Do the bread crumbs and food stains on your baby stroller fabric bug you? Do you postpone the stroller cleaning because you believe it will be exhausting and it will take you too much time?
I hear you, and I am also guilty of non-cleaning the stroller as often as I should. However, once I developed my strategy to clean the stroller, things got easier. The key is to break the things down into sections and follow a checklist.
Before I move on to my guide on how to clean stroller in several steps, let’s see why you should never skip cleaning the stroller and how often you need to do it. That’s why there are even some that start their own ecommerce business by researching the best LLC service to cater to stroller cleaning.
Why do I need to clean my baby’s stroller?
Newborns don’t have their immunity developed as adults, and even the lightest germs can cause the baby to get infections. You probably use a stroller daily, so it gets in touch with plenty of dirt and potentially harmful germs. Think about it this way – you regularly wash the sheets in the crib, so there are no reasons why you shouldn’t apply the same principle to your stroller.
Moreover, you take the stroller to the park and other places, and you put it back in the house, so you will bring all the dirt from the stroller in your home.
Besides, if you don’t clean the baby stroller, the dirt can damage it.
How often should I clean the stroller?
If you use a stroller at least three or four times per week, I recommend cleaning it every month. Besides wheels, stroller handles are the dirtiest part of the stroller. Therefore, make sure to clean and disinfect them often and more frequently than other parts of the stroller.
However, if you don’t use the stroller often, cleaning every other month will be sufficient.
In any case, it is best to clean it immediately when the baby spills something on the fabric. That way, you can prevent stains and smells, and you will have less cleaning to do once you decide to do a thorough cleaning.
Besides, if you have just come home from the park, and the wheels are muddy, wipe them clean with a wet cloth.
Moreover, if you haven’t used a stroller in a while, you should vacuum it to remove the dust and inspect for signs of damage before you use it.
How to clean a stroller?
Now let’s see how to deep clean a stroller in a few steps. The best way to ensure you are properly cleaning the stroller is to disassemble it and wash every part separately.
Before you start cleaning your stroller, always check the manufacturer’s instructions for cleaning. Some detachable parts are washing-machine safe at some strollers, and it can significantly save you time for cleaning.
Also, manufacturers specify that you shouldn’t use harsh chemicals such as bleach for cleaning the strollers as it can damage the finish on the frame or the fabric.
There isn’t a magic stroller cleaner that you spritz over the stroller, and it cleans everything. To get the best results, you need to go step by step and clean the unit through sections.
Things you need:
- Vacuum
- Towels
- Bucket(s) or bowl(s) with warm water
- Mild dish soap
- Baking soda
- White vinegar
- An old toothbrush or similar small cleaning brush
- Screwdriver
Step #1: Vacuum the stroller
The first step is to go over the stroller with a vacuum and remove all visible dust, bread crumbs, and food leftovers. If you notice any stains from the pureed food or yogurt, scrape them up and vacuum the leftovers.
You can use a hand vacuum or a standard vacuum. Upholstery attachment is also a good option.
If you plan to clean the stroller outside, and your vac cannot reach it, you can use a brush to wipe the crumbs away.
Step #2: Disassemble the stroller
To learn how to wash a stroller, you can consult the manual. Usually, you can detach parts, such as a cup holder, storage tray, fabric, wheels. Use the manual to learn how to detach parts and assemble them back safely. You can detach some parts by hand, and for others, you might need a screwdriver. Collect all pieces and put them aside to have them when you are ready to assemble the stroller back.
Find out if the parts are dishwasher-safe and how to clean stroller fabric. Some strollers come with machine-washing safe fabric, which will significantly save you time for cleaning. Usually, washing the fabric on gentle cycles or plastic parts in the dishwasher won’t remove the mildew.
If the plastic parts aren’t dishwasher safe, you can soak them in the bucket with warm water with dish soap. Wash the fabric by hand using dish soap and let it air dry.
You can use a toothbrush to reach tight places. For example, a toothbrush is excellent for the inside of the cup holder and storage tray edges.
Strollers are prone to developing mold because a child sits in the fabric for a long time, and the moisture accumulates easily. Moreover, milk spills, water droplets, and heat increase the moisture in the fabric.
If the fabric doesn’t dry thoroughly, the risk of developing mold is higher.
Step #3: Removing mold from stroller
If you notice mold developing in tight places, you can sprinkle them with baking soda and let it sit for at least ten minutes. Baking soda is a trick many mothers use to remove the mold in their household.
If you are wondering how to get mold out of fabric in stroller, you can make a cleaning solution using white vinegar and baking soda. Next, how to get mildew out of fabric, if it is only on the surface? Dish soap and the brush will probably be enough, or you can use the same trick as I recommend for mold.
Mix one cup of white vinegar and one-quarter spoon of baking soda. Spritz it over the mold stains and let it sit for at least a couple of minutes before you wash the fabric.
In the meantime, you can go over the harness with a wet towel or toothbrush to remove the dirt. The white vinegar and baking soda will effectively fight the mold and mildew and prevent further development of these nasty things.
Step #4: Cleaning the frame, brakes, and wheels
Use a toothbrush to clean nooks and crannies. Then, wet the towel in warm water and wipe the entire frame with it, the handlebar, and the stroller legs.
Before you start cleaning the brakes, you need to inspect them for any signs of damage. Wipe the dirt away from the brakes.
Next, check the manual to see how to release the wheels. Usually, there is a simple push-to release mechanism that will allow you to detach the wheels.
Commonly, the wheels are the dirtiest parts of the stroller. Soak the wheels in warm water to dissolve the stuck dirt and scrub them using dish soap, toothbrush, and water.
PRO TIP: If your brakes or wheels are squeaky, you can put the WD-40 solution to make them run smoothly without annoying sounds.
Step #5: Drying
You can use a towel to wipe the excess water away from all parts. Make sure to leave every piece to air dry on a sunny day for a couple of hours. If you assemble wet pieces, you can risk mold development.
Once everything is completely dry, use the instructions to assemble the stroller back.
Before you put your baby in it, inspect the stroller if all parts are secured and if the brakes lock wheels in place without issues.
If you perform the procedure I described above, it won’t take you more than half an hour to finish it. Once you get familiar with disassembling the stroller, you won’t have to consult the manual, and you will complete it even sooner.
Here’s an example walkthrough of how to clean a stroller:
Stroller Cleaning Tips & Tricks
Cleaning products are usually full of harsh toxic chemicals you probably don’t want anywhere near your child. Moreover, harsh cleaners leave a strong chemical smell, which can be hard to eliminate.
So, why not make a toxin-free, all-purpose homemade cleaning solution? You can make the all-purpose cleaners from different things you have at home. My favorites are citrus-based cleaners because they leave a fresh smell in the house.
To make one for you, prepare white vinegar, water, lemon rind, and rosemary strings. Mix them all in the spray bottle, and you can use it to clean your stroller as well.
You can find more recipes for homemade cleaners here.
Another tip I have for you is to keep the disinfectant wipes in the stroller storage basket. That way, you can quickly clean the stroller and reduce the risk of stains and disinfect it.
If you have taken your child on a quick ride, wiping the stroller with disinfectant wipes is all it takes to keep the stroller clean and ready for the next ride. Sometimes, snack trays, wheels, and handles are the only things that need cleaning.
Maintaining the stroller
If you want to keep your stroller safe for use, you need to maintain it properly. First of all, make sure that the stroller is dry before you fold it. Store it at room temperature to prevent plastic pieces from melting. Further, don’t put other items on top of it.
Additionally, if you know that you won’t be using it for a while, place it on some dark and dry spot, and cover it with fabric to prevent the dust from piling up.
Easy-To-Clean Strollers You Can Find on The Market
The ease of cleaning is an important aspect to analyze when buying a baby stroller. Let’s take a closer look at some of the best strollers in the market that are easy to clean.
- The Baby Jogger City Mini GT2 Stroller: This Baby Jogger City Mini GT2 Stroller is made from rubber, which makes it easy to wipe clean. Moreover, the fabric and the cushioning pads come out for cleaning.
They are also washing-machine safe, and it will save you a lot of time for cleaning. Overall, the stroller is sturdy, and you can fold it using one hand! - Bob Gear Revolution Flex Jogging Stroller: Even if the fabric isn’t removable, some strollers are easy to clean. This Bob Gear Revolution Flex Jogging Stroller is spacious and easily accessible. So, you can reach all places with a damp cloth. Moreover, the material is easy to clean and won’t stain easily.
There aren’t tight places that can collect crumbs, so vacuuming and wiping this stroller is simple.
- Graco Modes Travel System: This Graco Travel System can be used as an infant stroller and car seat, and toddler stroller. The Graco Modes Travel System features a removable child tray and armrests. Therefore, you can simply wash them or wipe them with a wet towel.
Moreover, the soft parts of the infant car seat are washing-machine safe, which makes cleaning the stroller a breeze.
FAQs on How to Clean a Stroller
Let’s answer some of the questions you might have about cleaning the stroller. If you have more questions, please pop them in the comment section below!
Can I power wash or pressure wash a stroller?
I would recommend using pressure wash only with jogging strollers, as they have slightly different construction than regular strollers. You can take your stroller to the DIY car wash to rinse it out.
However, drying will be longer, and you will never be sure that there isn’t water left in some parts. If possible, avoid a pressure washer and wash the stroller by hand or thoroughly inspect the stroller for quality before you use it.
How do you get mold out of stroller fabric without bleach?
If the mold stains are light, a water and vinegar solution will do the trick. For tougher mold stains, mix the baking soda and white vinegar and spritz it over the fabric, let it sit for a while, and wash the fabric.
Can I use vinegar to kill mold and remove mildew from stroller fabric?
Yes, you can. Not only will the vinegar kill the mold, but it will prevent future mold from developing.
How do you get the rust off a stroller?
The best way to clean the rust off a stroller is to use a WD-40 solution. Spritz it over the rust, let it sit for a couple of minutes, and use a microfiber sponge to wipe it clean.
To prevent your stroller from rusting, always fold it when it is dry.
How to clean a jogging stroller? Is it the same as other regular strollers?
You can clean it the same way as a regular stroller, but you need to pay attention to the wheels. The wheels are the most noticeable difference between the two strollers.
Soak them in water and clean them with a gentle sponge to prevent damaging them. Wheels at jogging strollers are filled with air, and the slightest damage on the wheels can make them unsafe.
How do you get scratches out of a stroller?
You can try nail polish remover for smaller scratches. Larger scratches on the stroller can be removed with car polishes, but make sure to use the product sparsely.
How do you get the musty smell out of a stroller?
The musty smell is the sign that there is mold in your stroller fabric. The only way to remove it is to wash the fabric using mild soap and water and air dry it.
Conclusion
Regularly cleaning the stroller is important for your baby’s health. It isn’t as challenging as it might look to you. The basic strategy is to detach all you can and clean those parts individually using a mild detergent or a home-made cleaner.
Some parts, such as wheels and fabric require more effort, and others, such as handles and snack tray, need more frequent cleaning.
How often do you clean your stroller? If you have any questions about stroller maintenance, feel free to ask them below!
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