Owlet Socks make traditional baby monitors obsolete. These socks give you a wealth of information your infant can’t share themselves, including when they fall asleep, how deeply they sleep, and how often they wake during the night. Owlet recommends cleaning the sock every two weeks to avoid skin irritation.
Here, I’ll share how you can clean your baby’s Owlet Socks without damaging the sensor. It’s a relatively easy process that will feel like a “no-brainer” once you get started.
Turn Off the Sensor
Your Owlet Sock comes with a charging base that looks like an Amazon Alexa. To turn off the sensor:
- Unplug the charging base and remove the sock.
- Press and hold the charging base’s button while plugging it back in.
- Release after hearing the first of four chirps.
- Wait until the light blinks orange.
- Press the charging base again and release it when it chirps once.
- Wait until the sock’s sensor and the charging dock turn off.
The on-and-off pressing steps can get confusing. This video explains this process in more detail.
Wash the Sock Using Warm Water
Once you’re certain that the sensor is off, fill up a small Tupperware with warm water and a mild detergent. Although the sensor can get wet, you should avoid saturating it. Scrub the soiled areas with a toothbrush until you get the desired state.
Air Dry the Sock
Do not put your Owlet Sock in the dryer. Even if the sensor’s turned off, the intense heat could wrap its inner components. Owlet recommends putting the sock on an indoor clothing line in front of a fan. It should take about an hour for the item to completely dry.
Turn the Sensor Back On
After your Owlet Sock has dried, don’t forget to turn the device back on. You can do this by connecting the sock to the charging base and pressing it. If you need to re-pair the two devices:
- Turn the charging base over.
- Press the small, rectangular button three times in three seconds.
- Press the larger button twice within two seconds.
Alternative Ways to Clean Owlet Socks
If you’re not comfortable with the idea of getting the Owlet Sock wet, you have options. While you should still turn off the sensor before cleaning, alternative measures to clean them include:
- Use a stain remover pen. If there’s just one pesky stain on the sock, you can use OxiClean’s stain remover pen. This allows you to focus on the blemish and erase it. You should still apply a few drops of water to dilute the substance, so it doesn’t irritate your child’s foot.
- Have multiple backup socks. The most important part of your Owlet Sock isn’t the sock itself: it’s the sensor. You can buy multiple pairs of socks to cut down on the number of times you clean them. Pairs usually cost $40 and come in different colors, including green, pink, and blue.
How Can I Maintain the Cleanliness of My Child’s Owlet Sock?
Your child’s foot might seem perfectly clean before you slide on the sock. Yet, over the next few weeks, you might notice a change in color, dampness, and general soiling. That’s because, during the night, dead skin cells accumulate in the sock’s fabric. This isn’t a baby-specific phenomenon; in the time it took you to read this, you lost 40,000 skin cells.
With that said, here are some tips to limit how many times you clean your Owlet Sock:
- Clean your baby’s foot before application. You don’t want your baby’s foot soaking wet when you put the sock on, as this can cause skin irritation and mold. However, wiping it down with a baby wipe can reduce the skin-cell-to-sock transfer.
- Limit the sock’s use. If you’re putting your little one down for a nap, you don’t necessarily need to use the Owlet Sock. It’s meant to measure your child’s overnight sleeping habits rather than the cat naps they take during the day.
- Clean their bedding. A seemingly clean blanket and sheets are full of invisible debris. You should change your child’s bedding once every two to three weeks.
- Only apply the sock before bedtime. When your baby learns to walk, it’s easy to forget the sock on their foot. If your infant is on the go, remove the sock before playtime and reapply just before they fall asleep. Not only does this keep the device clean, but it also preserves the integrity of your data.
- Put a sock on top of the Owlet Sock. First, apply the Owlet Sock to your child’s foot. Then, slide a loose-fitting sock over it. Not only could this prevent the Owlet Sock from getting dirty, but it prevents your child from sliding it off in their sleep.
In Summary
Cleaning your child’s Owlet Socks is easy. Simply turn off the sensor and charging station, then run the sock under warm water. Hang to dry, and you’re good to go. For more information, read your product’s user manual.