How To Effectively Clean A Baby Stroller

Source: DHgate, Tag: Baby & Kids

Would you like to learn how to clean a stroller to prevent germs and ensure hygiene?

If you bought a second-hand stroller, you probably wish to clean it to eliminate the nasty odour or any germs they may have travelled along with it. Cleaning strollers after taking a walk outside may also be on your mind to eliminate bits and pieces of dirt that gathered in secluded areas of the stroller.
To start the cleaning process, get the following items ready: vacuum cleaner, small brush, soap, water, screwdriver, portable microfiber towel, washing machine, all-purpose cleaner and, disinfectant.

Pick or brush out larger loose dirt
If you took a walk outdoors with your baby, there might be large pieces of dirt from food crumbs, dry leaves, or tiny sticks on the surface of the seat of the stroller; depending on where you went to or what your baby had been eating. With a big brush, brush off all the loose dirt that you can find on the surface. You can pick the thirds with your hands as long as they are visible enough for hand-picking.
Use a vacuum to remove tiny loose dirt or crumbs
Sometimes, loose dirt may be too tiny for hand-picking; sometimes, you may wish to skip the stress. Use a handheld vacuum cleaner to suck up both small and large loose dirt on the seat surface. Aside from the surface of the seat, focus on hidden areas where dirt usually builds up; like the pockets of the stroller and other storage spaces. Parents often neglected these places during cleaning. Repeat the vacuum cleaning process until you’re satisfied that there is no more loose dirt on the fabric or in other hidden areas of the vacuum.
Detach the stroller
Now that you have successfully removed loose dirt from the stroller, it’s time to detach as many parts of the stroller that is detachable. Remove the fabric from the frame; with the aid of a screwdriver, you can remove any screw that connects the fabric. Detaching the material gives you a clearer view of the frame so that you can see hidden dirt within it that you also clean. You can also detach the canopy if it is detachable. Do not forget to remove the wheels, the seat of the frame, cup holders, other accessories, and the wheels (if you can detach them from the frame). Once you have carefully disassembled all its components, cleaning the stroller will be a piece of cake.
How to clean the fabric of a stroller
If the fabric and the canopy are removable, you can use a washing machine to save time as long as the manufacturer says you can. Remember to use the ‘gentle or delicate wash cycle’ (which is much more appropriate for a stroller fabric). If it’s not detachable, you can use your towel and soap to scrub the fabric and the canopy. To do this, make a mixture of soap (specially formulated for washing baby stuff) and warm water then soak in the towel. Squeeze out excess water from the towel then, scrub every part of the canopy and the fabric. You may scrub the handlebar as well though you can do this later when it’s time to wash the frame of the stroller. The next step is to rinse the fabric and canopy with clean water. If both are detachable and you chose to use a washing, navigate to the rinse cycle. If it’s not detachable, you can use a hose or bowl of water to rinse.
After rinsing, you may notice tiny dirt spots the towel or washing machine could not handle. You may also notice moulds on the fabrics. Moulds grow on the material when your baby spills moisture, and you leave it there for a long time without cleaning. Use a small toothbrush to clean each of these spots and the molds, then rinse all over again. But moulds can be hard to clean. If this happens, soak the moulds with vinegar or lemon juice; this should soften it and make brushing easier. Afterwards, rinse and dry the fabric and canopy under the sun while you concentrate on washing the frame. Do not forget to rinse your towel as well.
How to clean the frame and accessories of a stroller
If you have already detached the components of the frame, you can start cleaning immediately; otherwise, remove the wheels, seat, and any other accessory that you can disassemble. Next, clean the frame with the towel soaked with water. Wash the snack tray as well. Rinse both with water and set it aside. Clean the handlebar; if you have not done this earlier scrub the towel wet with soap and water.
How to clean the wheels of a stroller
The wheels gather more dirt than any other component of the stroller because it is usually in direct contact with different kinds of debris and dirt. If it's possible to remove the wheels from the frame, cleaning it will be a piece of cake because you will have the liberty to turn it around while you wash, as you wish. To clean the wheel, brush out any dust or large debris stuck to it. Next, wash the wheel with the soap and water mixture and dry properly.
How to disinfect and store a stroller after cleaning
The next step you have to wash and dried all the components of the stroller is to attach all its pieces back to the frame. Spray the stroller with a sterilizer/disinfectant to kill germs. Fold the stroller carefully and store it in a safe place. You can choose to hang it by the door, under the stairs, garage, etc. Wherever you choose, ensure that you cover it well to protect it from dust and direct sunlight.
Conclusion
Strollers are not tough to clean as long as you follow the guidelines. Whatever you do, ensure you keep your strollers away from chemicals, dry cleaning, and extreme heat.