How to Clean a Pram: The 5-Minute Reset + Deep Clean Guide

Home Parenting Blog How to Clean a Pram: The 5-Minute Reset + Deep Clean Guide

What Is the Easiest Way to Clean a Pram?

If you only remember six things, make them these:

Remove crumbs, sand and dry dirt first (this avoids making porridge & mud!)
Use mild detergent and water where your care instructions allow.
Keep spot-clean-only fabrics damp, not soaking wet.
Clean the frame, wheels and fabric separately.
Check the care label before putting anything in the washing machine.
Let everything dry completely before folding or storing your pram.

That last one is important: Never fold or store a pram while it is still damp.

Now, choose your clean.

The 5-Minute Pram Reset

This is the clean for busy weeks. It’s not about making your pram look brand new. It’s simply about getting rid of the everyday mess before it builds up.

Aim for every couple of weeks, or whenever the pram starts looking a little grubby.

What You’ll Need

Keep it simple:

Handheld vacuum or vacuum with a soft brush attachment
Two microfibre cloths
Mild detergent
Dry towel

For fabric that allows spot cleaning, use a small amount of mild detergent in cold water.

Your cleaning cloth should be damp, not dripping wet.

Minute 1: Empty It

Take everything out of the pram (Toys, bottles, wrappers, wipes, muslins and whatever has been hiding at the bottom of the basket).
Give the seat and basket a shake to remove loose crumbs.

Minute 2: Get Rid of the Crumbs

Quickly vacuum or brush:

The seat
Under and around the buckle
The footrest
The basket
Easy-to-reach seams and creases

Remember: Always tackle dry mess before wet mess. Nobody needs pram porridge!!

Minute 3: Wipe the Grubby Bits

Give the high-use areas a quick wipe.

Focus on:

Handlebar
Bumper bar
Footrest
Frame
Other hard touch points

For the frame, use a damp cloth with mild detergent where permitted, then dry it thoroughly.

Minute 4: Pick One Bad Spot

You do not need to clean every mark. Pick the yoghurt smear, milk spill, muddy footprint or mystery sticky patch that is bothering you most. If the fabric allows spot cleaning, gently clean the area with cold water and mild detergent.

Avoid soaking the fabric.

Minute 5: Dry and Move On

Blot away any excess moisture with a dry towel. If anything still feels damp, leave the pram open somewhere with good airflow until it is completely dry.

Done.

Five minutes and you can get on with your day.

When Should You Deep Clean a Pram?

A deeper clean is useful when your pram:

Looks properly grubby
Has had lots of heavy use
Has food or milk spills
Has been through mud or sand
Has been near salt water
Hasn’t had a proper clean for a few months

As a simple routine, aim for a deeper clean every few months and deal with big spills, mud, sand and salt exposure as they happen.

Check your pram manual for any specific cleaning or maintenance schedule.

Allow about an hour for the hands-on part of a deep clean, plus the most important part...

Extra time for everything to dry properly!

Pro tip for deep cleaning: always pick a warm clear day, drying in the shade can take much longer than anticipated.

How to Deep Clean a Pram

You don’t need to clean everything at once. Work your way through the pram one section at a time.

Step 1: Empty and Prep the Pram

Start by removing loose items and accessories.

If your pram has removable liners, seat fabrics, mattress covers or other washable components, check the care label before removing or washing them.

Next, vacuum or brush away loose dirt from:

Seat creases
Under the buckle
Basket
Footrest
Canopy folds
Harness area
Bassinet, if you’re using one
Wheels and moving parts

Removing crumbs, sand and dry dirt first makes the wet cleaning much easier.

How to Clean Pram Fabric

Fabric is usually where the biggest mess lives. Think snacks, sunscreen, milk, muddy shoes and sticky fingers. For fabric that allows spot cleaning, use cold water and a small amount of mild detergent.

Dampen a clean cloth and wring it out well
Gently clean the fabric without soaking it
For dried food, hold the damp cloth against the mark briefly to soften it before wiping
Avoid aggressive scrubbing

Once clean, follow the drying instructions for that particular fabric. Where applicable, dry washable fabrics flat and away from direct sunlight.

Make sure everything is completely dry before putting the pram back together, folding it or storing it.

Can You Put Pram Fabric in the Washing Machine?

The answer to this is sometimes. Do not assume that removable means machine washable.

Some pram fabrics can be machine washed. Others need to be hand washed or spot cleaned only.

BEFORE YOU PUT ANYTHING IN THE WASHING MACHINE:

Check the care label (SAY IT WITH ME AGAIN, ALWAYS READ THE LABEL 😂)
Check the instructions for your specific pram.
Follow the recommended water temperature and cycle.
Use the recommended detergent.
Follow the drying instructions.

If the label says spot clean or hand wash, don’t machine wash it just because you can remove it from the pram.

How to Clean Pram Harness Straps

The harness is a safety component, so keep things gentle. Start by removing loose crumbs and dirt from around the straps and buckle. Follow your pram’s instructions for cleaning the harness.

Avoid soaking, machine washing, steam cleaning or using harsh cleaning products on harness straps unless your pram manufacturer specifically says that method is suitable.

Once clean, let the harness dry completely. Before using the pram again, check that the straps and buckle are working and securing properly.

How to Clean a Pram Canopy

Open the canopy fully so you can see the folds and seams. Remove loose dust, crumbs or dirt first. If the canopy is spot clean only, gently wipe marks with a damp cloth and the cleaning method recommended for your pram.

Avoid soaking the canopy. Then leave it fully open until it is completely dry.

Canopy folds are good at hiding moisture, so don’t rush this step.

How to Clean a Pram Basket

First, empty it. Yes, absolutely everything. Including the old snack at the bottom.

Vacuum or brush out crumbs, dirt and sand, paying attention to the corners and seams. Then clean the basket according to its care instructions. If spot cleaning or hand washing is allowed, use cold water and mild detergent. Let the basket dry completely before filling it again.

How to Clean a Pram Frame

This is one of the quickest ways to make a dirty pram look fresher. Use a damp cloth with mild detergent where your pram’s care instructions allow.

Wipe:

Handlebar area
Frame tubing
Lower frame
Footrest
Hard surfaces
Areas where dirt collects

Avoid abrasive cleaners or scrubbers, which can scratch or damage the finish. Dry the frame thoroughly when you’re finished.

What About Leather-Look or Leather Details?

Treat these separately from ordinary fabric. For surface dirt, a clean, slightly damp cloth is often all that is needed. Avoid excessive water and direct sunlight while drying.

Always check the care instructions for the material on your particular pram before applying cleaning or conditioning products.

How to Clean Pram Wheels

Pram wheels pick up an impressive amount of stuff. Mud, grass, sand, hair and general street gunk can all end up around the wheels and axles.

Remove each wheel:

Start by brushing or wiping away loose dirt.

Check around the wheels and axles for trapped:

Hair
Sand
Mud
Grass
Small pieces of debris

Wipe wheels and forks with warm soapy water, then plain water. Dry well.

Apply a small amount of lubricant to each wheel shaft before reinstalling. Check each wheel rotates freely and locks securely into position.

🏖️ What If You've Taken the Pram to the Beach?

Sand and salt deserve a little extra attention. Remove sand from the wheels, joints and lower frame as soon as you reasonably can.

If the chassis has been exposed to salt water, rinse the affected frame parts with fresh water where your pram’s care instructions allow, then dry them thoroughly.

Don’t leave salt and sand sitting around moving parts for weeks. Future you will appreciate it!

How to Clean a Pram Bassinet

Bassinet cleaning can be a little different because there may be several separate components.

The inner lining, mattress cover, outer fabric and canopy may all have different washing instructions.

Check each care label separately.

Cleaning the Inside of a Bassinet

Remove loose crumbs and dirt first.

If the inner fabric or mattress cover is removable and machine washable, follow its exact washing instructions.

If it is hand wash or spot clean only, follow those instructions instead.

Allow everything to dry completely before putting the bassinet back together.

Cleaning the Outside of a Bassinet

For spot-clean-only outer fabric, use a damp cloth and avoid excessive water.

Allow the bassinet to dry completely before using or storing it.

How to Clean Common Pram Stains

Kids are remarkably good at testing the stain resistance of almost everything they touch.

Here’s how to deal with some of the usual suspects.

🍼 Milk or Formula

Blot up fresh spills as soon as you can. Then clean the affected fabric according to its care instructions. If mild detergent and cold water are permitted, use a damp cloth and avoid soaking the area. Dry thoroughly. Milk residue left in fabric can start to smell, so this is one spill worth dealing with sooner rather than later.

🤮 Vomit

If it's illness related also remember to wear gloves and masks yourself. Remove any solids first. Blot away excess moisture, then clean the affected area according to the fabric’s care instructions. Avoid soaking padded areas. I always recommend disinfectant when cleaning up vomit but this may not be recommended for your pram - always ready the care instructios before using disinfectant on your pram. Let everything dry completely before using or folding the pram.

🧴Sunscreen

Sunscreen can be oily and stubborn. Blot excess sunscreen rather than rubbing it further into the fabric. Clean the affected fabric according to its care instructions. For suitable hard surfaces, wipe with a damp cloth and mild detergent, then dry thoroughly.

🍌Food

(it's nearly always smushed banana!) Like vomit and milk this in one you deal with very quickly. Remove as much of the food as possible first. For dried food, gently soften the mark with a damp cloth before wiping. Then spot clean according to the fabric’s care instructions.

🧱Mud

Here’s one mess you don’t necessarily need to attack immediately. Let the mud dry. Brush away as much as possible, then vacuum the remaining dirt. Once the dry dirt is gone, spot clean any remaining marks according to the fabric’s care instructions.

How to Get Bad Smells Out of a Pram

Before reaching for fragrance sprays, find the source of the smell.

Common culprits include:

Spilt milk
Old food
Crumbs hiding in seams
Damp fabric
Wet accessories
A damp basket
Moisture trapped after rain

If there is moisture allowing the pram to fully dry before folding is the key. Remove the source, clean the affected area and let everything dry properly. It’s better to remove the cause of the smell than cover it up.

How to Prevent Mould in a Pram

The big one here is moisture. Do not fold or store your pram while it is damp or wet, say it with me again...DO NOT FOLD OR STORE A WET PRAM ❤️

After rain, spills or cleaning:

Remove wet rain covers and accessories.
Open the pram fully.
Let damp fabric dry completely.
Check the canopy folds.
Make sure the basket is dry.
Store the pram somewhere dry.

If you find visible mould, check your pram manufacturer’s instructions before applying mould removers or other strong cleaning products. Different fabrics and finishes can react differently to cleaning chemicals (and many common mould removing products will bleach the fabric of your pram).

What Should You Avoid When Cleaning a Pram?

The exact instructions will depend on your pram, but a gentle approach is usually best.

Unless your pram’s care instructions specifically allow them, avoid:

Bleach
Harsh cleaning chemicals
Abrasive cleaners or scrubbers
Excessive water on spot-clean-only components
Machine washing components that are not labelled machine washable
Ironing fabrics that should not be ironed
Dry cleaning fabrics that should not be dry cleaned
Folding or storing the pram while it is damp

When you’re unsure, check the care label before experimenting.

How Often Should You Clean a Pram?

You don’t need another impossible cleaning schedule. Keep it realistic.

1. After a Messy Outing: Deal with obvious spills, mud, sand or salt exposure.

2. Every Couple of Weeks: Do the 5-minute pram reset. Crumbs out. Grubby bits wiped. Done.

3. Every Few Months Give the pram a deeper clean: check the wheels, frame and other components.

4. After the Beach or Muddy Walks Pay extra attention to the wheels, lower frame and moving parts. Remove sand, mud and salt sooner rather than later.

Give Your Pram a Quick Safety Check Too

A deep clean is a good opportunity to check that everything still looks and feels right.

Before using the pram again, check:

The brakes work properly.
The wheels are securely attached.
The harness buckles securely.
Locks and safety mechanisms work correctly.
The seat or bassinet is fitted correctly.
The frame folds and unfolds normally.
Nothing appears loose, badly worn or damaged.

If something looks damaged or the pram isn’t operating as it should, stop using it and check the manufacturer’s instructions for repair or replacement.

The Most Important Step: Let Everything Dry

If there’s one part of pram cleaning you shouldn’t rush, it’s this. Let everything dry completely before you fold, reassemble or store your pram.

Check:

Seat fabric
Basket
Harness
Canopy folds
Bassinet
Frame
Wheels and moving parts

A clean pram that gets folded away damp can quickly become a much bigger cleaning problem.

Pram Cleaning FAQs

FAQ1: What Is the Best Thing to Clean a Pram With?

ANS: For many pram components, mild detergent and water are all you need. Use cold water for washable fabrics where recommended and a damp cloth with mild detergent for suitable frame and hard-surface areas. Always check the care instructions for your specific pram first.

FAQ2: How Do I Clean a Pram Without Damaging It?

ANS: Always rea your prams cleaning instructions. As a general guide, start by removing dry crumbs, sand and dirt. Use gentle cleaning products, avoid excessive water, follow the care instructions for each component and let everything dry completely before folding or storing the pram.

FAQ3: Can I Put Pram Fabric in the Washing Machine?

ANS: Only if the care label or instructions for that specific component say it is machine washable. ALWAYS READ THE LABEL> Some removable fabrics are machine washable. Others are hand wash or spot clean only. Removable does not automatically mean machine washable.

FAQ4: Can I Hose Down a Pram?

ANS: It’s better not to assume the whole pram can be hosed down. Different parts of a pram can have different cleaning instructions, and excessive water may get into fabric, padding or moving parts. Clean each component using its recommended method instead.

FAQ5: How Do I Clean Pram Wheels?

ANS: Remove the wheels and then brush off loose mud, sand, hair and other debris from the wheels and around the axles. Clean them according to your pram’s care instructions, dry thoroughly and check that the wheels are secure and moving normally before using the pram again. See notes above on lubricants and safety checks.

FAQ6: How Do I Clean a Pram After the Beach?

ANS: Remove sand from the wheels, joints and lower frame as soon as possible. If the chassis has been exposed to salt water, rinse affected frame areas with fresh water where permitted by the care instructions, then dry everything thoroughly.

FAQ7: Can I Use Vinegar to Clean a Pram?

ANS: Vinegar is often recommended online, but it may not be suitable for every pram fabric, finish or component. Mild detergent and water are a simpler starting point where allowed by your pram’s care instructions.

FAQ8: Can I Use Disinfectant on a Pram?

ANS: Don’t assume a disinfectant is suitable for every part of a pram. Before using disinfectants or other cleaning chemicals, check the instructions for your particular fabric, frame or component. If you've had a spew in the pram disinfectant is recommended but again, always read the label.

FAQ9: How Do I Stop My Pram Smelling?

ANS: Mould, milk and food are going to be your biggest stinky culprits. Remove crumbs and old food, clean milk and food spills promptly and make sure the pram dries completely after rain or cleaning. Avoid folding and storing the pram while it is damp.

FAQ10: How Do I Stop Mould Growing on a Pram?

Keep it dry. Do not fold or store a wet or damp pram. Remove wet accessories, allow fabrics to dry completely and store the pram somewhere dry. If you can already see mould, check the manufacturer’s cleaning instructions before treating it.

FAQ11: How Often Should I Deep Clean My Pram?

For most families, a deeper clean every few months is a practical starting point. Clean sooner after major spills, heavy use, mud, sand or salt exposure, and follow any maintenance schedule provided for your specific pram.

The Easy Pram Cleaning Routine to Remember

Remember this: Little clean often. Deep clean occasionally. Dry it properly every time.

Do a 5-minute reset every couple of weeks to keep crumbs, spills and everyday grime under control.
Every few months, give the pram a deeper clean and maintenance check, or do it sooner after particularly messy adventures.

You don’t need a cupboard full of cleaning products or an entire afternoon. Keep it simple, follow the care instructions for your pram and make sure everything is completely dry before you fold it away. Then get back to the important stuff. Like working out why there’s a cracker in the pram that nobody remembers buying!

Pram Bassinet to Seat: When to Transition Your Baby | Dr Golly