Simi-Valley Mom Invents Solution to Dirty Car Seats

Jinah Kim-Perek, a Simi Valley-based mompreneur and TV reporter, has launched a 30-day Kickstarter campaign for her patent-pending invention -- the NIKO Easy-Wash Children’s Car Seat Cover. After only three days since it debuted on May 1, it's two-thirds of the way toward reaching its $10K goal thanks to 131 backers.

"My son Niko was the inspiration. His car seats got so friggin’ filthy," said Kim-Perek. "But this is a problem all parents have experienced."

A day before the Kickstarter launch, Kim-Perek explained the benefits of the Niko on KTVX ABC 4 Utah and KUTV CBS 2 in Salt Lake City. It was a hit with viewers. See a write up at Good4Utah.com.

Preorders of the lab-tested NIKO can be had for $$20 to $34 each depending on the quantity you buy. That's a steal considering they will retail $39 to $45 after Kickstarter.

Why a NIKO Car Seat Cover is essential

University of Birmingham researchers discovered an average of 100 bacteria strains — like E. coli and Salmonella — on every square centimeter of the kids’ car seats that they studied. Disgusting! Can you believe that's double the number of bacteria found on the average toilet seat?

Maxi-Cosi, a car seat maker, did a study and learned that most parents hardly ever wash their children's car seats. Nobody should be surprised considering the number of attachments and holes makes removing the manufacturer’s car seat cover very hard. Also, many kids' car seat makers say you have to handwash the car seat cover and hang it to dry to prevent it from shrinking. What parents have time to handwash and wait for something to air dry?

Here are some key benefits of the NIKO you won't find anywhere else:
1. The waterproof lining on the underside prevents liquid spills and diaper accidents from mucking up the car seat.
2. There are two pockets on the left and right sides for storing snacks, toys, etc. as well as cup-holder openings on both sides.
3. The universal openings for the buckles and car seat harness allow it to fit a majority of child car seats

4. It has highly-durable elastic and double-stitched seams to make it long lasting.
5. It comes in ultra-soft yet long-lasting fabrics in myriad patterns

6. It can be machine washed and reused over and over.

7. It takes mere seconds to put on as well as remove.

How the idea popped into the inventor's head

Kim-Perek thought of the NIKO one day after taking her son, Niko, to the beach when he was two years old. He was covered head to toe in wet sand. Getting sand in the crevices of the car seat makes it very difficult to remove. And getting it wet could also lead to mold.

She set out on a quest a car seat cover that worked like a fitted sheet on beds. Unfortunately, nothing had all of the features she was looking for. A light bulb went off. She was determined to make it herself even after going through many setbacks and frustrations with the manufacturer.

"I was surprised to find that there’s really nothing out there to solve this problem," said Kim-Perek. "I spent the past two years getting the NIKO developed. And now there’s a beautiful, practical, safe solution."

Kim-Perek made her foray into entrepreneurship after a successful career as a TV journalist. She currently works as a part-time correspondent for NBC News in Los Angeles. She reports for NBC News Channel and NBC's affiliate cable channel, MSNBC.

She runs her own video production company, WorldWise Productions (www.WWPVideo.com). It specializes in producing training, marketing and educational videos for major corporate clients and universities. The NIKO is only the first of many ideas she has cooking.

Watch Kim-Perek thank her Kickstarter backers most cleverly and beautifully in this Facebook video:

https://www.facebook.com/jinah...