Strollers, as such, are bound to be dirty. They can even smell. Their tiny children take meals in them, lie down in them, and sludge their diapers inside them, and the result is an unsightly mess. Splattered milk, cookie crumbs, mashed fruits, and the remnants of diapers that leak smudge the fabric and get into the crevices and corners of your baby’s stroller. It’s time to create an emergency stop to do an intensive cleaning.
For advice on tackling grime We looked to Joan Muratore, Consumer Reports the expert on products for kids and babies. Muratore does not only manage the tests of strollers for CR, but she has also evaluated the cleaning capabilities of hundreds of products for kids. Here are the strategies, tools, and methods she employs to clean up a dirty stroller.
The Tools
Dust brush or hand vacuum
Towels made from Terry (2 up to)
Large bucket or bowl
Warm water
Laundry soap or mild dish soap
Toothbrush
Wooden grilling skewers
The Easiest Strollers to Clean
If you’re shopping to purchase a stroller there are some important features to look for which will cut down on the time spent cleaning it. The first is an infant car seat to help your baby’s first year of life. The sleek frames are generally made of plastic and are easily cleaned. The 4 car seats we have in our reviews are rated as good enough to be recommended, however, our top pick is the Chicco KeyFit stroller costs $100, and is paired with the top-rated stroller seats, that is the Chicco baby stroller $180.
The Strategy
To ensure that spills don’t get coated at all It’s recommended to clean them up right away. For wet spills, such as yogurt pureed baby food and apple sauce Muratore advises using a spoon or knife made of plastic to scoop up the majority of the spill.
Cleaning deep requires a different method. Muratore recommends using every instrument from her cleaning kit in a single step for the entire stroller instead of trying to clean each section separately. The only exception is the wheels. These should be cleaned the last.
1. Remove Crumbs With a Hand Vac
You can clean up the crumbs using a brush however, it’s better to clean the stroller with a handheld vacuum that can collect any crumbs that may be scattered around. It’s the Shark Pet Perfect II SV780, $60, performed excellently in our hand-vacuum tests. You could also try the upholstery attachment that comes with the full-size vacuum.
2. Detach the Removable Parts
Parts such as storage cups, trays, as well as seats made of fabric can be cleaned more easily once taken off their frame. Read the instruction manual to find out which components can be placed into the washer or dishwasher. If it is, it’s simpler than washing them manually in the kitchen sink.
3. Get into Crevices With a Toothbrush
When the stroller is clear of crumbs, you’ll require the aid of a toothbrush, dipped in soapy, warm water to clean off any gunk that has accumulated on the corners of the seats. The toothbrush is also useful to clean up any spills. For small cracks and creases like those on the buckle of the harness, Muratore prefers wooden grilling Skewers. After the crud has loose, you’ll be able to wipe it away in the following steps.
4. Scrub Fabric with a Terry-Cloth Towel
If you assume that the seat is made of fabric and the majority of the trim pieces made of plastic can’t be removed — and they aren’t be removed from most strollers–start at the top of your stroller, and then use a terry-cloth towel that’s been soaked and mild soap. Scrub the stroller and then wipe away any dirt that you picked up or scrubbed during the previous step.
Make use of a soap that is recommended according to the instructions of the maker or printed on the tag that is under the seat. If there’s no suggestion begin using mild dish detergent or detergent for laundry.
If you have one of the strollers that have a removable seat made of fabric, Muratore advises putting it back onto the frame while it’s still wet.
5. Clean and Lubricate the Wheels
After you’ve cleaned the fabrics, you can now tackle the rubber or plastic wheels. Since they are in proximity to the ground, these wheels will be more soiled than other parts of the stroller. Also, you don’t want the dirt touching the space in which your child is sitting. Allow the wheels to dry completely. Verify whether the manual suggests regularly oiling the wheel’s bearings. If it is, apply the recommended lubricant suggested by the manufacturer as well as spray liquid oil around the point at which the wheel joins the frame.
