Every parent and caregiver is concerned about how to clean a stroller and get mold out of fabric in stroller, because we want the best for their babies. We do everything in our power to improve sanitary and hygiene procedures – like I always say; the safety of the baby should always come first, no matter what.
As a parent or caregiver, you should carry out routine checks and inspections on your baby’s stroller from time to time, and you may be surprised at what you would find. On many occasions, you may be shocked to find mold in your baby’s strollers.
While I agree that this may give you the shock of your life – I have been there before; you should not worry but try to put the situation under control. Yes, mold is dangerous to your baby’s health but you need to be calm so that you can effectively eradicate it from the stroller, clean the stroller effectively and prevent it from appearing again.
It is important that you learn how to clean a stroller effectively get mold out of fabric in stroller, and ensure the safety of your child, not just from the mold but from the cleaning agents used. There is a lot of misleading information out there on how to clean a stroller effectively – some even recommend bleach – no, do not do it!
While I agree that bleach is no doubt the most effective way of eradicating mold from fabrics, it can have effects on your baby – and while this may solve the issue at hand, it may bring up another.
In this article, we will discuss all you need to know about mold, why they are dangerous, and how best to get rid of them (mold) from your baby’s stroller using safe cleaning methods.
What Is Mold – and Why is it Harmful to Your Baby?
Before we go on to learn the effective ways on how to get mold out of fabric in stroller and keep the stroller clean, I want to first highlight what a mold really is. Many nursing mothers and caregivers do not know what a mold is, or may know it by a different name. But what really is mold and why is it harmful to your baby? Well, we will tell you all you need to know about mold in this session.
Mold are fungi that can be found virtually everywhere – yes, everywhere; and they come in different colors and varieties including purple, green, black, white, and even orange (imagine that? Orange of all colors!)
Naturally, fungi (or fungus) are important in the breakdown of dead plants, leaves, and even trees. So, they spread in the air very quickly in small amounts that are usually not too harmful to adults – except those who are naturally sensitive or allergic to breathing in mold.
Babies, on the other hand, have what we can call a weaker immune system and developing lungs, so breathing in mold spores can have a more harmful effect on them. So, it is important for you to always check the stroller occasionally and ensure it is mold-free.
[Also Read – How to Get Rid of Yellow Poop Stain Out Of Baby Clothes]
Why You Should Keep Your Baby Stroller Clean And Get Mold Out It?
The number one reason why you should keep your baby’s stroller clean is to ensure their safety and comfort. The stroller may look all good and beautiful from the outside, but it may be something totally different in the baby compartment area.
Even if we use our baby strollers every day, there are times when we get to put them up for storage in a basement or closet – where they can be exposed to mold settling in the corners that are not visible to the eye.
Also, baby strollers are often in use mostly in the summer period, meaning they get packed up for storage during the winter months or at night. The thing with mold is that they can still pick a dark and damp area to form even when they are in constant use. So, you should make it a habit to keep the stroller clean at all times.
Your baby may spill food in the stroller which you didn’t notice – or clean thoroughly. Even when you cleaned it thoroughly, probably you didn’t dry it out. So, it becomes very easy for mold to develop in the area.
The good thing – which should give you a sigh of relief, is that mold is usually easy to clean and there are many safe methods that can be employed to eradicating it from your baby’s stroller. Yes, there is no need to try out bleach or any other harsh chemical. We will discuss about all of that as we go further.
How Often Should You Clean the Stroller?
You should do your best to clean your baby’s stroller regularly. To make sure that there are no chances of mold growing on your stroller, you should clean it after every use.
Mold can start developing quickly, so you should ensure that you wipe down the baby’s stroller after every use – before storage. In addition to this, make sure to wipe it again and allow it to dry out in the sun weekly – to enable catch every possibility of mold growth that you might have probably missed during the daily cleaning.
Also, the sun will not only eliminate the mold but will dry out the damp areas in the baby’s strollers that encourage the growth of mold. As a mother or caregiver, if you give your baby a feeding bottle in the stroller, always make it a point of note to look out around the stroller if any of the feed spilled on the stroller.
In a situation where there is feed or baby formula in the stroller, make sure you wash it out immediately and leave it in the sun to dry – expose the affected area to direct sunlight. If you are on the go, use a baby wipe to clean the area, and do not fail to sun-dry the stroller whenever you get the chance.
So, the basic idea is that you should not clean your baby’s stroller just because it is dirty, rather, you should clean it because you want to make sure it is clean and not susceptible to mold and other infection-causing germs or fungi.
How to Clean a stroller And Remove Mold
When you want to clean a stroller, it is advisable that you take it out of the house where you can see all the hidden parts of the baby’s stroller clearly and there is adequate sunlight.
Below, I have highlighted the various ways you can clean a stroller efficiently, check them out, and apply the outlined methods for the most effective results. Note that these procedures are outlined separately to enable us discuss how best to clean the stroller for a routine maintenance or when cleaning it to eliminate traces of mold infestation.
1. Use a Brush
You can use a toothbrush to brush out the area where there appears to be mold growth in the baby’s stroller. Make sure to use an old toothbrush that should be disposed of immediately after use – even if it is a new one.
You should make sure not to inhale the mold spores as you scrub them out. So, you should make sure to wear a protective mask and gloves when carrying out this cleaning procedure. Also, try to make sure no one is around you when you are carrying out this cleaning so that you do not expose them to any risk.
2. Use Soap and Water
You can do this as a weekly, bi-monthly, or monthly cleaning routine for your baby’s stroller. Once in a while, you should give the fabric of the baby stroller a good scrub down with soap and water.
Again, you should do this early in the day and on a day when there is adequate sunlight to dry up the stroller. You risk a greater possibility of generating mold if you wash the baby’s stroller and try to dry it inside the house instead of under direct sunlight.
You should also wash it outside – not in your house, to save you the possibility of having mold in your bathroom or house. Make sure you rinse the stroller’s fabric in a bucket or bowl filled with water thoroughly.
3. Use Hot Water
In a situation where you are using a washing machine, first confirm from the stroller’s label if this is advisable for your type of stroller fabric – if yes, go ahead. Use the temperature of the hottest water that is advisable for your stroller – this information is also available on the label of your stroller. As you would expect, hot water is more effective in the killing of mold than cold water.
After you have washed the stroller’s fabric in hot water, rinse accordingly and allow drying under sunlight. One piece of advice I always give to mothers or caregivers who carry out this procedure is that they should run mild bleach through the washing machine before they use the machine on other clothes to prevent the mold from infesting those outfits.
How to Clean Mildew from Stroller Fabric
Mildew is a form of fungus, though it is different from its related counterpart, mold, by its color. While molds appear in shades of black, blue, red and green, mildew is white.
Mildew grows on damp cloth, leather, plants and can even be found on baby’s stroller fabric. This is why we also want to tell you how to clean mildew from stroller fabric.
The good thing is that, mold and mildew is closely related, and same method and technique can be employed to get rid of them from stroller fabric.
Here is how you can clean fabric on stroller to remove mildew and mold.
1. Brush the mildew out with a stiff bristle brush.
2. You can mix two parts of water with 3 parts white vinegar in a spray bottle.
3. Gently spray the whole area of the stroller fabric, and then wash the stroller with soap. Depending on the fabric of the stroller, you can use non-chlorine bleach and water to remove mildew and mold.
What takes Mold And Mildew Out Of Fabric?
One way of removing mold and mildew out fabric and clothes made of white cotton is the use of bleach, or non-chlorine bleach for other colored cotton (that is not white).
You can do this by applying a solution of bleach and water to the fabric, and allow it few minutes to sit and settle before you wash off.
Can mold be washed out of Stroller fabric?
Yes! The answer is yes. When you follow the guide as explained in this article you will be able to get rid of mold out of baby stroller fabric and other fabric.
Conclusion – How to Get Mold Out of Fabric in Stroller
You should take immediate action when you notice that mold is growing on your baby’s stroller, but you should also take proactive measures to prevent it from growing in the first place.
This is why you should take tips on how to get mold out of fabric in stroller, and keep the stroller clean seriously. In cases where you need to use bleach, you can use natural homemade remedies using Baking Soda, Orange Juice, or Vinegar – instead of industrial bleach which may be harmful to your baby’s health or skin.
[Also Read – How to Use Vinegar to Remove Baby Stains]
In addition to your baby’s health, you should take the stroller into consideration because baby strollers are very expensive – so, you should be careful not to destroy the strollers while trying to clean them or prevent them against mold.
