to air dry. Reassemble the Marathon by reversing the instructions in Section One.

Tips & Warnings

• If you'd like to avoid taking the cover on and off, you can spot treat the Marathon's cover with a solution of warm water and mild soap. Use a washcloth, sponge or old toothbrush to remove debris and allow the car seat to air-dry.

• The Britax Marathon has several parts. To make sure that you're focusing on or removing the correct piece, check your owner's manual for a diagram. If you don't have one, download the Marathon User Guide from Britax USA in the References below.

• Failure to correctly reinstall the car seat and cover could result in injury or death. Check your manual to make sure the car seat is correctly installed.

• Check your owner's manual for specific instructions and warnings.

References

• Britax USA: Marathon User Guide
• Britax USA: Marathon