If you are going to have a baby or you already have a couple of little ones then you absolutely know about pack n play mattresses.
When the new family member is coming then the first thing most of the parents search for is the right and one of the popular and versatile mattresses for the baby is pack n play mattress.
If you have pack n play mattress and if you don’t know how to clean pack n play mattress then you are on the right article.
Germs are one of the worst enemies of you and your child.
So if you don’t know how to clean pack n play mattress properly then chances are that germs can spread on that mattress and it is not good for your baby.
And also cleaning this mattress increases the lifespan of the mattress, so we need to clean & disinfect the pack n play mattress regularly.
According to WHO every year nearly 41% of all under-five child deaths are among newborn infants, babies in their first 28 days of life or the neonatal period.
Because of that cleaning, your baby’s mattress is really important because your child spends most of the time on that mattress.
Cleaning pack n play mattress is also not an easy task because they are not machine washable, but the good news is pack n play mattresses are designed for easy cleaning and sanitizing.
Before we start how to clean pack n play mattress, you need to know first why cleaning is important.
Why Cleaning pack n play mattress is important?
Its very important to clean and sanitize your child’s toys and mattress because mold can grow inside of toys, bottles, and their bed spaces including pack n play mattresses.
According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, everything that your baby uses must be cleaned regularly.
If you don’t clean them then it can cause your baby asthma and allergies.
And also bacteria can build millions of colonies in an unclean mattress.
So cleaning pack n play mattresses is really important for your baby to keep safe from all bacteria,
While there is no hard and fast rule which defines how often you should wash your clean n pack mattress it’s a good idea to keep your mattress clean before it turns into a bigger mess.
Read More: When To Flip A Crib Mattress for a baby?
How to Clean Pack N Play Mattress step by step
To effectively clean and disinfect pack n play mattresses, you should pick a nice day and take the mattress outside if possible,
So soapy water can’t get on your floors indoors.
If you don’t have space outside or if you don’t want to do this outside in order to clean your pack n play mattress then put down some heavy towels or cloths to protect your floors.
Way 1: Scrub Cleaning
This way is one of the obvious ways to clean your pack n play mattress but this method is an approachable way to get it clean any time.
To effectively clean and scrub down your pack n play mattress, you should do this step outside of your house.
If your crib mattress has a mattress pad cover then take that off and throw that on a washing machine, then take the actual pack n clean mattress,
To scrub your pack n clean the mattress remove the mattress and grab a bucket of warm water mixed with half a cup of baby-safe laundry detergent and a soft-bristled brush.
Scrub the entire pack n play but be careful not to soak the real material or the mesh of the mattress.
Then take a warm, wet rag and wipe out the excess water, again you need to be careful that you are not soaking the material and mesh.
Once you finished scrubbing the pack n play mattress then allow the mattress to dry completely before you use it again.
If possible, you can leave your pack n play mattress outside in a sun to dry completely.
If you can’t do that then you can find some sunny spot in your house and leave it there but it will take some time to dry,
So if you want to speed up this process then you can turn on the table fan.
Way 2: Deep Cleaning
This method is best for mattresses that are dirty and need overall cleaning.
If your baby made a large mess on her pack n play mattress then you might need to clean deeper and in this situation, the deep cleaning method is very useful.
But one thing you need to keep in your mind is that this type of cleaning is generally not listed in the manufactures instructions.
So before using this method check all pros and cons of this method.
Follow these steps if you want to deep clean the pack n play mattress, take the mattress outside fold the pack and play up in its folded position.
Then fill your bathtub with warm water, add a mixture of half cup of laundry detergent, ¼ cup of baking soda, and ¼ coup of white vinegar.
Once your tub is full and the ingredients are completely mixed, place your folded pack n play mattress in the water and let it soak for one hour but make sure not to submerge the mattress.
After that remove your pack n play mattress and rinse it off with a warm, wet rag then towel dry it to remove as much excess water as possible.
Then just find a sunny place in your home to let it dry completely for best results you can place your mattress outside.
And before using your pack n play mattress make sure all the locks and hinges are working in order.
Way 3: Spot Cleaning Method
The last recommended way to clean the pack n play mattress is the spot cleaning method for making sure your mattress is always in top condition at all moments.
Some parts of your child’s pack n play will get dirtier than others so this spot cleaning method is useful for cleaning particularly affected areas of the mattress.
The most effective way to keep your pack n play mattress clean is to use a waterproof mattress cover for your pack n play,
Then you just have to remove only the cover and wash it instead of the mattress.
But for the spot cleaning method, you need ½ cup of water and ½ cup of vinegar mixed with ½ cup of soft soap.
You can also find any brand cleaner suited for cleaning spots for your pack n play mattress.
How Often you should clean your pack n play mattress?
Pack and play mattress is like heaven for your little one, because it gives so much comfort and support to your child’s body.
And after knowing about how to clean pack n play mattress, one question that may be on your mind is how many times in week or month I should wash pack n play mattress?
You should wash the sheets in the baby mattress two times per week because most of the milk, sweat, saliva, and food are accumulate here.
Blankets and comforters should be cleaned once in two weeks, but wash them in a washing machine using hypoallergenic detergents.
And you should change your baby’s pillowcases twice a week.
And the pillows can be washed once a month to keep dust and dirt free.
Final thoughts
Keeping your pack n play mattress clean and germ-free is very important for your child’s good health so it’s very easy to clean your pack n play mattress so you can clean this mattress regularly.
Wiping it down on regular basis is a great idea to keep pack n play mattress clean as the baby spit up seeps into the mattress, making it harder to clean the mattress later.
So if you know how to clean pack n play mattress then you can easily clean pack n play mattress regularly and keep your child safe.