iCandy is one of the most popular premium pushchair brands in the UK — designed in London, owned by parents who care about quality, and priced accordingly. The Peach 7, Orange, Core, and Lime are everywhere in London parks and high streets. They are beautiful prams. They are also, candidly, one of the most difficult to clean properly at home.
The reason is simple: unlike most other premium prams, the main seat unit fabric on an iCandy is not machine washable. iCandy's official care instructions say sponge clean only. That single restriction changes everything about how you maintain this pram — and it is the reason we clean more iCandys than almost any other brand.
The cleaning problem with iCandy
With a Bugaboo, you unclip the fabrics and put them in the washing machine. With an UPPAbaby, same thing. With a YOYO, it is complicated but technically possible. With an iCandy, the seat fabric is designed to be sponge cleaned while still on the frame. You are not supposed to remove it and machine wash it.
This creates an obvious problem. After months of daily use — spilt milk, food crumbs, sweat, rain, mud from park walks — sponge cleaning with warm water and mild detergent simply does not cut it. The fabric absorbs organic matter that a damp sponge cannot reach. The crevices where the fabric meets the frame trap debris that you cannot see. And over time, the pram starts to look tired, feel grimy, and smell like a combination of everything your child has eaten in the past year.
Parents faced with this situation do one of two things: they either live with a dirty pram, or they ignore the sponge-clean-only instruction and put the fabric in the washing machine anyway. Both have consequences.
Which model do you have?
iCandy has produced a lot of pushchairs over the years. The Peach alone is on its seventh generation. Each model has different fabric attachment points, different removable components, and slightly different care requirements.
| Model | Type | Price Range | Cleaning Complexity |
|---|---|---|---|
| Peach 7 | Single-to-double luxury | £1,100–1,500 | High — multiple fabric sections, complex attachment |
| Orange | Compact single-to-double | £800–1,100 | High — dual configuration adds complexity |
| Core | Everyday all-rounder | £650–900 | Medium — simpler than Peach but same fabric rules |
| Lime | Lightweight city | £500–700 | Medium — lighter fabric, fewer attachment points |
| Peach (older: 3–6) | Previous generations | £200–500 second-hand | High — each generation has different fabric systems |
The Peach 7 and Orange are the most complex to clean. If you have an older Peach (generation 3, 4, 5, or 6), be especially careful — the fabric attachment system changed between generations, and care instructions for the Peach 7 do not apply to older models.
What iCandy actually says about cleaning
This is worth reading carefully because it is more restrictive than most parents expect:
- Seat unit fabric and harness: "Can be cleaned by sponging lightly with warm water and a mild detergent." That is it. No machine washing. No soaking. Sponge only.
- Removable seat liners and bassinet liners: Machine washable at 30°C. These are the removable padded inserts — not the main seat fabric.
- Frame: Sponge clean with warm water and mild detergent. No abrasive, ammonia, bleach-based, or spirit-type cleaners.
- Sunlight: "Do not leave the iCandy pushchair in sunlight for prolonged periods as the colour of some fabrics may fade."
- After wet conditions: "Leave the pushchair fully opened in a warm, well-ventilated environment. Dry it off with a soft, lint-free and absorbent cloth. Any moisture that is not allowed to dry off may encourage mildew or rust to form."
- Second baby use: "Your stroller should be serviced and reconditioned before using it for a second baby, or within 18 months, whichever is the sooner."
That last point is remarkable. iCandy themselves recommend professional servicing within 18 months or before a second child. They know that sponge cleaning alone is not enough to maintain the pram over its full lifespan.
What goes wrong when parents clean an iCandy at home
Machine washing the seat fabric. This is the most common mistake. The fabric is not designed for machine washing — even at 30°C on a gentle cycle. The agitation can distort the shape of the fabric, weaken the stitching at stress points, and cause the colour to fade or bleed unevenly. We regularly see iCandy seat pads that have been machine washed once and come out a noticeably different shade from the canopy and bumper bar cover — because those pieces were not washed at the same time.
Colour mismatch after partial washing. This is uniquely frustrating with iCandy. If you wash the seat liner (which is machine washable) but only sponge the seat fabric (which is not), the liner can come back slightly lighter than the surrounding fabric. Now you have a two-tone pram. The same happens if you machine wash the canopy but not the seat, or vice versa.
Mould from inadequate drying. iCandy are explicit about this: moisture that is not dried off encourages mildew. The seat pad has internal padding that absorbs water during sponge cleaning. If you do not dry it thoroughly — and "thoroughly" means completely, not surface-dry — mould develops inside the padding. In a London flat without much airflow, this can happen quickly.
Faded fabric from sun exposure. Parents who dry their sponge-cleaned fabric on a balcony or near a sunny window accelerate the fading that iCandy warns about. The combination of a damp fabric surface and UV light speeds up colour change significantly. Dark colourways like the popular Biscotti or Dark Grey show this most obviously.
Stiff joints and squeaky wheels. Parents spray WD-40 or general lubricant on stiff joints. iCandy recommend "regular light lubrication of moving parts" — but do not specify which lubricant. Using the wrong one attracts dirt into the joints and bearings, making the problem worse within weeks.
Seat fabric: sponge clean only
The sponge-clean-only restriction is the single biggest challenge with keeping an iCandy looking good. Here is how to get the best result within that limitation:
- Use a clean, soft cloth or sponge — not a scrubbing brush
- Warm water with a very mild detergent — baby wash or a pH-neutral cleaner works well
- Work in small sections, wringing the cloth frequently so you are not spreading dirty water
- Do not saturate the fabric — damp, not wet
- For stubborn stains, let the detergent sit on the stain for 5 minutes before gently wiping
- Dry immediately with a clean, lint-free towel
- Leave the pram fully open in a ventilated room until completely dry
The reality is that sponge cleaning handles surface-level dirt and fresh spills. It does not reach dried milk that has soaked into the fabric weave. It does not clean the crevices where the fabric meets the frame. It does not address the organic matter that has accumulated in the padding over months of use. For a genuinely deep clean, the fabric needs to be professionally removed and cleaned using products and techniques that go far beyond what a sponge and warm water can achieve.
Liners and bassinet
The removable seat liners and bassinet liners are the one part of an iCandy that can be machine washed — at 30°C, gentle cycle, no bleach. Remove them, wash them, and lay flat to dry.
The bassinet shell itself should be wiped with a damp cloth. The interior base board and mattress should be cleaned separately — wipe the board, and spot clean the mattress. If the bassinet has been in storage, check for mould on the underside and around the ventilation mesh before putting a baby in it.
Canopy and hood
The canopy follows the same sponge-clean-only rule as the seat fabric on most iCandy models. It has internal stiffening elements that can warp if soaked or machine washed. Sponge it gently, wipe dry, and leave open to air.
The underside of the canopy is often neglected. This is where your child reaches up and grabs — meaning milk-covered fingers, food residue, and saliva build up on the interior surface. Sponge the underside as carefully as the exterior.
Frame, wheels, and joints
The iCandy frame is aluminium with a painted or anodised finish. Sponge with warm water and mild detergent. No abrasives — they scratch the finish and once scratched, exposed aluminium corrodes.
Wheels: Remove if possible (most iCandy models have quick-release wheels) and clean separately. Use a stiff brush to remove dried mud, then wash with warm soapy water. Dry thoroughly before reattaching. Do not spray water directly into the wheel bearings.
Joints and fold mechanism: Use a light, non-toxic machine oil on the moving parts — a small amount applied with a cloth, not sprayed directly. Wipe away any excess. Do not use WD-40 or silicone-based lubricants. If the fold is genuinely stiff or clicking, the joints probably need disassembling and cleaning — something we handle professionally.
Harness
iCandy state that the harness can be cleaned by "sponging lightly with warm water and mild detergent" and that it is "removable for additional cleaning." The harness webbing should never be submerged or machine washed — it is a safety component and water damage can weaken the fibres.
The harness is often the dirtiest part of the entire pram. Children chew on the shoulder straps, food gets ground into the buckle mechanism, and sweat soaks into the padding. Sponge cleaning helps with the surface, but for a genuine deep clean of the harness without compromising its safety, professional cleaning is the right approach.
Preparing an iCandy for a second baby
iCandy themselves recommend that your pram should be "serviced and reconditioned before using it for a second baby, or within 18 months, whichever is the sooner." This is unusually direct for a pram manufacturer — and it acknowledges what we see every day: sponge cleaning alone is not enough to keep a pram genuinely hygienic over its full lifespan.
If you are bringing an iCandy out of storage for a second child, or if you have bought one second-hand, a professional deep clean is not optional — it is what the manufacturer recommends. The fabric, padding, harness, bassinet, wheels, and fold mechanism all need proper attention before another baby uses it.
Our guide on cleaning a second-hand pram covers the general principles, but for an iCandy specifically, the sponge-clean-only limitation makes professional cleaning even more important than with other brands.
Why most iCandy owners use a professional service
The fundamental problem with iCandy home cleaning is the sponge-clean-only rule. You are trying to keep a premium pram clean using the most basic cleaning method available. It is like being told to clean your white trainers with a damp cloth and nothing else — possible, but the results are never going to match what a proper clean achieves.
Here is what a professional clean delivers:
- Deep clean beyond what sponging can achieve. We remove the fabric and clean it using baby-safe products and techniques that clean the weave and padding — not just the surface. No machine washing, no harsh chemicals — but far more effective than a sponge and warm water.
- Uniform colour across all components. We clean the seat, canopy, bumper bar cover, and liners together, using the same products and process. No colour mismatch. Everything comes back the same shade.
- Correct disassembly for your exact model. Peach 3 through Peach 7, Orange, Core, Lime — we know the fabric attachment, harness routing, and canopy mechanism for every generation. No guesswork.
- Mould treatment. If there is mould in the padding, bassinet, or frame crevices, we find it and treat it. Sponge cleaning cannot reach mould that has developed inside padding.
- Frame and wheel service. We clean and lubricate all joints with the correct products — no silicone, no WD-40. The fold works smoothly, the wheels roll quietly.
- Harness properly cleaned. We clean the harness webbing and buckles safely without weakening the straps.
- It meets iCandy's own servicing recommendation. They say service before a second baby or within 18 months. That is exactly what we deliver.
iCandy recommend servicing before a second baby. We deliver exactly that.
Full strip-down, baby-safe deep clean, and free collection and delivery across London. Every model — Peach, Orange, Core, Lime. From £79.
Book iCandy CleanFrequently asked questions
Can you machine wash iCandy pram fabric?
No — the main seat unit fabric must be sponge cleaned with warm water and mild detergent only. The removable seat liners and bassinet liners can be machine washed at 30°C. This is a key difference from brands like Bugaboo and UPPAbaby where the seat fabric is machine washable.
How do you clean an iCandy Peach?
Sponge the seat fabric with warm water and mild detergent. Machine wash the removable liners at 30°C. Wipe the frame with a damp cloth. Never use abrasive, ammonia, bleach-based, or spirit-type cleaners. Do not dry in direct sunlight. For a thorough clean, especially before a second baby, professional cleaning is what iCandy themselves recommend.
Does iCandy fabric fade?
Yes. iCandy state in their manuals that prolonged sunlight exposure can change the colour of their fabrics. This is considered normal and is not covered by warranty. Darker colourways show fading more visibly. Drying fabric in sunlight after cleaning accelerates this further.
Do I need to service my iCandy before a second baby?
iCandy recommend that your pram should be "serviced and reconditioned before using it for a second baby, or within 18 months, whichever is the sooner." A professional deep clean and service is exactly what this means — and it is what we deliver.
How much does professional iCandy pram cleaning cost?
Our iCandy cleaning service starts from £79. This includes full fabric strip-down, baby-safe deep cleaning of all components, frame and wheel servicing, harness sanitisation, complete drying, and reassembly. Free collection and delivery across London.
Do you clean all iCandy models?
Yes — Peach 7, Orange, Core, Lime, and all older Peach generations (3 through 6). We know the fabric systems, attachment points, and harness routing for every model.