How to Clean a Pram: Complete Step-by-Step Guide

Whether your pram has been through a muddy park, a sandy beach, or just months of daily school runs and coffee spills — it needs a proper clean. This guide covers everything: fabric, frame, wheels, hood, harness, and the mistakes that can actually damage your pram.

What you need to clean a pram at home

Before you start, gather everything so you're not scrambling mid-clean with a half-dismantled pram on your kitchen floor:

• Warm water (not hot — hot water can shrink or warp fabric)
• Mild baby-safe detergent or washing up liquid (avoid bleach, antibacterial sprays, and anything with harsh chemicals)
• Soft cloths or microfibre cloths
• A soft-bristled brush (an old toothbrush works for crevices)
• A bowl or bucket
• Vacuum cleaner with upholstery attachment (optional but helpful)
• Towels for drying

Do not use: bleach, Dettol, antibacterial wipes, white vinegar on coloured fabric, pressure washers, or steam cleaners (unless your manufacturer specifically says it's safe). These can damage fabric, fade colours, and leave residues that aren't safe for babies.

How to clean pram fabric

The fabric is where most of the visible dirt, stains, and smells live. Here's the proper way to clean it:

1. Check if the covers are removable. Most modern prams (Bugaboo, iCandy, Silver Cross, UPPAbaby, etc.) have removable seat covers, hoods, and harness pads. Check your manual for how to remove them — there are usually zips, poppers, or clips.
2. If removable: check the washing label. Many pram fabrics can be machine washed at 30°C on a gentle cycle. Always check the label first. If there's no label, hand wash to be safe.
3. If not removable: spot clean in place. Mix a small amount of mild detergent with warm water. Dip a cloth in the solution, wring it out well, and gently work the cloth over the fabric. Don't soak the fabric — the padding underneath takes forever to dry and can develop mould if left damp.
4. For stubborn stains: apply a paste of bicarbonate of soda and water directly to the stain. Leave it for 15 minutes, then gently scrub with a soft brush and wipe away. This works well for milk stains, food marks, and general grime.
5. Rinse thoroughly. Any detergent residue left in the fabric can irritate your baby's skin. Wipe over with a clean damp cloth several times.

How to clean the pram frame and chassis

The frame collects grime, dust, and sticky residue from spilled drinks and snacks. It's the easiest part to clean:

1. Wipe the entire frame with a damp cloth and mild detergent
2. Pay attention to joints, folding mechanisms, and the underside of the seat where crumbs accumulate
3. For stubborn grime in crevices, use an old toothbrush
4. Dry with a clean cloth to prevent water spots on metal frames
5. If your frame is aluminium (most modern prams), avoid abrasive cleaners that can scratch the finish

How to clean pram wheels

Pram wheels are the dirtiest part and the most overlooked. Mud, hair, and debris wrap around axles and build up in tread. This actually affects how the pram rolls — if your wheels feel stiff or the pram pulls to one side, dirty wheels are often the cause.

1. Remove the wheels if possible — most prams have quick-release wheels. This makes cleaning much easier.
2. Remove hair and debris wrapped around the axles. Use scissors to cut through tangled hair, then pull it away. This alone can transform how smoothly your pram rolls.
3. Scrub the tyres with warm soapy water and a brush. For foam-filled tyres, just scrub the surface. For air tyres, check the pressure after cleaning.
4. Clean the wheel housings — the part of the frame where the wheels attach. Wipe out any grime buildup.
5. Dry and reattach. Make sure wheels click securely back in place.

How to clean the pram hood and canopy

The hood gets dirty on both sides — outside from weather and handling, inside from your child touching it and from condensation. If your hood has a window panel, that needs cleaning separately.

• Outside: Wipe with a damp cloth and mild detergent. For bird droppings or tree sap, apply detergent directly and leave for a few minutes before wiping.
• Inside: Wipe with a clean damp cloth. The inside often has a softer fabric that shows marks easily — be gentle.
• Window panel: If it's plastic/PVC, clean with a damp cloth only. Avoid cleaning sprays that can cloud or crack the plastic over time.
• Wire frame: Some hoods have a wire frame inside. Don't bend it or submerge the hood in water — the wire can rust.

How to clean the harness and straps

The harness straps are where a lot of the smell comes from — dribble, milk, food, and sweat soak into the padding. But be careful here: you should never submerge harness straps in water or machine wash them. Soaking weakens the webbing fibres and can compromise the safety of the harness. This is a safety item, not just fabric.

• Wipe straps with a cloth dampened with warm water and a tiny amount of mild detergent
• For harness pads (the shoulder covers), these are usually removable and can be hand washed
• Clean the buckle and crotch strap — crumbs and sticky residue build up here
• Allow to air dry completely before using — damp straps against skin can cause irritation

Drying your pram properly

This step is more important than most people realise. Putting a damp pram back together is how mould starts. If fabric padding isn't fully dry before reassembly, mould can grow inside the padding where you can't see it — and that's both unpleasant and potentially harmful.

• Air dry all fabric components in a well-ventilated area, ideally outdoors in indirect sunlight
• Don't use a tumble dryer unless the label specifically allows it (most pram fabrics don't)
• Don't use direct heat (radiators, hairdryers) on fabric — it can shrink or warp
• Allow 24–48 hours for padded components to dry fully
• The frame and wheels can be towel-dried immediately

Common mistakes when cleaning a pram

These are the things we see regularly that cause more damage than the dirt itself:

• Using bleach or antibacterial sprays. These damage fabric, fade colours, and leave chemical residues near your baby's face and hands.
• Machine washing non-removable fabric. If the fabric doesn't come off the frame, don't try to force it into a washing machine. Spot clean only.
• Not drying fully before reassembly. This is the #1 cause of mould. If in doubt, leave it another day.
• Ignoring the wheels. Dirty, hair-clogged wheels make your pram harder to push and can damage the wheel bearings over time.
• Pressure washing. It seems efficient but the force damages fabric, pushes water into padding, and can bend frame components.
• Soaking harness straps. This weakens the safety webbing. Wipe only.

When to use a professional pram cleaning service

A home clean works for regular maintenance — wiping down after a muddy walk, spot-cleaning a milk stain, or freshening up the fabric. But there are situations where a DIY clean won't cut it:

• Mould in the fabric or padding. Surface mould can be wiped away, but mould that's grown into foam padding or deep in fabric fibres needs professional treatment with specialist products. Read more in our guide on whether mould on a pram is dangerous.
• Deep-set stains that won't shift. Ground-in food, sunscreen, and mud stains that have been there for months often need professional stain treatment.
• Preparing for a new baby. If the pram has been in storage or used by a previous child, a professional clean gets it genuinely hygienic for a newborn.
• Selling or gifting your pram. Also see our guide on cleaning a second-hand pram. For brand-specific instructions, see our guides for Bugaboo, UPPAbaby, and Silver Cross. A professionally cleaned pram sells for significantly more — buyers want to see it looking fresh.
• You just don't have the time. A full pram clean done properly takes 2–3 hours at home. Our service takes zero of your time — we collect, clean, and deliver back to your door.