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So you have done the sensible, savvy thing and bought a second-hand buggy or pram.
A barely used Bugaboo, iCandy, Cybex or UPPAbaby for a fraction of the original price is one of parenting’s great wins. But before your baby settles in, there is one job worth doing properly: giving it a thorough clean.
At Pram Shed, we deep clean hundreds of preloved buggies every year, so we know exactly where crumbs, old milk, dust and everyday grime tend to hide.
Here is our honest guide to cleaning a second-hand buggy at home, plus a little advice on when it is worth handing it over to us.
First, a quick once-over
Before you start cleaning, take the buggy somewhere with good natural light and give it a proper once-over. Push it around, fold and unfold it, check the brakes and look closely at the frame, wheels, basket, harness and seams.
You are looking for:
- Stiff or squeaky wheels
- Tired or twisted straps
- Damaged clips
- Sticky folding mechanisms
- Stains hidden beneath seat pads
- Crumbs tucked deep into seams
- Signs of damp or mould
Give the frame a quick wipe with a damp cloth and a small amount of gentle soap. Removing the everyday grime first will help you see the condition of the buggy properly.
Freshen the fabric
Many buggy seats and hoods can be freshened at home with warm water and a mild detergent suitable for baby items.
Work gently in small sections and avoid soaking the fabric.
Too much water can leave marks, take a long time to dry and, in some cases, affect the shape of padded sections.
Always allow every part to dry fully in fresh air before reassembling or folding the buggy away.
Do not scrub too aggressively. Buggy fabrics are often more complicated than they look, with padding, boards, rivets and hidden layers beneath the surface.
Before removing any fabric, check the manufacturer’s care instructions. Some buggy covers can be machine washed, while others should only be cleaned by hand.
Do not forget the wheels
Buggy wheels bring a surprising amount of the outside world home with them.
Remove any hair, string or debris wrapped around the axles and wipe away mud and grit from the wheels and surrounding frame.
A suitable dry lubricant may help with a squeaky wheel, but avoid using heavy oils or spraying products indiscriminately around brakes, fabrics or moving parts.
While you are cleaning, check that the wheels turn freely and that the brake is working as expected.
Where a home clean reaches its limit
A home clean is perfect for everyday freshening, but sometimes a second-hand buggy needs more than a wipe-down.
Milk can soak into padding. Crumbs work their way deep into seams. Damp fabrics can develop musty smells or mould. Sun cream, food and old spills can also leave marks that a quick sponge at the kitchen sink will not properly tackle.
That is when a professional buggy deep clean can make a real difference.
At Pram Shed, we strip each buggy down as far as the model safely allows. We stain treat and deep clean the fabrics, clean and sanitise the chassis, basket and wheels, and carefully work around parts that cannot be removed.
Once everything is clean and fully dry, the buggy is checked, reassembled and redressed at our East London workshop.
Every deep clean also includes a basic MOT-style check, so we can let you know if we notice anything that may need attention.
It is the difference between a buggy that simply looks cleaner and one that has been properly cleaned, checked and made ready for its next little passenger.
Buying a second-hand buggy on Facebook Marketplace?
Here is the really easy bit.
If you have found a buggy on Facebook Marketplace, eBay or another second-hand selling platform, you may not need to bring it home first.
With our Marketplace Collection service, we can collect the buggy directly from the seller, bring it to our East London workshop for a full professional deep clean and then deliver it to your home.
You get the second-hand bargain without wondering what might be hiding in the seams.
This can be especially helpful when buying a preloved Bugaboo, iCandy, Cybex, UPPAbaby or other premium buggy that you want professionally cleaned before your baby uses it.
Professional buggy cleaning in London
Pram Shed is a family-run buggy deep cleaning and repair workshop based in East London.
We offer free collection and return within our local collection area, with courier collection available across London for an additional fee.
You can also drop your buggy directly to our workshop and receive a £10 discount on your deep clean.
Whether you have bought a second-hand buggy, are preparing a pram for a new baby or simply want to refresh a well-loved family buggy, we can help.