How To Clean Pushchair Wheels

Your pushchair wheels are the vital connection between the road and your baby’s stroller, so keeping these wheels in excellent condition is best. This also means keeping pushchair wheels clean to ensure they work well and stop trailing mud into your home.

Even getting your baby and stroller into a car can be a messy business, but with scrubbing and polishing tips, you'll love your stroller.

There are different ways to clean pushchair wheels, as well as a few steps that help you prevent wheels from getting dirty. Whether you have a buggy, baby stroller, or even a pram, knowing how to keep your wheels clean and in excellent working order is essential.

Should You Remove Pram Wheels Before You Clean Them?

Not every pushchair has wheels you can remove, so it isn’t an essential process. However, if you can remove the wheels, you can clean them more vigorously, ensuring you clean hard-to-reach places.

How Do I Remove Wheels From My Pushchair?

Some modern pushchairs have an easy-release mechanism, allowing you to disconnect wheels with one click or in a second or two. Please review the manufacturer's instructions before attempting to remove the wheels from your stroller.

What Materials Are Stroller Wheels Made From?

The wheels on a pushchair or stroller can be made from a variety of materials, including plastic, rubber, and foam. The type of material used for the wheels will depend on the design and intended use of the pushchair.

For example, strollers designed for rough or uneven terrain may have rubber or similar material wheels to provide better traction and shock absorption.

On the other hand, strollers designed for smooth, flat surfaces may have wheels made of plastic or foam, which are lighter and easier to move.

Shopping List For Cleaning Stroller Wheels

To speed up the process of cleaning stroller wheels, please consider buying the following items:

• A scrubbing brush
• A nail brush or smaller brush for hard to reach places
• Microfibre cloth or sponge
• Wet wipes
• Cleaner solutions, be they vinegar, baking soda or commercial products
• A towel, be it paper towels or traditional towel

You cannot buy elbow grease, but you'll need some of this to scrub effectively, alongside hot soapy water to clean your stroller wheels quickly, and effectively.

You can also buy rubber gloves and aprons but as long as you can wipe and wash each wheel, you'll have everything you need to care for your stroller, and your baby.

How Do You Clean Plastic Pushchair Wheels?

To clean plastic pushchair wheels, you can follow these steps:

• Remove the wheels from the pushchair frame, if possible. If the wheels are not removable, secure the pushchair in a stable position to prevent it from moving during the process.
• Use a soft-bristled brush or sponge to scrub the wheels with hot water, paying special attention to any crevices or hard-to-reach areas.
• Rinse the wheels thoroughly with clean water to remove any remaining small stones, stubborn marks, dirt or grime.
• Dry the wheels with a clean cloth or let them air dry completely before reattaching them to the pushchair.

You might not have loose crumbs or spilled foodstuffs to worry about with your wheels like you would with other parts of your stroller, you should always start by removing as much loose dirt and debris as you can.

Hot soapy water is never a bad asset to have, and unless the dirt is stubborn, warm water and a scrubbing brush will help you clear most of the mess on your wheels. You can also check out our article on how to clean pram wheels.

A Few Drops Of Dish Soap Can Work Wonders

If the wheels are particularly dirty or stained, you can use a mild cleaning solution, such as a mixture of water and dish soap, to help loosen and remove the dirt. Be sure to rinse the wheels thoroughly after using the solution to remove any soap residue.

Remember to always follow the manufacturer's instructions for cleaning your pushchair, and avoid using harsh chemicals or abrasive cleaners, as these can damage the wheels and other components of the pushchair.

There isn’t much difference in cleaning rubber or foam wheels compared to the process of cleaning plastic pushchair wheels, so the above steps are useful for a variety of wheels.

Can You Power Hose Pushchair Wheels?

While the desire to clean wheels quickly means some parents will look to use a hose, this might damage the pushchair and wheels. Even if you have removed the wheels from the pushchair, extreme heat and high air pressure jet of warm water might be too much.

You want to avoid scratches whenever you can, so be careful of how you wet each wheel, and watch when you're putting it on the ground.

This is why it is often best to stick with soapy water to wash, brush and wipe stains from a pram or stroller.

Be Careful When Washing The Chassis, Covers And Hood

Of course, pouring lukewarm water from a hose, tap or watering bucket removes mud, dirt and grime, speeding up the cleaning process, even for the dirtiest part of the buggy.

You can pour hot water but be careful if you have plastic wheels which might be affected by hot temperatures. If you do this, clean the wheels outside and then rinse the outside area to remove the mess.

How Do You Get Rust Off Pushchair Wheels?

It is always best to prevent rust instead of removing rust, but if you need to clean rust off your stroller wheels, mixing baking soda and vinegar creates a powerful concoction. You can also add a small amount of lemon juice to the mix for added power when you scrub a pram.

A Silicone Spray Or Penetrating Oil Keeps Your Rims Rolling

You can also turn to commercial products, such as penetrating oil like WD-40. This solution also helps lubricate your pushchair wheels, minimising squeaks and sticky movement.

A silicone spray is also a great product to have when looking to lubricate wheels and keep your pushchair moving smoothly.

Can You Buy Wheel Covers For Pushchairs?

If you are tired of cleaning pushchair wheels, you can attach a cover to them. The cover will get dirty, and when you return home, remove them and clean them, knowing your wheels are in excellent condition.

Caps Prevent Stains

If you are still looking for pushchair wheel caps or want a more affordable option, use shower caps on your wheels. These caps do the same job, covering your wheels without compromising movement.

The summer months can be challenging enough to keep pushchair wheels clean, but you are fighting a losing battle in winter.

Simple covers save you time and ensure your home carpets and flooring remain spotless when you return after a walk or day out with your pram.

Can You Place Pushchair Wheels In A Washing Machine?

No, while fabrics and some materials of your pushchair can be machine washed, please avoid this technique when cleaning wheels. You'll likely ruin your wheels and your washing machine, making for a very expensive mistake.

Stick with a scrubbing brush or microfibre cloth, and get to work! This might be a more time consuming way to wipe and wash your buggy wheels, but it'll help you remove stubborn marks, undertake a deep clean and ensure your buggy wheels are in top condition.

Care For Your Baby And Your Buggy

No one wants to spend all their spare time wiping, washing and clearing debris and stains from a buggy, but it is vital you keep it clean. If you want to worry less about washing a pram or buggy, the right tip or two helps you find the easiest way.

Create A Space To Store And Clean

Finding a good storage spot in the house will also help you care for your buggy. If you have a garage or outdoor shed, you can wash the wheels and all fabric without messing up your house or car, but you don't have a specialist space.

When you clean on a regular basis, and add regular polishing to your tires, you'll have shiny wheels that look great, and which keep your kids safe.