Can the clips (chest and between the legs) for car seats go in the dishwasher to sterilize? Little 2yo dcb threw up in his car seat this morning (YUCK!!!) and I've got the cloth cover in the wash, but am wondering how to get the germies off the buckles. Should I just use bleach water instead? Thanx. Little guy's going home as soon as someone can get here. Too much sickness going around to keep him here (Randy and I both have sinus infections). Oh the joys...

By Trina~moderator on Tuesday, November 28, 2006 - 11:15 am:

Poor kiddo! No, I wouldn't put them in the dishwasher. Manufacturer washing directions differ, but most recommend hot, soapy water for the chest clip and buckle. Some manufacturers do not recommend machine washing for the cover or harness straps. What specific car seat is it?

By Cat on Tuesday, November 28, 2006 - 12:11 pm:

It's an older version of the Graco Treasured CarGo Booster. I got it at Wal-Mart a couple years ago (can't find the exact model). I already washed the cover according to the directions on it (machine wash cold, delicate cycle, drip dry). I'll wash the clip and buckle in warm soapy water. Little guy's aunt picked him up. She said he felt a little warm (I can't tell) and he looked pale to me. He was also laying on his aunt--not normal for him. He's not a cuddler. He's a mover! lol He was really whiney yesterday so this may be why. Thanx again, Trina.

By Trina~moderator on Tuesday, November 28, 2006 - 12:26 pm:

Poor little sweetie. I hope he's better soon. Did he vomit on the harness straps, too? I found the cleaning directions for a 2002 Graco Treasured Cargo.

• METAL AND PLASTIC PARTS: clean with mild
soap and cool water. No bleach or detergents.
• HARNESS STRAPS: spot clean or replace. Do not
immerse the straps in water. Doing so may weaken
the harness straps.
• BUCKLE AND HARNESS ADJUSTER: clean with
a damp cloth.
• NEVER LUBRICATE THE BUCKLE. If buckle or
harness adjuster sticks or will not remain tight, check
for foreign objects such as food, dirt, etc. Remove
objects with tweezers and/or clean with a cotton
swab. If you cannot get the harness to remain tight
with the buckle securely locked, do not use this car
seat. Call Graco at 1-888-224-6549 to purchase a
replacement harness or buckle.
• SEAT COVER: clean with a damp sponge using
mild soap and cool water. If necessary, cover may
be removed for cleaning (see next page).

To Remove Seat Cover
1. Remove harness and
crotch straps (see Section
7.1, Harness Removal,
p. 26 for help).
2. Remove elastic
loops and hooks
from seat as
shown ��.
3. Machine wash
cover in cold
water on delicate
cycle and dripdry.
DO NOT
USE BLEACH.
4. To put the seat cover
back on, reverse
preceding instructions.
Thread the harness
straps through the
appropriate holes in
the seat cover.

By Cat on Tuesday, November 28, 2006 - 01:23 pm:

Yep, he got the harness, too. Thankfully he didn't have his coat on (his parents put him in his car seat with it--I don't) because it never would have been dry by the time his aunt came. He had a blanket over him that caught most of it, but he did get the side of the car seat, the harness and chest clip. The two pieces that clip into the buckle got dirty when I was taking it apart--he didn't get the buckle itself. So the car seat is all clean and just waiting for the cover to dry and reassemble. Thanx again, our resident Car Seat Guru.