Cleaning car seat after vomit??

My 11 month old vomited A TON today in his Britax car seat. I'm having a hard time cleaning it. The straps were covered in puke and they now smell horrible even after being cleaned off first with wipes and then sponge cleaned with a vinegar/ water mix. I can't take the straps off the car seat as far as I can tell?? And to make matters worse the cover can't go in the washing machine. How do you get it clean and get the vomit smell out????????????????????????????? I don't understand how a company that makes a product for infants and toddlers who randomly vomit and have diaper explosions can make a product that is so difficult to clean. Help!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Re: Cleaning car seat after vomit??

I don't have a Britax but I would think there has to be a way for for the straps to come off. I'm not saying this is the right thing to do necessarily, but if it were me, I would absolutely throw the cover in the washing machine!

Re: Cleaning car seat after vomit??

Story of my life....I just went through this today but she was in a stroller....but when she pukes in the car seat I take the cover off and put it in the washing machine...for the straps I use fantastik Bleach spray its the only thing that takes that smell away...I hate that smell with a passion.

Re: Cleaning car seat after vomit??

i threw the cover in the washer and air dried it.. as for the straps, you can unhook the m from the back.. i soaked them in water and vinegar and let them air dry

Re: Cleaning car seat after vomit??

Re: Cleaning car seat after vomit??

What a nightmare. When we went through this last month I told my DH that if this car seat wasn't so much $ I would have thrown it out & got another.

I washed the cover in the hand wash cycle in the machine - twice & air dried it.

The straps I scrubbed them until my fingers came off. I took the entire thing apart. Even sprayed the foam with Febreeze several times soaking it & air drying.

I found myself using whatever I could to get in the little nooks & crannies because somehow the vomit managed to travel every where. Inside the buckles...

Thankfully it's like new again.

Re: Cleaning car seat after vomit??

Thanks everyone. Washed the cover in the washing machine today. That did the trick. The straps soaked in water and vinegar overnight and the jury is out on them. Waiting til they dry before I decide if I need to go get the bleach spray. What a pain!!!!!! Hopefully I can get the carseat back together the right way!

Re: Cleaning car seat after vomit??

I used baby shampoo w/ fragrance to wash the straps. Sponge them w/ the soapy mixture, then do another sponge rinse w/ clean water. It did the trick. I had j&j given to me for my shower that I don't use on dd, it worked for this.