Good News NKY: Fort Thomas Mom Launches Car Seat Cleaning Biz to Help Overwhelmed Parents

By Jessie Eden, Founder of Good News NKY

Editor’s Note: Do you have an organization or business you feel that our readers would like to learn about? Email goodnewsnky@gmail.com

Cheerios. Old milk bottles. String cheese. So. Many. Crumbs.

A child’s carseat can sometimes be its’ own little horror movie set. You tell yourself that you won’t let them eat in the car but… well, life finds a way to tell us that sometimes a snack can be a cure-all for a meltdown. The same goes for adults.

What is really scary about a dirty carseat is the fact that, in order to clean it, you need to take it apart and what if you unknowingly miss a step while putting it back together? Then, it becomes a safety issue for your little bundle of joy / precious mess monster.

Fort Thomas mom Alex Matteoli has experienced this cleaning nightmare first hand. As a mom of four, she’s certainly felt overwhelmed with carseats being messy!

So, when I heard about her business, I was intrigued by the idea and wanted to learn more about where the idea came from.

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Q: What made you think of this idea as a possible service to offer? (besides fighting with car seats with little ones)

Alex: Honestly, this came from being a mom of four and realizing how many things just quietly fall on moms’ plates. Car seats are used every single day, but cleaning them properly is overwhelming, time-consuming, and honestly kind of intimidating.

I’ve been in that stage multiple times – newborns, toddlers, snacks everywhere and I kept thinking, “Why isn’t there someone who just handles this safely and correctly?” That’s where Little Buckle Co. came from. I wanted to take something that feels like a huge task and completely remove it from a parent’s mental load.

Q: What have recent clients said about your services?

Alex: The biggest thing I hear is relief. Parents will say things like, “It looks brand new,” but also, “I had no idea what was underneath the fabric.” Once everything is fully taken apart, there’s often buildup hiding in places you’d never normally see – crumbs, spills, things that have just collected over time.

One of my recent reviews actually called Little Buckle a “life saver,” especially in a situation where a family needed their seat cleaned quickly after an accident. That kind of feedback means a lot, because it shows I’m not just cleaning seats, I’m helping parents in real, sometimes stressful moments.

A big part of that is the convenience. I offer pickup and delivery, so parents don’t have to rearrange their day or figure out how to drop off a bulky car seat.

A lot of my clients are busy moms, and they’ll say it felt like something was finally taken off their plate, which is exactly what I want.

Q: What are some of the primary safety details you address when taking apart and reassembling a car seat? There are so many parts that are difficult to clean!

Alex: I take my time with every single seat – nothing about this process is rushed. Car seats are safety equipment, so I follow the manufacturer’s manual each time I work on one.

Before I even start, I check that the seat isn’t expired, recalled, or damaged. From there, I carefully disassemble and reassemble it exactly how it’s designed, making sure harness straps are routed correctly, nothing is twisted, and every component is placed back where it belongs.

One of the biggest things I prioritize is making sure everything is completely dry before reassembly. Moisture can affect the integrity of the seat over time, so I never cut corners there. It’s really about respecting how the seat was engineered and making sure it stays as safe as it was intended to be.

Q: You said you avoid harsh chemicals so what products do you rely on?

Alex: I’m very intentional about what I use, both as a business owner and as a mom of four. I have kids with sensitive skin and allergies, so we’ve spent a lot of time in allergist offices over the years and that experience has really shaped how I approach cleaning.

I lean more low-tox and keep things as simple and gentle as possible. Most of my process relies on water and manual cleaning techniques, and when I do use products, I stick with things I feel confident using around my own kids like Dr. Bronner’s for mild cleaning. For heavier messes, I’ll use Seventh Generation in a very controlled way.

For me, it’s not just about getting the seat clean, it’s about doing it in a way that feels safe for kids who are sitting in those seats every single day.

Q: What do you want parents to understand about your business?

Alex: This is very personal for me. I have kids ranging from 11 years old down to 7 months, so I’ve lived through every stage of car seat life – car sickness, seats filled with slime, glitter, stickers, and every snack imaginable.

With my older two, I was working full time and going to school full time, and I remember watching the car seats just build up and build up. And with that came the mental load—the constant “I need to deal with that” sitting in the back of your mind, and feeling bad that you just can’t get to it.

The mental to-do list for parents is never-ending, and this is one of those tasks that quietly adds to it.

And on top of that, car seats aren’t what they used to be. I’ve had so many people tell me, “We used to just throw them away and buy a new one.” That’s just not realistic anymore. Car seats are an investment now, often anywhere from $200 to $900+.

Parents are spending a lot on these seats, and they deserve a way to maintain and protect them without adding more stress to their lives. That’s really what Little Buckle Co. is about—taking something heavy off a parent’s plate and helping them take care of something that matters.

Little Buckle Co. is now booking spots for those Post Summer/Start of School car seat cleans and they are booking up quickly! Visit www.littlebuckle.com to request a pickup. You can follow Little Buckle Co. on Facebook and Instagram @littlebuckleco.