How To Clean Mildew From Stroller Fabric

With time, you will realize that keeping your baby stroller clean from dust, dirt, grime and mold is of utmost importance. Not only you will want to have a clean surface for your baby to ride on; you will also want to extend your stroller's life as much as possible and make it durable to stand the test of time.

If you think only the baby stroller wheels get dirty after and just after rain or going to the beach, better think again.

There are plenty of occasions where your stroller is exposed to dirt. Maybe think of the amount of times your child will spend on the baby buggy, eating, drinking and snacking through the day.

In this article we will present some advice to help you clean your stroller. make your stroller durable. Plus, learn how to get mold off the fabric of your stroller easily, together with mildew.

How to clean stroller? How to clean fabric car seats?

Baby Strollers need cleaning from time to time as they accumulate grime and dirt from the environment.

Baby sitting on the pram a few hours during the day means a big mess, considering that babies are likely to snack and nap on the stroller.

In addition to this, if you happen to buy a used baby stroller or a second-hand stroller, you will probably want to give it a good wash before using it with your baby.

You don't need pushchair cleaning services really. Save the money and get yourself something nice as this is easy to DIY.

Know your stroller

Make sure you've read the manufacturer's instructions for stroller maintenance. The main things you need to know on how to wash a stroller are:

Can the fabric be removed from the seat?

Some stroller fabrics are easy to clean as they can be removed to be machine washed. However, not all strollers allow for the fabric to come off and needs to be spot cleaned.

How to remove car seat fabric from stroller?

The answer to this question will depend on your stroller brand and model. Remember, if you've tossed away your manufacturer's instructions manual, you can always go online and find out how to dissemble your stroller.

How to remove stroller wheels?

It is important to give the wheels a good wash too, from time to time. Especially if you are out and about under the rain or at the beach or park.

Remember never to submerge your stroller wheels under water as you could damage the mechanism, which is lubricated using oil.

Stroller fabric parts are removable from the stroller frame

Once you understand what fabric parts can be detached from your stroller, you are ready to go!

Make sure you separate the frame from the canopy fabric, as hard parts are not likely to go in the washing machine.

Using the washing machine will help you get a deep clean on your stroller. Always remember to run a gentle cycle, not to damage the fabric.

You can pre-wash by hand any tough stains with a paste of water and bicarb soda. Let sit for a few hours and then machine wash.

Another important reminder is to never use the tumble dryer on your stroller fabrics, as they can get damaged. It is preferable to dry them under the sun.

In terms of soap, it would be safe to use any soap you use to wash your baby's clothes. Hence, if you buy a special laundry liquid for sensitive skin, make sure you use THAT one on your stroller parts too.

Fabric parts not detachable from the stroller

How to clean stroller seat and How to clean pram fabric without a washing machine?

Before you start cleaning your stroller fabric, make sure you remove the canopy, cup holder, handle bar and any items in the storage basket, like the rain cover or mosquito net.

Use a hand brush to remove any big crumbs you may see lying on the stroller fabric. Then, using a vacuum cleaner remove any dirt and dust left from your stroller.

Some strollers allow you to remove the fabric of the seat and canopy and do a gentle cycle machine wash. However, some umbrella or compact strollers don't offer this option.

If the fabric cannot be detached from the stroller you will need to clean it on the frame.

Using the technique below you can remove not only stains but also mold and mildew from your stroller by hand.

Things you need to get dirt and mold off stroller seat

In this section you will see how to deep clean a stroller when you cannot remove the fabric from the frame.

Cleaning a stroller with vinegar is a great start. My advice is to use white vinegar diluted in water. A good ratio is to use one cap of vinegar for every glass of water. I also recommend adding juice from a lemon wedge to the mixture for better aroma. Besides, lemon has important cleaning properties.

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Another option is to use a mix of water with soap.However, try to use natural products every time you can as babies' skin is sensitive.

The best way to clean a pushchair is to be gentle and persistent with your brush or piece of cloth. Sometimes you will need to go a few times over a stain. Just let it dry under the sun and try again gently but persistently.

How to remove mold from stroller?

It is inevitable that moisture accumulates in your stroller fabric over time. Your baby sitting there for long hours, the heat and some water or milk spills may be some of the causes why mold can accumulate in your stroller.

There are a few alternatives to remove mold from your stroller:

1. White Vinegar, Lemon and Water

This is the same mixture we used above to clean the stroller. Use this solution if the mold stain is mild. These 3 ingredients together work wonders and your stroller will look like brand new.

2. Baking Soda diluted in water

For tougher stains, add one quarter of a tablespoon of baking soda in a spray bottle of about 1 to 1 ½ cups and shake vigorously until the baking soda has dissolved.

This solution is great for preventing mold from growing back, so you could just use it to spray it on your stroller once a month or more often if you need to.

3. Baking soda and white vinegar paste

To treat very tough stains of mold and mildew make a paste using 5 tablespoons of baking soda and the measurement of 1 to 3 cap of white vinegar.

The consistency should be a creamy thick paste, not crumbs. Hence, keep adding vinegar until you reach a paste that can be easily applied to the stains.

Once applied, let it sit there for at least 15 minutes and scrub.

how to clean a stroller

Vinegar is a great green ingredient for cleaning, plus it kills 82% of mold species.

Baking soda not only kills mold, but also absorbs moisture to prevent mold from coming back.

Lemon has a high citric acid and one of the best natural cleaners due to its low pH and it is also antibacterial. Besides, its nice aroma will offset the smell of the diluted vinegar.

Using these ingredients you can clean not only your baby stroller, but all other baby items. A Baby Carrier for example, tends to get quite dirty if you use it often.

You can use these ingredients to clean windows, mirrors, bathrooms, drains and garbage disposals. You can even clean home appliances with vinegar.

How to remove mildew from stroller fabric?

Mildew is different from mold. It looks white and powdery, whereas mold is dark green and fungus looking.

For any tough mildew stains, you canmake a pastewith salt and lemon and apply on the fabric using an old tooth brush. Then let dry under the sun and rinse. You can repeat this action a few times, until the stain comes off.

If you are using a washing machine, adding a fresh squeeze of lemon in a wash cycle can brighten your white clothes and remove stains of minerals.

How to clean a pram hood?

Your pram hood can get as dirty as the pram seat fabric and requires maintenance from time to time.

The fabric of the pram hood can receive the same treatment as the seat fabric.

Just make sure you remove any wires if you are going to use the washing machine. Plus, always dry your stroller parts under the sun (never tumble dry).

The options presented above work wonders:

Vinegar, water and lemon
Baking Soda and water (to attack mold)
Baking soda and vinegar paste (to attack mold)
Water, salt and lemon (to clean mildew)

How to clean stroller wheels?

Your stroller wheels are likely to be the part of the stroller that receives more maintenance and attention.

If you take your stroller to the beach regularly, it is important to clean them frequently as the combination of sand and salt can damage the turning mechanism over time.

If you are out and about and the wheels get muddy, you are going to want to wash them before carrying your stroller to your car or bringing it home.

how to clean sand from stroller — Image by Mike Baird - Man running while pushing a baby trike (CC BY 2.0)

Instructions on how to clean pram wheels:

Detach stroller wheels from stroller frame
Prepare a mix of soapy water to clean your stroller wheels
Apply it using a damp piece of cloth and / or a stiff brush and the dirt and mud will come off easily.

Remember never to submerge your stroller wheels in water as you could alter the lubrication of the wheels.

It is a good idea to buy a Teflon type lubricant that is non-sticky, and you can apply freely to the wheel mechanisms every time you need.

Try to avoid oil or silicone lubricants as they tend to attract dirt and dust.

How to clean the stroller frame?

Before cleaning your stroller frame, make sure you detach any part of the stroller you can. Detach the seat fabric (if detachable), the wheels, and remove any loose objects, like the rain cover and or any toys in the storage basket.

The stroller frame can be easily cleaned using amixture of soapy water and a damp piece of cloth.

You can cry your stroller frame using an old tea towel for any excess water.

Make sure you inspect the frame parts for any malfunctioning. Check the breaks and apply some Teflon style lubricant if need be to improve their performance.

Check the handle bar mechanism, if your stroller has one. Make sure you clean it first and once it is dry, apply lubricant to improve performance if need be.

When you are cleaning your stroller, remember to avoid submerging any of the stroller frame parts into water as the mechanism of the handle bar or breaks could get damaged.

Benefits of cleaning your baby stroller

There are endless benefits on keeping your stroller as clean as you can.

Not only will your baby will ride in a surface that it is clean, mold and mildew free; you will extend the life of your stroller and who knows, you may be able to sell it as a second hand stroller in great condition!