How To Clean A Stroller – Baby Stroller Cleaning Tips

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Strollers are an essential tool in a baby’s everyday life. It’s an easy and convenient way to have your baby around with you at all times when outside of your home. Because these strollers usually come with baskets, they could also save you from back pain from carrying your baby’s daily essentials.

Whether you’re out grocery shopping or out on a walk on the park, you’re sure that your baby is safe and sound in your hands. But babies get really fun and excited when they’re out and about; food and drink spillage is inevitable. Over time, these things just accumulate and you’re now stuck with a dirty stroller.

You don’t want to compromise your baby’s health by having an unsanitary stroller. Dirt and moldy strollers pose a great risk for your baby’s respiratory system. This would also irritate your baby’s skin. Lastly, if your stroller is not clean, your baby might contract a stomach bug because babies put their hands in their mouths all the time. So it’s important to make sure your baby is safe by cleaning and maintaining the stroller.

How To Clean A Stroller?

Material

When it comes to the material of your stroller, you may always check your stroller’s care instructions. This will also give you a guide on how to take care of the fabric. This can be found stitched on the sides of the stroller cover seats (just like care instructions for clothing). If you’re unable to find them in your stroller, it’s best to consult with your product’s manual. If you happen to lose your manual for the stroller, your last resort would be to look up your stroller online. Go to your manufacturer’s website and find the item there.

Some stroller seat covers, pads, and canopy are machine-washable. This will make it easier for you to clean. Just throw in the items into the wash and set to gentle cycle. Do not machine dry any of the parts. Just let them air dry and lay them flat to avoid distorting their shape. If you feel like they’re too delicate for the washer, it’s best to wash them under the kitchen sink.

Here is a Comprehensive Step-By-Step Guide On How To Clean A Stroller

1/Empty the stroller

• Materials: Basket
• Before attempting to clean any part of your stroller, make sure that you take out anything that might be in it. Clear out the baskets of toys, snacks, towels, drinks, etc. Take out any accessories you might have.

2/Disassemble the removable parts

• Materials: Tools (screwdriver, pliers), cleaning cloth
• First, you need to check your product’s warranty. Some manufacturers don’t allow you to completely disassemble the frame of the stroller. Only disassemble if really necessary so that you don’t void the warranty. Putting the parts of the frame back together could also be difficult especially if you don’t have the product’s manual with you. Just losing one small part of the stroller could mean you can’t assemble it back again the way it was, so it’s best to just remove the parts you can easily remove. These would be the seat covers, canopy, and basket (if it has any). This will make the task of cleaning easier.

3/Start by brushing off crumbs and dirt off of the stroller

• Materials: Cleaning brush, dustpan, portable vacuum cleaner
• You may use a vacuum cleaner or a small brush. You can get your stroller looking like brand new by just doing this step. Make sure to take time while doing this step so the later steps would be easier to do. You may also let the crummies fall off by beating it or shaking it in the air.

4/Do a spot cleaning

• Materials: Liquid detergent, cleaning cloth (cotton)
• If you have a special fabric cleaner, use it. You may also use a small amount of liquid detergent to clean. When spot cleaning, it’s best to use a fabric that’s textured. Cotton terry is highly ideal for cleaning the fabric of the covers because the rough texture would create just enough friction to peel off any dried food, snack or drink on the fabric without causing damage. When doing this, your cloth shouldn’t be soaking wet. It should only be very damp.

5/Use a safety pin or toothpick to clean tight crevices vacuum may not reach

• Materials: Safety pin/toothpick/skewer, cleaning cloth
• The pointy end of a safety pin, a toothpick or a skewer are perfect for cleaning. Your stroller may have tight spots where the vacuum just can’t get into. These could be around the drinking cup holders or the edges of the seat covers. Just make sure you’re not putting so much pressure on the fabric so it won’t puncture.

6/Wipe down the frame

• Materials: Cleaning cloth, 70% rubbing alcohol or disinfectant wipes
• Now you’ve finished cleaning the fabrics, it’s time to get to the frame. The handles, armrests and the overall frame just get really dirty and slimy over time especially if you don’t clean it regularly. Your best bet is to disinfect it with 70% isopropyl or ethyl alcohol. It’s a perfect cleaning agent because it instantly gets rid of the stickiness and slime while at the same time, killing all the harmful bacteria that may be sitting on them. In this step, you could use a microfiber cloth or any cotton cloth with the alcohol to wipe down. If you’re in a hurry, disinfectant wipes will do the job as well.

7/Check the wheels.

• Materials: Warm water, liquid detergent, old toothbrush, WD-40, air pump, scissors
• You might overlook this but it is highly important to make sure you don’t leave out the wheels in the cleaning process. This could also potentially extend the life of your stroller. Some strollers’ wheels are removable. If they are, it’s better to take them out so you can clean them thoroughly. Clean out any dirt or hair that may be stuck around the wheels. If you notice that it’s filled my hair, cutting through them would make it easier for you to remove. Use an old toothbrush to scrub down dirt and soil. If you have pneumatic tires, fill them with air. If the brakes of the strollers are squeaky, spray a little WD-40 on it and it should be good.

Tips When Cleaning

1/Have all the cleaning materials ready

As a mom, you might not have a lot of spare time lying around. So when it comes to cleaning tasks, the key is to get organized. List out all the materials you’ll need and have them ready with you before you begin. This will save you a lot of time from fumbling through your kitchen cabinets for each step of the cleaning process.

2/Use baking soda as a cleaning agent

If you currently have no mild cleansers at home and afraid of ruining the fabric of your stroller seat cover, you can make use of baking soda. Sprinkle the baking soda over the seat and let it sit for around 30 minutes. It’s a good deodorizer and cleaner you can substitute for other cleaning agents.

3/Allow them to dry completely

One thing you don’t want in your stroller is molds. Molds are just a health hazard to your baby, they look gross and they smell funky. After cleaning your stroller, the fabric parts are usually wet or damp. Make sure to allow them to dry completely before using them or folding them up. If possible, dry them under sunlight for several hours. If you don’t have that option, place them in front of a fan for a few hours to make sure they’re dry.

4/Stick with chlorine-free products

Chlorinated products or just anything with harsh chemicals are generally not good for young babies. There are plenty of cleaning solutions you can get or make on your own as an alternative. A simple liquid detergent or dishwashing soap is perfect for cleaning the strollers.

Question and Answer

1/How do I take the basket off the frame?

Check the manual to find out how you can take the basket off of the frame. Usually, these baskets have locks that secure them in place to the frame.

2/What are the appropriate cleaners for strollers?

The general rule with the fabric components for the stroller is to stay away from products with chlorine or bleach. Avoid cleaners with peroxides to preserve the color of the fabric. If you’re opting to machine wash any of the fabrics, don’t use fabric softeners. A simple dishwashing liquid or liquid detergent that’s chlorine-free is fine to use. With the cleaning cloth, only use a lightly-textured cloth like microfiber or cotton terry cloth. Don’t use steel wool or heavily-textured cleaners.

3/How to get mold out of fabric in strollers?

Molds don’t grow overnight. Having molds in the fabric of your strollers only means that you’ve been neglecting cleaning it. Use a heavy liquid detergent or lemon juice to spot clean it. Baking soda combined with equal parts of vinegar is also another excellent cleaner for molds. The best way to ensure the molds are dead and don’t come back is to expose the stroller to sunlight.

4/What do I do if I can’t take out a stain?

If a stain has been left on for too long, regular cleaners may not work to get rid of the stain. For stubborn stains, you may use a glass cleaner on the fabric. Let this sit for 10 minutes then wipe it off. Repeat if necessary.

5/How often should I clean my baby’s stroller?

Regular thorough cleaning of the stroller should be done at least every month if it’s being used three or more times within the week. However, if you use it less frequently, you can do away with cleaning it every other month. But of course, a quick clean should always be done if ever anything like food or drink gets on to the fabric. This will save you much time later. Treating the spot immediately is the best way to keep your strollers in perfect condition.

6/How do I get rid of cleaning smell after cleaning?

If you’ve used heavy detergent or cleaning supplies to clean the stroller, you might be left with a strong odor that might irritate you and your baby. You can use your essential oil of choice to mask the odor. Mix a few drops of essential oil with 250 ml of water. You can use this solution to spray on the surfaces, frame, and fabric.

7/How to clear baby car seats?

Baby car seats function just like how your stroller seat cover would. They usually have the same fabric and get the same dirt and grime over time. Do the same process of cleaning.

8/How do I store my baby’s stroller?

Strollers should always be stored indoors. It should be placed in a low-moisture environment to avoid rusting because most frames are made of steel. Also, avoid exposure to direct sunlight to prevent fading of the design and color of the fabric.

9/When do I need to replace my stroller?

Good quality strollers usually have a long warranty and they’re built to last for a long time. It may need replacing if a certain part of your stroller like the wheels or frames cannot be repaired anymore and you also can’t find a replacement for it.

Voila! Now your baby’s stroller is looking like brand new. For amazing stroller finds, check out Graco FastAction Travel System. It’s very durable, maneuverable and easy to clean! It’s both child-friendly and parent-friendly. Perfect for on-the-go parents who bring their babies whenever, wherever.

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MamaSweetie

Last updated : 06/2020