How To Clean A Bassinet In 7 Steps (Cleaning Supplies Included)

The life of a parent includes a lot of joy, stress, and cleaning.

All of this begins before the baby even arrives, as you and your partner try to prepare everything in advance for the happy day.

You buy fancy toys, clothes, a stroller, and an infant bassinet.

When the baby comes, you’ll see stains from spit-up and diaper blowouts, and you’ll realize you don’t know how to clean a bassinet properly.

Never fear though, as this guide will teach you how to clean your baby’s bassinet properly in no time!

You might think you know how to clean a bassinet, but it takes more than simply changing sheets, as stains and dirt get everywhere.

You need to take off the washable parts, wipe down everything, and treat stains on fabrics. When that’s all done, you need to put everything back in its rightful place.

Sounds easy enough, right? Well, it’s not too difficult a task, but it can be exhausting if you don’t follow this guide and end up getting lost in the middle of the job.

There are lots of cleaning solutions and products that can help you immensely throughout this process, and keep your baby safe from germs and chemicals too.

It is very important to get all the supplies before you start cleaning, as you don’t want to get halfway through only to realize you don’t have everything you need.

How Often Do I Have To Clean A Bassinet?

Well, there is no universal answer to this question, but you should remember that just because some things aren’t visible, doesn’t mean they’re not there.

We all know babies drool, sweat, and spit-up all the time, mostly while they are sleeping or playing with toys.

We often can’t see these stains right away, which is why we have to wash linens regularly.

It is recommended to wash them at least once per week.

You don’t have to clean the frames of the bassinet as often as the linens, but you should do so at least once a month.

Of course, if you notice any stains or soiling you should react immediately.

Keeping the sleeping area clean from germs, stains, and sticky build-up is crucial for your baby’s health, but you shouldn’t go overboard.

Children need to be exposed to environmental organisms to build up the immune system.

The best way to strengthen our children’s immune systems from a young age is to let them come into contact with the natural environment.

That is why it is important to let your kid play outside and touch the grass, dirt, flowers, and other things that surround her.

Even if you have the urge to wash her hands as soon as you see dirt on them, you could end up doing more harm than good.

The same goes for indoor surfaces.

Even though disinfectants are an essential part of your cleaning supply, they shouldn’t be used for every single surface in your home.

It’s perfectly normal to worry about your little one, but that doesn’t mean you have to scrub every single surface she might come into contact with.

The best solution is to create a perfect balance between the two.

I accomplish this by sticking to a schedule, whereby I clean three times a week.

This includes washing the linens from the bassinet and deep cleaning once a month, including taking apart all machine washable parts and cleaning the frames.

Make sure to plan your cleaning in accordance with your regular schedule, because the cleaning process should not be seen as an obligation, but more as a way to keep your child healthy.

This is how I comfort myself when I have to clean, and you should try it too.

Now that you know when to clean your baby’s bassinet we can move to the next question: How?

How To Clean A Bassinet

If you’re wondering how to clean a bassinet, follow these steps and you’ll be done in no time.

1. Follow instructions

Bassinets are a great alternative to cribs, and very cute, but if it’s your first time cleaning a bassinet, you should read the manufacturer’s instructions before doing anything else.

This is a crucial part of the whole process, as they will show you how to disassemble and reassemble it and which parts are machine washable.

If you don’t follow the instructions, you might damage the bassinet or treat some parts inadequately.

This could affect the quality and safety of the bassinet, so be careful to treat it the right way.

If you can’t find the instructions, I recommend contacting the customer support of the brand, or the store, you bought it from.

Many websites also have manuals in PDF form.

Now that we’ve read the instructions and know how to disassemble the bassinet, we can move on to the next step.

2. Cleaning preparations

Make sure to check this part before you go to the store.

Bassinet parts should not be washed with regular detergents and cleaners.

The place where your baby sleeps should smell nice and fresh but without any strong fragrances.

Before you start cleaning the bassinet, make sure you have everything you need so you don’t have to leave everything in a mess if you discover you don’t have all the necessary cleaning products, or a damp cloth, in the middle of the process

I have made you a list of all the cleaning products you will need to save you some time.

​Dreft Stage 2 Active Hypoallergenic Liquid Baby Laundry Detergent

This detergent is hypoallergenic and mild, but strong enough to clean some stains from clothes and bedsheets.

It is suitable for all washing machines and for handwashing too.

If your baby is active during the night or sweats while sleeping, this laundry detergent will remove any stains and nasty build-up.

OxiClean Baby Stain Fighter

No matter which laundry detergent you use, it can never remove every stain, especially those from diaper blowouts and spit-ups.

​Therefore, you will need a good stain remover that can be used for washing machines.

I use this stain fighter for all types of stains and it usually cleans them in no time.

It is fragrance and chlorine-free, and also color-safe, so it can’t damage any fabrics or patterns.

​Microfiber Glass Cleaning Cloths

You can use any type of clean cloth for the frame, but I usually go with microfiber damp cloths so I don’t have to use anything but warm water and the cloth to wipe all the dirt off them.

Even though these cloths are meant for glass, they work on all surfaces, just make sure you use the green one with water and the blue one for drying the surface off.

Microfiber cloths are amazing for any type of housework that involves wiping, but I was really surprised to see how well it worked with bassinet and bed frames.

Empty Refillable Cosmo Round Bottles

I always make sure to pick safe and non-toxic products, especially when it comes to cleaning.

This is why I always go with plastic spray bottles that don’t contain any BPA.

I used glass bottles before and they were great, but I had an accident with one once, so I made the switch to plastic.

These are perfectly fine for the job, and can be used for water, cleaning supplies, and even DIY products.

​Dr. Bronner’s Pure-Castile Liquid Soap

Mild soap is one of the essentials for cleaning your baby’s bassinet, but you can still use a high-quality product to make your baby feel nice and cozy in her bassinet.

Dr. Bronner’s soap is suitable for body and laundry use and is perfume-free.

This is a great product because it keeps both your baby and the planet safe.

The manufacturer states the soap is three times more concentrated than other liquid soaps, and you can feel that on your skin, which makes it even better for fabric cleaning.

3. Let’s start cleaning

Now that we have instructions and all the supplies we need, it’s time to start with the cleaning part.

Remove any parts of the bassinet that are machine washable.

Make sure to find zippers or other closures first, as they show you which parts are removable.

Take off the washable parts and separate those that need to be hand-washed from those that go in the washing machine.

Check the fabrics for stains and treat them with the stain remover cleaning product.

Be sure to follow the cleaning supplies’ directions closely, so you don’t keep it on longer than needed and accidentally end up with a stain from the stain remover itself.

After that, take the spray bottle and fill it with warm water.

Clean the mattress properly.

Before you start this task, you have to determine which type of mattress you have.

This is important because if you have a waterproof mattress, it means that water and chemicals don’t sink into it, but rather stay on the surface.

If it is a non-waterproof mattress, it might be a bit more complicated to wash and dry.

This type of mattress usually comes with a removable outer cover, and soft foam inside that has to be hand-washed.

Be careful with the mattress, I would always follow the manufacturer’s cleaning recommendations to avoid permanent damage.

Now that the fabric parts are clean, we can move on to the next task.

4. Clean the bassinet frame

This part can either be a piece of cake or a nightmare.

This may not sound promising, but if you concentrate on this task there won’t be any problems.

Check the instructions that came with the bassinet and see if there are any special treatments for the bassinet frame.

If not, you can just mix warm or hot water, whichever you prefer, with a little bit of mild soap.

The most important thing to do during this task is take small sections while cleaning.

Lightly spray each section and wipe it down with a clean cloth.

Reminder: If you use the microfiber cloths from the list above, make sure to use the green one to wipe down the water and then the blue one to dry it off.

Bassinets usually come in a lot of different styles, designs, and shapes.

They can be made from a variety of materials, including: wood, metal, plastic, wicker, and fabric.

Why is this important?

Well, different materials require different types of cleaning, for example, you can treat plastic in almost any way as it is durable and smooth.

However, if your bassinet is made out of wicker, you shouldn’t spray it directly with water, but just put a few drops onto a clean cloth to dampen it, then wipe it down.

As wicker and wood are quite similar, you can use a damp cloth for wood too, rather than spraying water directly onto the surface.

You can use a spray bottle for metal, but make sure not to use too much water, as it can make some parts rusty.

Bassinet baskets are usually made from waterproof fabric and can handle water spray, but don’t use too much of this, either.

Make sure to apply enough pressure and clean all parts equally, but don’t push it too far to avoid damaging the bassinet.

Instead, go back and spray stubborn stains again until they are gone.

5. Let the bassinet air-dry

Even though you’ve wiped the bassinet dry with a clean cloth, this doesn’t remove all the excess moisture from the frame.

Therefore, it is best to put it outside, or in a place with a lot of light, until it completely dries.

Don’t rush the last part just to reassemble the bassinet as soon as possible.

Moisture can cause a lot of problems in the long run, and even cause mildew, fungi, or bacteria that could harm your little one.

If the bassinet is outside, don’t leave it directly in the sun, as colors and patterns may fade.

6. Reassemble the bassinet

After the bassinet has been thoroughly cleaned and dried, it’s time to put it back together.

This step is crucial and needs to be done properly to avoid any malfunctions when you put your baby to sleep.

Even if you think you can remember all the steps from the manual, take a quick look at it again just to make sure you put all the parts back correctly.

Specific instructions are there for a reason.

If you don’t put everything back in the same order, it will not be safe for your child.

7. Extra: Alternative ways of cleaning a bassinet

Steam cleaner

A steam cleaner is one of the best things I have bought for my house.

It is multipurpose and I use it for everything, from tiles in the kitchen to mine and my children’s beds.

You can find many excellent models on Amazon.

Steam cleaning is an excellent way to get rid of mildew, mold or almost any type of bacteria, so it is perfect for bassinets as well.

Handheld vacuum cleaner

You can use a regular vacuum cleaner to clean a bassinet, but I just don’t like using something for both floors and beds at the same time.

This is why these handheld vacuum cleaners are an excellent investment.

You can use it whenever and wherever you want and get the job done in no time.

Baking soda

It’s so easy to learn how to clean a bassinet using baking soda.

Before you wash any fabric parts or the mattress, you can use baking soda as a stain remover.

Use water and lemon juice, or white vinegar, then spray it on any soiled spots and add the soda over it.

Leave it for 20 minutes and just vacuum off the excess.

When you’re done, you can also use baking soda to prepare a nice detoxifying bath for your kids – it’s the very definition of multipurpose!

Conclusion

Well done, you have just learned how to clean a bassinet quickly and easily!

It wasn’t a very difficult task in the end.

I recommend that you plan each time you want to deep clean the bassinet, so you don’t get any of these steps wrong.

Keep in mind that it is important to clean the baby’s sleeping and living area, but it’s equally important to expose your baby to the natural environment.

This includes exposure to germs as well, so she can build her immune system up from a young age.

Now you can go and teach someone else how to clean a bassinet properly.

Only kidding!

You can send them the link to this awesome guide, though.

READ NEXT: How To Clean A Pack And Play In 6 Steps (With Cleaning Supplies)

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