How to Clean a YOYO Pram: What Most Parents Get Wrong

The YOYO is the most popular pram we clean. We see more YOYOs — original BABYZEN, YOYO2, and the newer Stokke YOYO3 — than any other single model. And we also see more YOYOs that have been damaged by well-intentioned home cleaning than any other pram.

This is not a simple pram to clean properly. The compact engineering that makes it fold small enough for an aeroplane overhead locker also makes it one of the most complex prams to strip down, clean, dry, and reassemble without causing damage. There are canopy wires that bend permanently if handled wrong, fabric coatings that discolour in the wash, a fold mechanism that traps grime in places you cannot see, and a reassembly process that confuses even parents on their second child.

This guide explains exactly what is involved — and where things go wrong.

Why the YOYO needs different treatment

Most prams — Bugaboo, UPPAbaby, Silver Cross — are relatively straightforward to clean. The covers clip off, you wash them, they go back on. The YOYO is different for several reasons:

• The compact fold compresses everything together. When you fold a YOYO, the canopy, seat pad, and frame all press against each other. Over months of daily folding, food crumbs, milk residue, and sweat get pushed into crevices and hinges that are invisible when the pram is open. A surface wipe misses all of this.
• The fabrics have a protective coating. YOYO fabrics are treated with a water-resistant and fire-retardant coating. This coating is what gives the fabric its smooth finish and helps repel light spills. It is also what can go wrong in the wash — the coating can break down, leaving white patches, watermarks, and a faded appearance that no amount of re-washing will fix.
• The canopy uses internal wire framing. Unlike most pram canopies that are shaped by the frame they attach to, the YOYO canopy holds its shape using flexible metal wires sewn into the fabric. These wires must be removed before washing. If you forget — or if you remove them incorrectly — you risk permanently bending the wire, which means your canopy will never sit properly again.
• The YOYO2 and YOYO3 have different attachment systems. If you are following a YouTube tutorial from 2020 to clean your 2024 Stokke YOYO3, the fabric attachment points are different. The clip positions, harness routing, and canopy mechanism have all been updated. Getting the wrong generation's instructions is a common source of damage.

What goes wrong when parents clean a YOYO at home

We are not trying to scare you. But we do see the same problems repeatedly, and they are worth knowing about before you start:

Fabric discolouration after washing. This is the most common complaint we hear from YOYO owners. Parents follow the manufacturer's instructions — 30°C, gentle cycle, mild detergent — and the fabric comes out faded, patchy, or with white watermarks. This happens because the protective coating on the fabric reacts unpredictably to washing. Darker colourways (Navy, Black, Toffee) are particularly vulnerable. Parent forums are full of YOYO owners who washed their seat pad once and had to buy a replacement colour pack at £60–80.

Bent canopy wires. The YOYO canopy has two flexible metal wires that give it its shape. These must be carefully slid out of the fabric channel before washing. If you force them, the wire bends. If you put the canopy in the washing machine with the wires still in, the wires bend and can also damage your washing machine drum. A bent canopy wire means the canopy sits crooked — and there is no way to straighten it perfectly once it has been kinked.

Mould from inadequate drying. The YOYO seat pad has internal foam padding that absorbs water during washing and takes a long time to dry. If you reassemble the pram before the padding is completely dry — or if you fold it for storage while damp — mould develops inside the foam where you cannot see it. We regularly clean YOYOs where the fabric looks fine on the surface but the padding underneath is spotted with mould.

Reassembly errors. Getting the YOYO fabric back on correctly is genuinely difficult. The seat pad wraps around the frame and clips at multiple points. The harness threads through specific slots. The canopy wires need to be re-inserted in the right orientation. Parent forums have threads from people who washed their YOYO newborn pack, removed the internal stiffening boards, and could not work out which board goes where or which way around they face. Getting this wrong affects how the pram sits, how the recline works, and how secure the harness is.

Wheel bearing damage. The YOYO has small wheels that pick up an enormous amount of hair, thread, and debris around the axles. Some parents try to wash the wheels under running water, which pushes water into the sealed bearings. Once water gets into the bearings, they rust, seize, and the pram becomes stiff and noisy to push. The correct approach is dry cleaning the axles and using silicone lubricant — never water.

Fabric removal: YOYO2 vs YOYO3

Before you touch anything, identify which model you have. The original BABYZEN YOYO and YOYO+ have the oldest attachment system. The YOYO2 refined it. The Stokke YOYO3 (2024 onwards) changed it again with updated clip positions and a redesigned seat pad with a built-in head cushion.

The fabric removal process involves:

• Unclipping the canopy from the frame arms — two press-release clips on either side
• Removing the canopy wires from their fabric channels (critical — do not skip this)
• Unclipping the seat pad — this wraps underneath and around the seat frame, held by multiple plastic clips and elastic loops
• Unthreading the harness straps through the seat fabric
• Removing the basket (if washing separately)

Each of these steps requires care. The plastic clips on the YOYO are not as robust as, say, a Bugaboo Fox's clips. They are smaller and can crack if forced in the wrong direction — particularly in cold weather when the plastic is less flexible. If a clip breaks, you need a replacement part from Stokke, which can take weeks to arrive.

The canopy — where most damage happens

The YOYO canopy is the single component most likely to be damaged during home cleaning. Here is why:

The canopy fabric is a taut, precisely shaped piece of material held in place by two flexible metal wires. These wires slide into sewn channels in the fabric. To wash the canopy, you must slide both wires out completely. This sounds simple, but the channels are tight and the wires have curved ends that can snag the fabric if pulled at the wrong angle.

Once the wires are out, the canopy can be machine washed — but this is where the coating issue comes in. The canopy fabric has the same water-resistant coating as the seat pad. At 30°C on a gentle cycle, most canopies survive fine. But some colourways, some production batches, and some detergents interact badly with the coating. There is no way to predict this in advance. You will not know until the canopy comes out of the machine.

After washing, the wires must be re-inserted in the correct orientation. They are not identical — they curve in a specific direction to match the canopy shape. Insert them backwards and the canopy bows outward instead of curving smoothly over your child.

Seat pad and harness

The seat pad is the main fabric piece. On the YOYO2 it clips onto the frame at roughly eight points. On the YOYO3, the new head cushion adds another layer of complexity.

Washing: The manufacturer says 30°C, gentle cycle, no bleach, no fabric softener. Air dry only — never tumble dry. This is correct, but it understates the risk. The seat pad has internal foam that absorbs a significant amount of water. Pressing it gently with a towel before air drying helps, but the foam can take 24–48 hours to dry fully in a UK home without direct heat. Most parents do not wait this long.

The harness: The five-point harness must never be submerged in water or put in the washing machine. This is a safety component — the webbing can weaken if washed improperly, and the buckle mechanisms can corrode. Wipe the straps with a damp cloth only. If the harness is heavily soiled (which it often is — children chew on them, spill on them, and sweat into them), a professional clean is the only safe way to get them properly clean without compromising the safety of the straps.

Frame, wheels, and fold mechanism

The YOYO frame is painted aluminium with a matte finish. Wipe it with a damp cloth and mild detergent. Do not use abrasive cleaners — they scratch the paint, and once the paint is scratched, the exposed aluminium oxidises and leaves white powdery marks.

The fold mechanism is where the YOYO's engineering works against easy cleaning. The multiple hinges and joints that allow the compact fold also create a network of crevices where food, sand, dirt, and dried liquids accumulate. When the pram is folded daily, this debris gets compressed further into the mechanism. Over time, this can cause the fold to feel stiff, the joints to click, and the brake pedal to jam. Cleaning these areas requires dismantling parts of the frame — something we do professionally but do not recommend at home.

Wheels: The YOYO's wheels are small relative to other prams, which means they pick up proportionally more debris per revolution. Hair and thread wrap around the axles and, if left, work their way into the bearings. Remove debris with tweezers or a small brush. Apply silicone spray to the axles — never oil-based lubricants like WD-40, which attract more dirt. Do not use water on the wheel assemblies.

The newborn pack (0+)

If you have a YOYO newborn pack (the bassinet-style insert for birth to 6 months), this adds another layer of cleaning complexity. The newborn pack contains internal stiffening boards that must be removed before washing. There are two boards — one flat, one with a folded section — and they go back in specific positions facing specific directions.

Multiple parents have reported on forums that after washing the newborn pack, they could not work out how to reassemble it correctly. One parent found that the slot for the board had appeared to melt or deform during washing, making reinsertion difficult. Another stored the pack for two years between children and could not remember the original configuration.

Getting the boards wrong affects the mattress firmness and the angle of the bassinet — both of which are safety-critical for a newborn. If you are cleaning a YOYO newborn pack, photograph every step of disassembly in detail before you start. Better yet, let someone who does this daily handle it.

Drying — the step everyone rushes

This is where most of the mould problems we see originate. The YOYO's foam padding retains water. In a UK home, without direct sunlight or a heated drying room, the padding can take 24–48 hours to dry completely. Putting the fabric back on the frame while still damp — or folding the pram for storage before everything is bone dry — creates the perfect conditions for mould to develop inside the padding where you cannot see it.

Do not dry YOYO fabrics on a radiator. The direct heat can shrink the fabric, distort the shape of the seat pad, and damage the water-resistant coating. Do not tumble dry — ever. Air dry flat, in a well-ventilated room, and press the foam gently with a clean towel to extract as much moisture as possible before leaving it to dry.

And never fold the YOYO while any part of it is damp. A folded damp YOYO is a mould farm.

Reassembly

Getting the YOYO back together after cleaning is, candidly, the hardest part. The seat pad wraps around the frame and clips at multiple points. The harness straps thread through specific slots in the fabric. The canopy wires go back in, and the canopy clips onto the frame arms.

Common reassembly mistakes:

• Harness threaded through the wrong slot — the shoulder straps have two height positions on most YOYO models. If the straps come out during cleaning, getting them back through the correct slot (and at the right height for your child) requires knowing the routing pattern.
• Canopy wires inserted backwards — the canopy sits wonky and does not fold flat.
• Seat pad clips missed — if even one clip is not engaged, the seat pad shifts and bunches during use. It looks wrong and is uncomfortable for your child.
• Newborn pack boards reversed — the bassinet sits at the wrong angle.

We reassemble YOYOs every day. We know where every clip, strap, and wire goes on every model — YOYO, YOYO+, YOYO2, and YOYO3. If you are not confident about getting yours back together correctly, this is the single biggest reason to use a professional service.

Why professional cleaning exists for this pram

We are not going to pretend that you cannot clean a YOYO at home. You can. If you are careful with the canopy wires, patient with the drying, and methodical with the reassembly, you can do a decent job.

But there are things a professional clean delivers that home cleaning cannot:

• No risk to your fabrics. We know which colourways react badly to standard detergents. We use baby-safe, pH-neutral cleaning products that are tested on YOYO fabrics specifically. No fading, no white patches, no coating damage.
• Deep clean of the fold mechanism. We disassemble and clean the hinge points, joints, and brake mechanism — areas that accumulate years of compressed grime that you cannot reach with a cloth.
• Proper harness cleaning. We clean the harness straps and buckle mechanisms safely without weakening the webbing or corroding the buckles.
• Complete drying. We dry every component thoroughly in a controlled environment before reassembly. No damp padding, no mould risk.
• Correct reassembly, every time. We have cleaned hundreds of YOYOs across all four generations. We know the clip positions, strap routing, wire orientation, and newborn pack board placement for every model.
• It comes back looking like new. That is not an exaggeration. A professionally cleaned YOYO looks and feels like it did the day you bought it.

Frequently asked questions

Can you machine wash YOYO pram fabric?

Technically yes — 30°C, gentle cycle, no bleach, no fabric softener. But results vary. Some parents report fading, white patches, and watermarks after washing, even when following the manufacturer's instructions exactly. The protective coating on the fabric can react unpredictably to washing. If your YOYO is a darker colourway, the risk of visible damage is higher.

How do you remove the canopy wires from a YOYO?

The wires slide out from channels sewn into the canopy fabric. You need to find the opening at one end of the channel and carefully slide the wire out, keeping it straight. Do not bend or force it. The wires are curved to match the canopy shape — if you kink them, the canopy will not sit properly when reassembled. If you are not confident, this is the main reason to use a professional service.

Is the Stokke YOYO3 cleaned differently from the BABYZEN YOYO2?

The cleaning products and approach are the same, but the fabric attachment points are different. The YOYO3 has a redesigned seat pad with a built-in head cushion and updated clip positions. If you are following cleaning instructions or tutorials, make sure they are for your specific model — YOYO2 instructions will not match the YOYO3 exactly.

How do you clean YOYO harness straps?

Wipe with a damp cloth only. Never submerge the harness in water or put it in the washing machine. The webbing can weaken and the buckle mechanisms can corrode if soaked. For heavy soiling (milk, food, sweat), a professional clean is the only safe way to get the straps properly clean without compromising their safety.

Why does my YOYO smell musty?

The most common cause is moisture trapped in the foam padding after washing, rain exposure, or storage. If the pram was folded while damp — even slightly — mould can develop inside the padding where it is not visible. A musty smell from a YOYO almost always means mould in the foam. This requires a proper deep clean to resolve, not a surface wipe.

How much does it cost to get a YOYO professionally cleaned?

Our YOYO cleaning service starts from £79. This includes full fabric strip-down, baby-safe deep cleaning of all components, frame and wheel cleaning, harness sanitisation, complete drying, and reassembly. Free collection and delivery across London.