How to Clean a Second-Hand Pram Before Your Baby Uses It

Buying a pram second-hand is smart — a Bugaboo Fox or Silver Cross Wave loses hundreds of pounds the moment it leaves the shop, and most pre-loved prams have years of life left. But before your baby goes in it, you need to clean it properly. You don’t know what’s been spilled, what’s soaked into the padding, or how it was stored. This guide covers everything.

Inspect before you buy

Before you even think about cleaning, check the pram’s condition:

• Brakes: Do they engage and release properly? Test on a slope.
• Folding mechanism: Does it fold and unfold smoothly? Does the locking mechanism click firmly?
• Harness: Check straps for fraying, wear, or stiffness. Test the buckle clicks and releases cleanly. If straps are frayed or the buckle is unreliable, don’t buy it — replacement harness kits exist but aren’t available for all models.
• Wheels: Spin each wheel. Do they roll smoothly? Check tyres for cracks, punctures (on air tyres), or flat spots.
• Frame: Look for cracks, bends, or rust. A dented frame can be cosmetic, but a cracked frame is a structural failure.
• Mould: Check the hood, seat fabric, and especially the underside of the seat. Mould in foam padding is the biggest hidden issue with second-hand prams. If you can see mould spots or smell mustiness, factor in the cost of professional mould treatment (£19 add-on to any clean).

How to deep clean a second-hand pram

Assuming the pram passes inspection, here’s how to get it baby-ready:

1. Strip everything removable

Take off all fabric: seat covers, hood, harness pads, bumper bar cover, basket liner. Remove the wheels. Take photos of how everything attaches before you start — reassembly is always harder than disassembly.

2. Wash the fabric

Check washing labels. Most modern pram covers can be machine washed at 30°C on a gentle cycle with mild detergent. No fabric softener, no bleach. If there are no labels (common on older models), hand wash to be safe. For a detailed walkthrough, see our full guide on how to clean a pram.

3. Treat stains

Second-hand prams often have old, set-in stains. Bicarbonate of soda paste (mixed with a little water) applied directly to stains and left for 20 minutes before washing is the most effective baby-safe approach. For really stubborn marks, repeat the process.

4. Clean the harness

Wipe straps with a damp cloth and mild detergent. Never soak or machine wash harness straps — this weakens the safety webbing. If the straps smell, a wipe with diluted white vinegar (50/50 with water) deodorises without damage.

5. Clean the frame and wheels

Wipe the entire frame with warm soapy water. Get into every joint and hinge with a toothbrush. Cut hair and thread from wheel axles. Scrub the wheels. Check air tyres for pressure.

6. Sanitise

For a second-hand item where you don’t know the hygiene history, a light sanitisation makes sense. Wipe hard surfaces (frame, shell, buckles) with a solution of mild detergent and water. For fabric, a baby-safe sanitising spray is available from most pharmacies — check it’s suitable for your fabric type.

7. Dry completely

This is critical. Every fabric component must be fully dry before reassembly. Damp fabric folded into a pram is how mould starts. Air dry in a well-ventilated space, ideally in indirect sunlight. Allow at least 24–48 hours for padded items.

Is it worth cleaning or should you replace?

If the pram is structurally sound — frame intact, brakes work, harness functional — then even a heavily stained pram can usually be restored. The fabric is cosmetic; the safety features are what matter.

A professional clean typically costs £75 for a single pram. If you bought a Bugaboo Fox second-hand for £400 instead of £1,200 new, spending £75 to get it professionally cleaned is a no-brainer. You end up with a nearly-new pram for under £500.

The only time it’s not worth cleaning: if the frame is cracked, the harness is damaged beyond replacement, or mould has caused fabric to rot and weaken.