Our cleaning process
At Bubble Tot Cleaning, safety always comes first. Baby gear, especially car seats, is safety equipment, which means how it is cleaned matters just as much as how clean it looks when we’re finished.
We follow the cleaning and care instructions provided by each product’s manufacturer. We do not use steam cleaners, upholstery extractors, pressure washers, hoses, high heat, abrasive or high-powered scrub brushes, or other cleaning methods that could compromise materials or components.
Car seat shells, harnesses, buckles, and other components are never saturated unless the manufacturer specifically permits that cleaning method. We also do not use traditional stain removers or spot-treatment products.
If a product or cleaning method falls outside of the manufacturer’s standard instructions, we don’t assume it’s safe to use. Manufacturer approval comes first.
What We Use
Our standard cleaning products are intentionally limited. Depending on the item and its manufacturer’s instructions, we use:
Molly’s Suds Baby Fragrance Free Liquid Laundry Detergent for machine-washable fabrics
Branch Basics Fragrance Free Multi-Purpose Cleaner
Diluted Original Blue Dawn Dish Soap for pretreatment and handwashing
Dawn Free & Clear as an alternative for families with sensitivities to, or a preference not to use, Original Blue Dawn
Molly’s Suds Unscented Dish Soap, available upon request as an alternative to Dawn
Microfiber cloths for gentle cleaning of applicable surfaces and components
Cool or cold water, according to manufacturer instructions
Compressed air to remove crumbs, dust, hair, and debris from crevices and hard-to-reach areas without introducing additional moisture or using abrasive tools
When permitted by the manufacturer, fabrics are handwashed using Branch Basics and diluted dish soap before being machine washed according to the manufacturer’s care instructions.
These are the products we use for routine cleaning. No surprise stain removers, fragrances, essential oils, bleach, vinegar, baking soda, or other cleaning products are added to your gear.
Special Circumstances
Certain situations, including some biohazard cleanups, may require a different approach.
BioKleen enzyme cleaner and 70% isopropyl alcohol are reserved for specific circumstances and are only used when the manufacturer has explicitly approved their use for that particular item and situation.
For example, certain manufacturers may authorize the use of an enzyme cleaner for a specific biohazard remediation. That does not mean enzyme cleaners are universally appropriate for baby gear.
Any special-use product is handled on a case-by-case basis with manufacturer approval each time. We never incorporate a product into our cleaning process simply because it worked on another item or another manufacturer allowed it.
Your Items Stay With Your Items
Cross-contamination matters.
Your family’s washable components are never mixed in a load with another family’s gear.
Components are kept together in their own mesh laundry bag and washed separately according to manufacturer instructions. This keeps small components together while maintaining separation between clients’ items throughout the cleaning process.
Our workspace, equipment, laundry areas, and tools are routinely cleaned with cleanliness, sanitation, and cross-contamination prevention in mind. We have a family too, and we treat every item entering our space with the same level of care we would want for something coming back into our own home.
Drying & Reassembly
After washing, components are air-dried indoors using room-temperature air and a high-powered industrial fan. We do not use high heat to speed up the drying process.
If the manufacturer specifically allows machine drying, the item may be tumble dried using only the permitted cycle and temperature and then hung indoors to finish drying as needed.
Once completely dry, items are carefully reassembled according to the manufacturer’s instructions.
Allergies or Sensitivities? We’ve Got You.
If anyone in your household has an allergy, skin sensitivity, fragrance sensitivity, or another concern about the products used on your gear, please select our ALLERGY/SENSITIVITY ALERT Add-On when booking.
We’ll reach out as soon as possible to discuss your needs and determine the appropriate cleaning products and process before we begin service.
This gives us the opportunity to accommodate your family whenever possible while still staying within your product manufacturer’s cleaning and care requirements.
No mystery products. No shortcuts. No “it should probably be fine.” Just thoughtful, manufacturer-approved cleaning from start to finish.