One of the most useful accessories that you can use for your child's car seat is a removable car seat cover. With such a cover, cleaning up after even the messiest child becomes simply a matter of removing, washing, and replacing the cover (and perhaps washing harnesses or straps by hand), instead of having to spend time trying to remove dirt and food from all of the surfaces and crevices of the car seat, itself.

Many child car seat manufacturers make removable car seat covers available for purchase. These covers are easy to remove and replace, and can be machine washed and dried as part of your normal household laundry. This will help to keep the cover sanitary and free of dirt and food stains. Not only will a cover be a convenience for you, but it will also help to extend the life of the car seat by keeping cleaning chemicals away from the surfaces of the car seat, itself.

If your child car seat manufacturer does not sell a cover for it, it may be possible to buy a separate cover that will fit well. Some retailers sell covers that will fit a variety of different car seat sizes. They are quite affordable, easy to install, and are very comfortable for your child to sit on. These covers are simple to remove for easy clean up, and are waterproof, which will help to contain spills, and the wetness from diapers. The covers come in a variety of sizes, colors, and designs, so that you should be able to find one that both fits and matches your child's car seat.

As an alternative to a commercial car seat cover, you can improvise one by using a small blanket or towel to line the seat (for many booster seats, a full sized bath towel will work well). You can keep the cover in place with clips or tacks; just make sure they aren't where your child can reach them, or where they can poke your child. Then, whenever the cover gets dirty, it can simply be removed, washed, and replaced, as with a commercial cover.

If you do not wish to use a car seat cover, the entire car seat can be washed by hand, using a mild soap and warm water. Strong or abrasive cleaners should be avoided, as they can have a cumulative damaging effect on the car seat's materials, which may lead to a shortening of the useful life of the car seat.

You can use an outdoor water hose to help reach into the crevices of the car seat, but be sure to keep the water pressure low enough so as not to damage the surfaces of the car seat. The car seat should be allowed to dry completely before it is reinstalled in the vehicle. It may seem tempting to leave the car seat out in direct sunlight to dry, but this can have a cumulative effect that can lead to ruining the padding inside the car seat, which will make the car seat uncomfortable for your child to use.

All in all, the cost of a car seat cover is a small price to pay for the ease and convenience it will provide in helping you keep your child's car seat clean and sanitary, and in prolonging the life of the car seat.