How to Clean Your Nursery Glider: Step-by-Step Guide

Your nursery glider is one of the most essential pieces of furniture in your home. Unlike other nursery furniture, your glider might need some extra attention when it comes to cleaning. Cleaning your glider correctly will help preserve your chair throughout all stages of life.

With so many seating options available for a nursery, it may be difficult to pick the right one. Selecting a nursery glider made of easy-to-clean, quality materials can make a big difference when it comes to the functionality and lifespan of your chair.

When you’re searching for an easy-to-clean glider keep these considerations in mind.

A glider made with leather or a synthetic fabric blend is easy to wipe down with a damp cloth after a small spill.

Glider cushions that detach from the frame of the chair make cleaning down into the crevices much easier. If it’s not removable but allows for a fitted cushion cover, you’ll be able to avoid a lengthy cleaning process and toss the mess straight into the washer.

A frame made of untreated wood or other porous materials—like some traditional nursery rocking chairs—can absorb liquid messes quickly. Look for a nursery glider made on a frame of a sturdy and durable material that won’t trap dirt or odors.

It’s likely that your nursery glider will be used multiple times every day, making it more susceptible to daily messes. Life with kids is messy, there’s no getting around that, but a glider that’s been well-maintained can provide your family with comfort and relaxation for many years.

The health of you and your baby can be affected by a mess that’s left untreated. Sleepy newborn babies quickly grow mobile and curious. They touch and taste anything they can get their little hands on.

Health issues like respiratory problems and skin irritations can arise when you or your little one is in direct contact with germs and allergens on your chair.

An organized and clean environment is especially important while your baby’s body is still developing and more vulnerable to an adverse reaction.

The lifespan of your nursery glider greatly depends on regular cleanings. Spot treatments and the occasional deep cleaning are necessary to prevent stains and odors that can break down the integrity of the chair’s fabric and frame. 

Get ready to clean your nursery glider by gathering the right supplies for the job. Always read the manufacturer’s instruction manual on proper maintenance of your glider chair, but generally, you can look to your common household cleaning supplies to get the job done.

• A vacuum cleaner might be all you need to sweep up crumbs off the surface of the cushion or it could be the first step in clearing debris before you take care of a deeper mess.

  
  
• Microfiber cloths are great for blotting up a liquid spill without excessive dripping.
   

• A small amount of mild dishwashing liquid soap or laundry detergent mixed with water effectively wipes grime off the frame of the glider or can be used on small wet messes to prevent stains.

  
  
• A baking soda and water mixture creates a paste that helps clear out tougher stains. Baking soda naturally neutralizes odors that can come as a result of typical baby messes like diaper leaks and spit-up.

Some nursery gliders may come with special care instructions for cleaning or a recommended stain remover that has already been tested and is safe for that particular fabric.

It can be a challenge to keep the glider in your baby’s nursery clean when you spend so much time there with your little one. It’s important to learn different cleaning techniques for different kinds of messes to keep your glider chair fresh.

A solid, dry mess is typically easier to clean up than a wet one. Here are some solid messes that most parents and caregivers will inevitably get to experience cleaning up at least once—but likely many times—during those early years.

Once your little one is a self-feeding snacker, it’s no surprise when you find a few crumbs on the seat of your chair or a half-eaten banana left on the armrest.

A handheld vacuum is perfect for sucking up a small collection of crumbs and any stickiness left behind can usually be wiped away with water on a damp, clean cloth.

Whether your toddler got ahold of a box of markers or feeding your baby while jotting down a grocery list proved to be harder than it sounds, ink stains happen.

An ink splotch on the fabric of your glider can be removed by using rubbing alcohol on a cotton ball and dabbing gently until the mark is gone. An inconspicuous patch test on the back of your chair is necessary to make sure the rubbing alcohol doesn’t damage your furniture.

Sometimes this melty candy sticks to little hands and then they leave sweet fingerprints on everything they touch. Lightly scrape off any hard chunks of chocolate with a rounded-edge utensil like a spoon.

Create a solution of a squirt of dish soap into a half cup of warm water and blot it onto the stained glider fabric. When the chocolate oils loosen, use a paper towel to soak them up. Take care to not rub on the chocolate stain as it will only further spread the mess.
 

Cats and dogs love to get cozy on the furniture where their people spend the most time. If this happens to be your nursery glider, you may frequently find your seat covered in their fur.

A lint roller is quick and effective at pulling small clumps off of your glider chair cushions by simply rolling the sticky side right over the top of the hair.

Sometimes you need the strong suction of your vacuum cleaner to remove a large amount of pet hair. Your vacuum can successfully clean up pet hair when you use an upholstery brush attachment to help lift the mess.

When it comes to cleaning up a wet spill on your glider: the sooner, the better. These common liquid spills can penetrate your chair’s fabric instantly and often leave an unpleasant odor if not cleaned properly.

Don’t cry over spilled milk on your glider, but do start blotting it up with an absorbent towel right away. Use your dish soap in cold water this time for a cleaning solution that you can dab onto the area with a sponge. When the stain is gone rinse the fabric by continuing to blot with fresh water and pat dry with a clean cloth.

If you’re worried about the smell, sprinkle baking soda where the stain used to be and let it sit overnight. Sweep up the baking soda the next morning after it’s had a chance to absorb the odor of the breast milk or formula.

As your new baby’s digestive system develops they may vomit when their belly is unsettled. Your baby’s spit-up usually has a thick or mucus-like consistency which may sit on the surface of your glider’s seat cushion longer than other liquids.

If you have a baby who often spits up while you’re feeding them in your glider chair, it may help to keep paper towels or baby wipes within reach so you can immediately remove the thicker collection of spit-up before cleaning the area.

With a spray bottle of white vinegar and water mixture, saturate the area and rub the solution into the chair cushion. Follow up with a water rinse and allow the material to air-dry completely.

White vinegar on its own will fight off mold and mildew that might accumulate, but baking soda can be sprinkled on top of the soiled spot for extra odor-fighting power.

Keeping your nursery glider in a clean and dry environment will further prevent the growth of mold and mildew. Make sure your nursery is well-ventilated or consider adding a fan to the room for proper air circulation.

Life is messy, but taking some preventative measures can decrease your need to deep-clean your glider and maintain a healthy and comfortable space for your family to relax.

• Use protective covers. Slipcovers and waterproof pads protect your seat from messes. You’ll be cleaning glider cushions less often if you can simply pull off a protective cover and throw it in the washing machine.

  
  

• Vacuum regularly. Removing dirt and debris from your chair on a regular basis prevents a build-up of dust and allergens.

  
  

• Spot-clean as soon as possible. Solid and liquid spills are always easier to clean up if you get to them right away. A mess that sits takes more time and effort to get rid of.

  
  
• Avoid harsh cleaning products. Chemicals in some ready-made stain-removing solutions can cause damage and discoloration to your glider chair or leave behind an unhealthy residue.

The Gliders from Nurture& are made with a unique blend of moisture-wicking and stain-resistant material that is easy to clean. This collection of seating is ergonomically designed for comfortable support with a durable fabric made to withstand the messy moments all parents and caregivers face.

Most liquid spills can be wiped away with a paper towel or a clean, dry cloth.

If your Nurture& Glider requires a more thorough cleaning, please follow this recommended method:

• Use a soft brush to gently remove as much of a  dried-on or solid spill as possible.
   
• Combine 1 tablespoon of liquid laundry detergent with 16 ounces of warm water.
   
• Wet a clean cloth with your soap and water mixture and gently blot the stained areas. Make sure to avoid applying excessive moisture or aggressively scrubbing the fabric.
   
• Rinse with fresh water on a new cloth to remove any soapy residue and allow to air dry.

The quality of a nursery glider for your baby’s room starts with choosing a chair made of premium materials and is maintained with proper cleaning practices using ordinary household supplies. Following these step-by-step instructions will give your family a clean and healthy place to rest and grow for years to come.

If you’re not sure where to start, check out our guide to buying a nursery glider. Then you can visit the Nurture& online store to learn more about caring for our gliders and other nursery furniture.