How to Clean a Pram

Life with a little one can be messy, and that mess can quickly extend to their pushchair. But whether it’s muddy wheels, grubby straps, or something else, keeping a pram nice and clean is an important part of making sure your child is safe and comfortable.  

If cleaning a pram feels a bit daunting with all the other things you need to keep on top of, fear not. In this post we’ll share quick and easy steps to keeping your little one’s pushchair looking as clean as the day you bought it. 

Here’s what we’ll cover: 

• What you’ll need to clean your pushchair 

• Steps to take to clean your pram 

• How often prams should be cleaned 

• How to safely clean mould off a pram 

• How to steam clean prams 

• How to keep prams clean 

What You’ll Need to Clean Your Pushchair 

First up, here’s a list of things you’ll need to clean your little one’s pushchair. We recommend getting everything together before you start to save time and make things smoother. 

• Mild detergent or cleaning spray, ensure it’s baby friendly 

• Warm water 

• A soft cloth or sponge 

• A gentle scrubbing brush 

• A toothbrush if you need to clean any hard-to-reach areas 

• A vacuum cleaner 

• Disinfectant spray, again make sure it’s baby friendly 

Steps to Take to Clean Your Pram 

The steps below are for a full clean. Depending how grubby your pram is, you might not need to follow all of the steps. We recommend taking a read through the list before you start to see which are necessary, then working through them accordingly. 

1. Spot Clean Regularly

The best way to keep a pram clean is to tackle spills and marks as soon as you see them. This will reduce the likelihood of stains setting in and keep the pram looking good. 

A damp cloth with a small amount of mild detergent should do the trick here: just scrub gently until the spill is cleaned up or the mark is removed. 

2. Use the Vacuum Cleaner to Get Rid of the Crumbs

Crumbs are likely to accumulate in your little one’s pram, whether they eat in there or not. Over time the build-up can get very messy and become unhygienic - thankfully a vacuum cleaner is the perfect piece of kit for cleaning things up. 

Take care to hoover all the little nooks and crannies where crumbs and debris might gather, including seams, under cushions, and elsewhere. 

3. Clean the Wheels

Wheels can get messy quickly when you’re out in the world, especially if you take your pram off-road. Using a brush or cloth should dislodge the majority of mud and debris, with a toothbrush being useful for cleaning between treads and in other hard-to-access areas. 

Keeping the treads clean will make the pram easier to push and provide a smoother ride, so definitely don’t skip this step. 

4. Clean the Fabric

If your pram has removable fabric covers, take them off and put them through the washing machine on a gentle cycle with mild detergent. Follow any washing instructions provided by the manufacturer to ensure you don’t accidentally damage the material. 

Once clean, hang the fabric and let it dry fully before putting it back on.  

5. Scrub the Straps

Grubby hands have easy access to straps, meaning they’re liable to get grubby too. Use a sponge and soapy water to gently remove any dirt from your pram straps, taking care not to get them too wet. Leave them to dry naturally, gently applying pressure with a towel if they’re struggling to dry. 

6. Put Together a Cleaning Kit

Keeping a cleaning kit in your pram gives you the tools you need to tackle mess on the go. Including a pack of baby wipes, a soft cloth, and a gentle brush should cover you for most eventualities. 

7. Store in a Clean Place

Wherever possible, keep your pram somewhere clean and dry: this reduces dust build up and minimises exposure to moisture that can cause mould.  

If your pram is wet when it comes to storing it, leave it in a well-ventilated area to give it a chance to air dry. Also consider using a towel to dry the worst affected areas. 

How Often Should Prams Be Cleaned? 

The answer to this question depends on how dirty your pram gets, and what your personal threshold is. We recommend wiping it down once a week to keep on top of the marks and spills arising from daily use, perhaps with a full deep clean once a month.  

Keeping your pram clean will increase its longevity, improve its appearance, and most importantly, keep it safe and comfortable for your little one. 

Is it Safe to Clean Mould Off a Pram? 

If you leave your pram in a damp environment for too long, it can get mouldy. Perhaps you left it in the garage when your little one no longer needed it, but now a brother or sister is on the way? If this is the case, rest assured that you can clean mould safely from a pram - you just need to make sure the cleaning products you use are suitable. 

Instead of using store-bought mould sprays, which can be quite potent, we advise a mix of water and detergent. Apply this to the affected area with a sponge or cloth, then scrub gently until the mould is removed. You may need repeated applications to dislodge all of it. 

Once the mould is gone, rinse the affected areas with clean water and allow the pram to dry fully in a well-ventilated area before using it again. 

To prevent mould build-up on your pram, take care to store it somewhere dry. If you’re planning to store it for a long while, follow these steps to reduce the risk: 

• Make sure it’s dry when you store it 

• Use a protective cover 

• Store it somewhere dry and well-ventilated 

• Place a few silica gel packs in the pram 

• Check it occasionally to make sure mould isn’t accumulating 

Can Prams Be Steam Cleaned? 

Whether or not you can steam clean a pram depends on the manufacturer’s specifications. Some prams may use materials that a steam cleaner might damage, so make sure to read the pram instructions before starting. 

If your pram can be steam cleaned, here’s how to do it: 

• Use the low setting  

• Avoid applying steam directly to metal or plastic, to protect against warping 

• Let the pram dry completely before use 

How to Keep Prams Clean 

While you might not be able to keep it perfectly clean, there are a few easy habits you can implement to keep your pram from getting too grubby. They are: 

• Store it somewhere clean: we mentioned this earlier, but it bears repeating, keeping your pram somewhere clean will reduce exposure to dust and other grime 

• Use a rain cover when storing your pram: this is great for offering additional protection while your pram is in storage 

• Keep food out of the pram: one of the biggest offenders for a messy pram is food crumbs and spilled drinks: feeding your little one outside of the pram will protect against this source of grub 

• Use a washable liner: a removable liner is easy to take out of the pram and put through the wash, making them perfect for prams with non-machine washable fabric 

Clean As A Whistle 

Cleaning a pram can feel like a daunting task, but it’s well worth doing. Not only will your pram look better, your little one will be safer and more comfortable when they’re using it. We hope the steps in this guide are helpful for cleaning your pushchair clean, and for building a routine to keep it clean. 

To learn more about prams you can browse our blog, or you can view our full range of pushchairs for sale.