Car creepy crawlies
Published
Did you know that your child’s car seat upholstery could be home to a highly unpleasant infestation of harmful dust mites? Experts from Select Car Leasing say that although dust mites don’t bite humans, their droppings and decaying body parts can trigger allergies, worsen asthma and cause eczema flare-ups.
One clinical study revealed more than 77 per cent of child car seats harbour dust mites, and in a significant number of cases the infestation level is ‘sufficient to be risk factors for sensitisation and allergic reactions.’
Graham Conway, managing director of Select Car Leasing, warns that neglecting the cleanliness of seats in your car, especially the child seats, could pose a range of health risks to all humans but particularly young children. Faecal particles can become airborne and are easily inhaled – and each dust mite can produce 20 droppings per day. Yet neither dust mites nor their droppings are visible to the naked eye.
Properly cleaning a child car seat can be a tricky task. Here, Graham Conway shares his top tips:
* Remove the seat from the car to ensure that crevices that tend to collect the most dirt are not missed.
* Vacuum the car seat thoroughly, getting into every groove, to remove most of the dust and crumbs.
* Remove and machine-wash the removable cover. Do check the manufacturer guidelines. Many car seat manufacturers recommend washing covers on a delicate cycle, which usually washes fabrics at around 30°C. But a temperature of 60°C or higher is typically recommended to kill dust mites. Going over the covers with a steam cleaner (which usually operates at around 100°C) can help ensure that you’ve got rid of any mites.
* Wipe down the hard base and shell with a mild detergent and a damp cloth.
* Clean the straps carefully. But never machine-wash them as this can damage the harness straps over time. Instead, use a soft cloth, warm water and gentle soap to wipe them down.
* Clean the buckles by wiping down and working them back and forth to dislodge any trapped debris. Crumbs in a buckle can prevent it from clicking properly, which is an added safety issue.
* Once every part of the car seat has dried, it is ready to be returned to the car.
