How to clean a pack and play

If you wonder how to wash a pack and play, the answer is easy, you only need to soak it for a bit, then scrub, and finally air-dry. And that last thing means that you need to plan this deep cleaning strategically because drying a playpen indoors and in non-ideal conditions will be a hassle. Also, the mattress might not dry properly, which leads to the risk of mold.

How to clean a pack and play

how to clean a pack and play

So, the most important thing for cleaning your pack n play thoroughly is timing. Study weather reports and choose the hottest and sunniest day available. If possible, plan for two days as some playards might need a bit more time to dry. But that mostly depends on the air temperature.

After you pick the day, the actual washing should take about two hours max.

How to Wash a Pack and Play Thoroughly

  • Fill your bathtub with the hottest water you can get. NOTE: Study the pack n play cleaning instructions first. If it has the maximum temperature washing instructions, be sure to comply. Some modern materials require the use of cold water. In this case, you might need to repeat this deep cleaning a couple of times.
  • Add a special cleaning solution to the water. Using your regular baby-safe detergent won’t work, but you’ll need that one as well. The recipe for a deep-cleaning solution for a playpen is ½ cup of the detergent you use with baby things, q/4 cup Oxiclean (optional and use only if it’s allowed for the material), ½ cup vinegar, and ¼ cup of baking soda. Once you pour all the ingredients into the tub of hot water, use a spatula to stir the water to make sure all of them mix and dissolve. Mind your hands so you don’t get burned by the water!
  • Soak the pack and play in the tub.

How to clean a pack and play
how to wash a pack and play

  • Leave the playpen to soak for an hour. If it can’t be submerged fully, turn it over after half an hour.
  • Drain the water and get scrubbing. Don’t be shocked as the water is sure to be disgustingly filthy after this kind of thorough cleaning. Drain it and use a brush to scrub any stains that might be left.
  • Rinse with cold water. Rinse the playpen off using a detachable showerhead. You can also take it outdoors and use a hose to do it.
  • Air-dry for a day. Set up your newly cleaned pack n play outdoors and let it dry in the sun. The mattress should be air-dried as well, but set it up in a way that will allow for easy air circulation. For example, you can put it atop two little stools. Turn it over after a couple of hours and keep doing it until it’s completely dry.

How to clean a pack and play

Take out the mattress, fold the playpen, and put it in. The mattress should go first so you can weight it down with the folded frame. Be sure to remove any removable parts, including the mattress cover. If any of them can be machine-washed, do it while the rest of the playard soaks.

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Tips to keep your Pack 'n Play nice and clean for your little one

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Pack 'n Plays provide convenience, but they can also get very dirty, as babies spend a good amount of time in them. If your Pack 'n Play is only lightly dirty, you can try scrubbing it down with laundry detergent and water. If it's thoroughly grimy, submerging it in soapy water in the bathtub may work better.

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    Place it in an area you don't mind getting wet. Take the Pack 'n Play outside or in your garage. When scrubbing it down, you're likely to get soap and water everywhere, so you'll want to be somewhere you can drip a little bit. Take the mattress out to wash separately.[1]

    • If the mattress has a cover, take it off, and put it in the washing machine.

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    Make a cleaning solution. Add a 1/2 a cup (120 milliliters) or so of detergent to a bucket of warm water. Agitate the water to make sure the detergent is mixed in. Submerge a clean cloth or soft brush in the water.[2]

    • You shouldn’t use any harsh chemicals or sanitizers because these can be harmful to children. Another alternative cleaning solution is vinegar.

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    Scrub the Pack 'n Play. Use the solution to scrub down the whole Pack 'n Play, inside and out. You may need to add support on one side with your hand as you scrub the other, particularly on the mesh. Pay special attention to dirty areas. Scrub the mattress, as well.[3]

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    Rinse it thoroughly. Use a jet stream setting on your hose to rinse down the Pack 'n Play inside and out. Hold the mattress up, and spray down both sides until the water runs clean. Shake the mattress a little bit to get excess water off of it.[4]

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    Let it dry. Leave the Pack 'n Play and the mattress outside to dry in the sun. Aim for a warm day. If it hasn't dried in a day, you may want to place it outside again the next day. The sun will also help sanitize the Pack 'n Play.

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  1. How to clean a pack and play

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    Place the Pack 'n Play in the bathtub. Take the mattress out of the Pack 'n Play, and fold up the frame. The whole Pack 'n Play and mattress will fit in most bathtubs. If yours doesn't fit all at once, you may need to do it in parts. Begin filling up the tub with warm to hot water.[5]

    • You can use the frame to hold the mattress down in the water.

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    Add soap. As the tub is filling up, pour in a mixture of detergent, vinegar, and baking soda. You'll need about 1/2 a cup (120 milliliters) of laundry detergent, 1/4 cup (60 milliliters) of baking soda, and 1/4 cup (60 milliliters) of vinegar. If you're using powdered detergent, you may want to mix it with water before adding it to the tub.

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    Soak the Pack 'n Play. Once the you've added the soap and filled up the tub so the Pack 'n Play is submerged, leave it to soak for at least an hour. If it's not completely submerged, flip it after half an hour, and leave it for another thirty minutes.

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    Rinse it thoroughly. You can rinse it in the tub if you have a removable shower head. If not, you'll need to take it outside to rinse it down with a hose. Try to rinse out all the soap and grime.[6] If your Pack 'n Play was especially dirty, you might want to start over again with soaking it in soapy water.

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    Let it air dry in the sun. Set up the Pack 'n Play outside on a sunny day, preferably a warm day. Lay out the mattress so it gets air flow around it. You may need to prop it up and then turn it over partway through the drying process. Let the sun completely dry your Pack 'n Play before putting it back in use.[7]

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  1. How to clean a pack and play

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    Soak up spills. Try to get spills up as soon as they happen. Use a towel or paper towels to get as much liquid up as you can before trying to spot clean the area. You may need to hold the towel on an area or dab at it to soak up all the liquid.

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    Spot clean the Pack 'n Play. Wipe down any area that gets dirty, particularly on the plastic and metal parts. You can also wipe down the fabric. Try using a gentle cleaner, such as a natural cleaner or one part water to one part white vinegar. Dry it off, or let it dry before putting your kid back in the Pack 'n Play.

    • Always test the cleaner in an inconspicuous space first.

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    Wash the mattress cover regularly. If your mattress has a cover or if you slip a sheet on it, be sure to wash it often. Take it off, and throw it in the wash. Dry it thoroughly in the dryer, and then put it back on the mattress. Wash the cover at least once a week.[8]

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Article SummaryX

To clean a Pack 'n Play, start by adding 1/2 a cup of detergent to a bucket of warm water. Then, use the solution to scrub down the whole surface of your Pack 'n Play, including the inside. When you're finished, rinse everything off with a hose. Keep rinsing the mattress with the hose until the water running off of it is clear. Finally, leave your Pack 'n Play outside to air dry in the sun. To learn how to deep clean a Pack 'n Play in a bathtub, scroll down!

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How do you clean a baby pack n play?

To scrub your pack 'n play, remove the mattress or mat and put it aside. Then, grab a bucket of warm water mixed with a 1/2 cup of baby-safe laundry detergent and a soft-bristled brush. Scrub the entire pack 'n play but be careful not to soak the material or the mesh.

How do you clean a pack n play without a tub?

How to clean a Pack N Play step by step.
Prepare one bowl of warm water mixed with soap and a second bowl of just warm water..
Use the first rag to clean the surface using the warm soapy water..
Use the second rag, dipped in just water, to wipe away the soap..
Use the third rag to blot the surface dry..

Can you put Pack N Play in the washer?

Clean with household soap and warm water and then drip dry. No Bleach. The included carry bag can be machine washed in lukewarm water.

How do you deep clean a Pack N Play mattress?

Here's How: Fill your bathtub with warm water and ½ a cup of baby-safe laundry detergent, ¼ a cup of baking soda, and ¼ a cup of vinegar. Mix these ingredients thoroughly. Place the folded pack N Play in the water and leave it to soak for an hour. Do not submerge the mattress as this could ruin it.