Cleaning Carseats

[longstocking]

How often do you recommend stripping seats and giving them a good cleaning?
How often do you actually do it?
Are all covers machine washable?
After a summer that held a lot of long family road trips I finally pulled the seats out of our car and have the covers in the wash right now. Yuck, they were disgusting. It was last January that I cleaned them.
I just can't imagine those seats that haven't moved in 5 years, or whatever.
Also...not cleaning related, but it came about when I took the cover off. I have a Britax Roundabout and I noticed the padding is ripping. Is there away to get juts that replaced? It's still a fairly new seat.

 

[Judi]

I clean them only when they need it. Not all covers are machine washable. I do wash all mine in the machine, however, I just ruined a snugride cover also.

About the Roundabout, I would call Britax.

 

[Jessica61624]

I wash mine after a spill or accident. It happens every few months it seems like. I do wash mine in the machine also. I can't get them clean otherwise.

 

[oddduck]

I uninstall all carseats and clean them 2x a year (spring/fall). I obviously will wash them if there is an accident or spill. I do machine wash on delicate in my front-loader. I just did 2 of my seat yesterday and will have another 4 to do before the weather turns.

 

[Holly]

I wash mine about once or twice a year, just whenever they seem really dirty after being used for several months in a row, or obviously if there is an accident or vomit (it doesn't happen often).
I've always washed mine in the washer and hung them to dry.