How to Clean a Changing Pad: Daily Wipe-Downs, Disinfecting and Stains (Wipe-Clean and EVA Foam Pads)
Wipe off the mess, scrub with a disinfectant suited to the surface, let it air dry, and get diaper cream and poop off before they sit.
Here is how to clean a changing pad with a wipe-clean surface. Get your baby off the pad and into a safe, supervised spot. Wipe up the visible mess with damp paper towels or a baby wipe, then scrub with a disinfectant spray or wipe whose label says it suits the surface, and let it air dry.
The Nest and the Pod are EVA foam pads, and their product pages call the solid EVA foam surface waterproof. The CDC gives these steps for a waterproof surface in its home diaper-changing steps, especially after spills or leaks.
Follow these steps in order:
How to Clean a Changing Pad
-
Baby off the pad
Take your baby off the pad and settle them in a safe, supervised spot, as the CDC’s diapering steps do. -
Bag the diaper
Put the used diaper and wipes in a plastic-lined, lidded trash can. -
Wipe up the mess
Wipe up visible mess with damp paper towels or a baby wipe, including the belt and buckle. -
Disinfect
Scrub the pad with a disinfectant spray or wipe whose label says it suits the surface. Follow the label. -
Wait, then air dry
Leave the pad wet for the label’s contact time, then let it air dry. -
Wash your hands
Wash your hands with soap and water.
Cleaning Different Pad Surfaces
The Nest and Pod product pages describe the EVA foam as easy to clean and say it does not absorb smells. They also say there is no need to deal with covers or liners, so you can "just wipe it clean and use it again." Wiping is the first part of how to clean a wipeable changing pad. The CDC adds the disinfecting step for a waterproof surface, especially after a spill or leak.
Compare the three common setups:
| Pad surface | Everyday clean | After a leak |
|---|---|---|
| EVA foam pad (Nest, Pod) | Wipe, disinfect, air dry | Wipe, disinfect, air dry |
| Other wipe-clean pad | Wipe, disinfect, air dry | Wipe, disinfect, air dry |
| Pad with fabric cover | Replace cover if soiled | Swap soiled cover for fresh |
What Wipes to Clean a Changing Pad With
If your pad is another brand’s, whether you found it through a changing pad buying guide or in a store, follow that maker’s care instructions.
A baby wipe or damp paper towels lift the visible mess. The CDC lists that as the first part of cleaning a waterproof diapering surface. It then calls for a disinfectant spray or wipe.
The CDC says to clean each surface with a product suitable for that surface and to follow the label. It also says to always read and follow the directions on disinfectant labels. The Nest and Pod product pages name no cleaner or disinfectant for the EVA surface, so check that the label says the product suits the surface. If you are unsure about a product, contact us before you use it.
Disinfecting the Right Way
The CDC’s cleaning page sets out what to do before, during and after you disinfect. Disinfecting is one part of keeping a clean home with kids.
- Clean first. Dirt can make it harder for chemicals to reach and kill germs.
- Respect contact time. Leave the disinfectant on for the time in the label directions. The surface must stay wet that whole time.
- Wear what the label recommends, such as gloves.
- Ventilate the room.
- Never mix products or chemicals with each other.
- Wash your hands with soap and water when you finish.
The CDC also notes that some cleaning and disinfection products can trigger asthma. Read the label before each use, even on a product you have used before.
How to Clean Changing Pad Stains
A diaper cream stain on a changing pad and a poop stain on a changing pad have the same enemy: time. Picture this: a diaper leaks mid-change. Once your baby is safely off the pad, wipe the cream, poop and leak off right away, before the mess sits. Then clean the spot as in the steps above.
The product pages describe the EVA material as more crack and color resistant. More resistant is not a promise that a mark will never show. If a mark stays after you clean it, contact us before you try a stain remover, a solvent, an abrasive pad or any product whose label does not say it suits the surface.
The Belt and Buckle
Wipe both sides of the belt and the buckle every time you clean the pad, along with the rest of the surface. Mess hides in those spots. Contact us before you try to remove the belt.
The belt never replaces a hand on your baby. For preventing changing table falls, the AAP says to buckle the safety strap but not depend on it alone. It also says never to leave a child unattended on a changing table, even for a moment, even if strapped. The product’s own warning says the pad is not a substitute for adult supervision.
If the foam cracks or tears, or the belt or buckle is damaged, stop using the pad and contact us, since the product’s own warning says to stop using it immediately if it becomes faulty.
Safety While You Clean
Where supplies sit is part of a safe nursery setup. The AAP advises keeping diapering supplies within your reach but out of your baby’s reach. Keep the disinfectant spray or wipes out of your baby’s reach too, both while you change and while you clean.
America’s Poison Centers says laundry and cleaning supplies should be stored up, away and out of sight of children, in their original containers. It also says to read and follow the label before use. The CDC says to store and use chemicals out of the reach of children.
Save Poison Help at 1-800-222-1222 (America’s Poison Centers) in your phone. America’s Poison Centers says calls are free, confidential and answered by experts, 24/7/365. If your child is not breathing, is having a seizure or is unresponsive, call 911.
