How to Clean a Baby Stroller – Step by Step Full Guide

How to Clean Baby Stroller before Traveling with your Baby

Travel can be stressful for parents, especially when it comes to keeping their children safe during the trip. One of the things that can put their mind to ease is ensuring that all necessary baby gear is clean safe to use. Strollers are perhaps one of the most heavily used travel gear, and they do need to be maintained properly in order to prevent any discomfort and harmful bacteria from harming the child on board. Listed below are 15 steps on how to clean baby stroller prior to traveling.

Part One : Prepping the Stroller

Note: Prior to cleaning the stroller, be sure to pick a place where you can do it without worrying about the mess. Outdoors would be a perfect choice, especially if you have to clear out a lot of lint and dust. If you cannot do it outside, the garage would do just fine.

Step: 01

Before doing anything, be sure to consult the product manual for specific instructions on how to take apart the stroller for purposes of cleaning. It is not recommended to wash the entire stroller since some parts are made of metal and can get corroded when exposed to water and soap or any type of cleaning substance. Once you’ve figured out how to take it apart, proceed to carefully remove the fabric part for thorough cleaning.

Part Two : Cleaning the Fabric

Step: 02

Use a Vacuum Cleaner to Suck Out Loose Lint and Dirt- If you have access to a vacuum cleaner, use the smallest attachment to get into the crevices of the fabric and collect every piece of lint and spec of dust. You’d be surprised at how much gunk can accumulate in the stroller in only a matter of weeks. This would make it easier to wash off the fabric and ensure nothing gets embedded deeper into the cloth.

Step: 03

Take apart the fabric cover and foam/padding (if possible)- Most strollers these days allow for cleaning the fabric separately. The foam might not be machine-wash ready so it is best to keep the two separate when cleaning the stroller.

Step: 04

Soak the fabric in lukewarm water- You may have done a great job vacuuming every nook and cranny of the stroller, but minute particles might still be on the fabric. Soaking it in lukewarm water loosens up the dirt, making it easier to wash it off later. A 15 minutes soaking should be enough.

Step: 05

Take the fabric for light scrubbing- Just use your hands, along with a scrubber instead of putting it in the washer. While some stroller fabric covers can be machine-washed, others can get damaged if not handled with care. In any case, it’s always better to tackle the fabric by hand so you can concentrate on the stains (there’s bound to be a few, especially if it has been months since you washed the stroller. Do not be afraid to use elbow grease and check for deep-seated stains. Tip: For stubborn stains, you should try soaking it in baking soda and warm water for an hour or so.

Step: 06

Hang the fabric to air dry- This is very important. Do not put the fabric in the dryer, and definitely, do not opt to spin dry it multiple times just to speed up the process. Find a place where you can hang the fabric for an entire day (or more depending on how fast it dries up). This way you do not damage the cloth and it remains intact.

Part Three : Cleaning the Metal Parts

Step: 07

Start with the wheels- These are perhaps the grimiest part of the stroller as it touches the ground more than any other part of the gear. You can use mild soap for cleaning the tires to get rid of dirt that is stuck in between. You can even use a brunch to make sure nothing is left behind before you put the stroller back together.

Step: 08

Clean the metal parts using soft cloth and some baby oil.- This can do wonders if you want to maintain the luster of the stroller. Since you cannot use water to clean up the metal frame, it is better to use baby oil or even coconut oil to remove dirt and grime.

Step: 09

Take out the plastic parts and hose them down thoroughly.- Plastic do not corrode when exposed to moisture so you can go ahead and have your way with the plastic parts of the stroller. The dirt will likely come off a lot easier compared to fabric and metal.

Step: 10

Put all the parts back together except for the fabric.- It would take longer for the cloth to dry up, especially if it is thick. In the meantime, put all the metal and plastic parts that you took apart back together. Be sure to check every knot and screw.

Step: 11

Check on the fabric when it dries- Feel the fabric and see if it dried through. Do not put a slightly damp stroller fabric back on the foam because it will likely cause irreparable damage.

Step: 12

Safety Check- Smell the fabric/cloth for any strong odor. Sometimes, an inordinate amount of detergent is applied when cleaning the fabric, which can cause irritation to the baby when he/she is exposed to the fabric of the stroller.

Step: 13

Place the fabric back on the foam and make sure it fits exactly as before. – In some rare cases, the fabric shrinks or gets damaged especially if machined washed.

Step: 14

Check all parts and make sure everything is in place- Once you put all parts back together, be sure that the stroller has all its parts and that nothing crucial is missing. In some cases, taking apart screws and knots can result to loss or misplacement. It would be best if you have a complete inventory of everything you took apart, including the number of pieces.

Part Four : Testing Before Using

Step: 15

The final part is testing whether the stroller is working properly before placing your child back in the stroller. The wheels should be greased well and not squeaking. The safety locks must also be working well. Do a test ride using anything with the same weight as your child.