How to Clean and Dry a Stokke Flexi Bath

Step-by-step instructions

Step 1: Settle the child before cleaning

Move the child to a safe, supervised place before starting the emptying and cleanup routine. Never leave a child in water while you fetch a cloth, answer a phone or clean accessories. Keep the bath away from unsupervised access even when little water remains. This guide concerns equipment care after bathing, not a bathing-supervision shortcut. If another adult is helping, make the handover explicit rather than assuming someone else is watching while you carry the tub to a drain.

Step 2: Empty without using the closing catch as a handle

Use the drain plug as intended and support the tub securely. Stokke warns against lifting by the closing mechanism. Do not carry a heavy filled bath by its folding catch or flex the walls to force water out. If using a stand, follow its instructions for draining and removal before handling the tub. A clip that keeps a dry folded bath compact is not a carrying attachment for bathwater. Inspect any part that has been strained rather than snapping it back and assuming no damage occurred.

Step 3: Rinse soap from the panels and folds

Rinse with clean water to remove soap, shampoo and ordinary bathing residue. Open the folds enough to see where water collects without forcing the joints beyond their intended travel. Stokke's maintenance FAQ describes rinsing first, then wiping dry. Use a soft cloth on accessible residue rather than a stiff scouring pad. Check the floor area where the child sat and the lower corners, not only the wide smooth panels that are easiest to see.

Step 4: Respect the material and product restrictions

Stokke identifies polypropylene panels and flexible thermoplastic-elastomer sections in its Flexi Bath information. Its guidance limits bathing products to water and children's soap or shampoo and warns about oils. Do not import a bathroom-limescale routine involving acid, solvent or abrasive scrubbers. If a stubborn film or stain remains beyond normal rinsing and gentle wiping, ask Stokke which treatment is compatible. A hard household bathtub tolerating a product does not establish that folding joints will tolerate it.

Step 5: Clean the drain area and accessories separately

Check the plug seat and nearby folds for residue without stretching, cutting or prying at the flexible material. Remove only components designated as removable. Treat a newborn support, stand or third-party accessory under its own instructions rather than assuming the tub's method covers every material. Keep small removed parts out of a child's reach. If the plug or its attachment is damaged, obtain the correct replacement. Do not improvise a sealing compound or use a chemical treatment to make a distorted plug fit.

Step 6: Dry the open bath completely

Draining through the plug hole does not remove every droplet. Stokke specifically points this out and advises wiping the bath dry or allowing residual water to drain in a ventilated position against a solid support. Keep it securely positioned and away from children while doing so. Wipe folds, corners and the underside, then leave time for remaining moisture to evaporate. Do not fold merely because the main bottom panel looks dry. Hidden water along flexible joints is the part most easily missed during a rushed cleanup.

Step 7: Inspect, fold and store dry

Check for a split joint, rough edge, failed catch or persistent discoloration before storage. A crack is not a cleaning problem, and a musty smell after drying deserves another inspection and manufacturer advice. Fold only when the entire bath is dry, following the intended shape without forcing the latch. Store in a dry environment with accessories clean and separate as appropriate. Before the next bath, inspect the setup again and follow the water-level and supervision instructions. Routine cleaning cannot compensate for a damaged tub or an unsuitable support arrangement.