How to Clean Your Smart Sock 3

Clean your Smart Sock Fabric and spot clean your sensor every two weeks. This helps you avoid irritation to your little one's skin. Follow the steps in this article's cleaning guide to properly turn off your sock and sensor, clean and dry your Owlet Smart Sock, and spot clean its sensor.

Supplies You Need

• Gentle laundry detergent. (Use the same mild laundry detergent you use for Baby’s clothes.)
• Clean and soft-bristled toothbrush.
• Clean, dry towel.
• Sink with a drain plug. (You can use a water basin or bowl, too.)

What causes skin irritation?

The 3 causes of skin irritation beneath the sensor include:

1. A buildup of dirt, oils, and bacteria from not cleaning the sensor
2. Using a soap that is drying, irritating, or too harsh for Baby's sensitive skin
3. Not removing all the soap from the sensor after cleaning

To learn more about preventing skin irritations or pressure marks on your child's foot as they grow, please reference this article.

CAUTION! Turn OFF your sock sensor before cleaning (how-to video)

1. Turn off the sensor (to avoid damage) by unplugging the base station using these steps:
1. Remove the sock.
2. Press and hold the base station button while you plug the base station back in, keeping constant pressure on the button until you hear the first chirp.
3. Release pressure immediately upon hearing the first chirp.
   The base station chirps 4 times in response and the light ring changes to a blinking orange.
2. Press the base station button once. 
   Important: You must click the base station button while the ring is blinking orange to properly turn off the sock and sensor. 
3. The base station single chirps once, the sock light on the bottom of the base station is now illuminated, and the sensor light on the sock turns off.
4. Watch for the base station to turn off completely and you're ready to clean.
   

Quick Tip!

If your sensor is not turning off, place the sensor on the base station and repeat these steps. 

Cleaning your sock and sensor

Your sock and sock sensor rests against your little one’s skin for hours at a time, so the potential irritation to Baby's skin from soap exists. Choosing which soap to use is a very important step in your cleaning process. We recommend using whatever laundry detergent you use to clean your little one’s clothing since their skin is already accustomed to it.

Prepare your cleaning solution:

1. Create a diluted, soapy solution of water and laundry detergent 
1. Plug your sink and fill it with cool to lukewarm water. (A basin or bowl is also fine.)
2. Add a small amount of your laundry detergent to the water and mix the solution with your hands.
   CAUTION! Avoid using hand soap, antibacterial soap, or dish soap.
   These can be too drying and irritating on Baby's skin over a long period of time. The most successful approach is creating a sudsy solution of water and familiar laundry detergent, which helps prevent soap from sticking to the sensor.
2. Check your sock sensor light to ensure it is off. If it is on, ensure you follow the steps in this article for turning it off. It is important that you only clean the sock sensor in the off state.
3. Separate the sensor from the sock.
4. Submerge the fabric strap only in the soapy solution. Do not submerge the sensor.
5. Scrub the sensor gently by dipping your toothbrush bristles into the solution, tapping to remove any excess, and brushing in a circular motion.
6. Rinse the toothbrush clean under running water, tapping to remove the excess.
7. Scrub the sensor free of residue, again brushing in a gentle, circular motion.
8. Pause to rinse the toothbrush frequently and completely as you remove the detergent solution, tapping out the excess water each time.
9. Repeat this "rinse" process as necessary until all dirt and oils are removed

   Clean your fabric sock, and spot clean its sensor, every 2 weeks. This helps you avoid irritation to your little one's skin. Follow the steps in this article's cleaning guide to properly turn off your sock and sensor, clean and dry your Owlet Smart Sock, and spot clean its sensor.