How To Clean A Bassinet Easily and Quickly (New or Old!)

Are you a bit clueless about how to clean a bassinet?

I get it. You don’t want to damage it, especially if it’s an expensive one. 

You don’t want the materials to be compromised or for it to have a chemical smell afterward, which is not good for your baby.

So in this article, you’ll learn how to clean a bassinet – any bassinet – in general. 

Plus how to deal with its mattress.

You’ll learn how to: 

• Spot clean a bassinet
• Other methods of cleaning a bassinet
• Cleaning a 2nd hand bassinet
• Or one that you can’t take apart

And added tips and tricks!

Most manufacturers would recommend the steps below. While others were tips and tricks I’ve learned and researched from experts and several parenting groups.

Let’s start first with when to give your bassinet a proper or quick cleaning.

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When To Clean a Bassinet

• First-time Use

I normally clean anything that touches my baby’s skin for the first time. 

So for new baby equipment or furniture, I just use disinfect wet wipes and sanitize any areas that will touch my baby by giving it a thorough wipe.

I don’t do a thorough, deep cleaning though as that can’t void the warranty.

• Stains or Worse

Light or heavy accidents can happen. Like your baby spitting or vomiting inside their bassinet and spreading that all over the mattress and the sides.

Or every parent’s kryptonite – diaper blowouts.

So every once in a while, you will really need to properly and thoroughly clean your bassinet.

• Maintenance

If you’re renting or borrowing a bassinet for a short time, cleaning it regularly can help you save on cleaning fees when you return it.

So try to at least do a weekly cleaning of the bassinet, if you have the time.

• 2nd Hand Purchase

It’s definitely a must to clean a second-hand bassinet properly and thoroughly. Especially with all the viruses we have around!

There could be a lot of stains or pukes or worse hidden in it, so definitely try to take it apart if you can and clean it thoroughly

Must-Have Items for Cleaning a Bassinet

Consider how dirty your bassinet is and what kind of cleaning it needs. 

Then just choose a few cleaning items you’ll need from the list below:

• Disinfectant Wet Wipes
• Mild Cleaning Solution
• Spray bottle
• Clean towel
• Warm water
• Laundry detergent
• Vinegar
• Baking soda
• Hair Dryer
• Clothes steamer
• Handheld vacuum

How to Spot-Clean a Dirty Bassinet

This is one of the easiest ways to clean a slightly dirty bassinet.

You can do a quick and easy cleaning using disinfectant wet wipes or a mild cleaning solution. 

Or a mixture of water with some vinegar, and laundry detergent. If you want, you can just add either one to the water.

Then you can just wipe the bassinet with wet wipes. 

Or spray a mild cleaning solution on a clean small towel and use that to wipe the bassinet.

Or you can also dip a cleaning towel in the cleaning mixture and use it to spot clean the bassinet. 

Then dry it out in the sun or use a hair blower.

How To Steam Clean A Bassinet

Another easy way to clean a dirty bassinet and disinfect it simultaneously is by steam cleaning!

Remember though not to tilt your clothes steamer past the 45-degree angle so its water won’t spill.

Make your bassinet stand on its side first, if you want to clean the inside or the mattress base.

That way, you don’t need to tilt the clothes steamer downwards.

Make sure also to steam it a good distance, especially if it’s a smart bassinet, so as not to get water in it.

After that, you can make it stand on its legs and then steam clean the rest of the fabric

Air-dry the bassinet completely before using it again.

Vacuum Cleaning a Bassinet

You can also use a handheld vacuum to clean a bassinet. 

This is not the most thorough way of cleaning by the way. 

Especially if there are some heavy and noticeable stains in your bassinet.

But vacuums with HEPA filters can suck some dust mites, allergens, and tiny particles.

So if you just want a quick cleaning of your bassinet, then go ahead with just using a handheld vacuum.

How to Clean a 2nd Hand Bassinet

• Check manufacturer’s instructions

You can usually look up their care instructions online and see how to properly clean their bassinet. 

If you don’t think their instructions are enough, then proceed to the next step.

• Check youtube

I’ve seen a lot of videos shared by parents themselves on how they’ve managed to take apart and put back together their bassinets. Carefully and properly!

So when in doubt, go to youtube, type in “how to clean” then the name of your bassinet!

• Examine the bassinet

Where are the screws located? Is it hard to tug and pull the fabric? Does the bassinet’s lining come with velcro? Can you easily remove the mattress and the cover?

Take some time to check your bassinet and figure out a way to disassemble or dismantle the fabric carefully.

Some bassinets are easy to take apart, like the Papablic 2-in-1 Bonni Baby Bassinet.

While some are close to impossible, like the SNOO. I say close to, because I’ve seen some videos of parents taking apart the SNOO and cleaning it.

That kinda seems risky, as it’s an expensive bassinet and you don’t want its mechanism getting wet and not working!

So do your due diligence first before setting a day and time to clean your bassinet.

• Prep and clean

You want to soak its fabric if you want a thorough cleaning of a used bassinet.

So make a mixture of water with vinegar and/or laundry detergent in a big basin. Or preferably your tub. 

Then soak and leave the bassinet there for 30 minutes to an hour.

If there are any stubborn stains, use a sponge or brush and gently scrub them away.

Get rid of the dirty water then rinse the bassinet.

Take out in the sun to dry.

How to Clean a Bassinet That You Can’t Take Apart

For bassinets that are just freaking hard to take apart, you can do a combination of spot cleaning, steam cleaning, and vacuuming.

Just make sure not to make certain parts wet, like specific parts of a smart bassinet.

How to Clean a Bassinet’s Mattress

Check first the tag on the mattress. It will tell you if it can be machine-washed or only hand-washed. 

Others can only be spot-cleaned, like the HALO bassinet. So if that gets a poop explosion, you better just buy a new one.

You can also do a spot cleaning, steaming, or vacuuming of the mattress.

But for cases where there’s a spot of pee or worse and you can’t wash the mattress, you can use one of the following methods:

• Use Mild Cleaning Solution 

Spray it on the dirty spot, rub it out with a towel then dry it out in the sun.

• Cleaning Mixture

Do a mixture of water with one or even all the following – vinegar, and laundry detergent.

Put it in a spray bottle then spray on the offensive spot and let it soak for a few minutes.

Or an hour, if you want a more thorough cleaning.

Spray it again then use a clean dry towel to soak up some of the wetness.

Sprinkle some baking soda on top. Let that stay for an hour or more, to absorb the liquid and bad odor.

Air-dry the mattress in the sun.

If the mattress looks unsalvageable, just buy a new one.

FAQ on How to Clean a Bassinet

Tips and Tricks on Cleaning a Bassinet 

• Void warranty

Taking apart a brand new bassinet, especially a smart one like SNOO, can void your warranty.

So take note of it, especially if you’re tempted to do a deep cleaning.

• Take pictures

I’m the worst at putting back pieces together. I forget where things go, where to screw it on, and such.

So I take pictures of every step that I do whenever I disassemble anything so I can easily put it back together.

Try doing that if you know you might forget how to assemble your bassinet.

• Dry it out completely

Air drying it out under the sun ensures that everything is dry and safe for your baby’s skin. 

It’s also a way of making sure that all the smell from the cleaning chemicals is gone from the bassinet and the mattress.

So just dry it out in the sun and don’t use the dyer for both the mattress and the bassinet’s fabric as it might compromise the material.

• Careful of plugs

Take care of smart bassinets and don’t let the plugs or anything that makes them work, get wet.

• Don’t use harsh chemicals

Remember that your baby will be using this bassinet. 

Unless you’re absolutely sure that the sun has dried and completely wiped out the dirt and stains (plus the smell of the cleaning chemicals) then it’s just better to use a gentler cleaning solution.

If you bought a 2nd hand bassinet and it really looks gross then, by all means, use a stronger one!

Takeaway on How to Clean a Bassinet 

The rest of the body parts of the bassinet that don’t come in contact with the baby can easily be wiped down with a damp towel or wet wipe.

Just make sure you don’t touch the part where it’s not supposed to get damp or wet.

And there you have it! I hope you found this article on how to clean a bassinet, useful and informational.

And if you love this guide, then make sure to check out How To Clean Wooden Toys, How to Clean Baby Toys, and How to Clean a Messy House In Under 6 Hours.