It’s not unusual for a baby stroller to be affected by mold. While we store the stroller in a closet or basement for a long time, mold may form its habitat on your baby stroller. While in storage, the high-graded aluminum frame of the stroller can withstand mold, but the stroller’s fabric may not! As a result, the stroller fabric may get damaged, and a mold-attacked stroller can harm your baby. So, how to get mold out of fabric in a stroller?
Fortunately, mold can be removed! How to get mold out of fabric in a stroller? The best way to prevent them is to regularly clean and maintain a stroller.
But somehow, you could not manage the time to clean the stroller, and mold showed up; the best option is to be prompt to remove them. This post includes the “know-how” and a step-by-step tutorial on how to get mold out of fabric in a stroller.
How to get mold out of fabric in a stroller: How do Strollers Get Mold?
Most parents tend to use strollers more frequently. But at a certain time, we need to store it in the garage or closet for a while. That is the time when mold catches on the stroller, especially on the part of stroller fabric that contains moist residue.
Some common reasons the stroller gets moist are: the baby sits on a stroller for a long time, exposed to extreme weather such as rain or sudden baby food spills are not cleaned properly. As a result, mold may find its place to grow. If the stroller is stored in a dark, damp, and dusty area without much ventilation, the mold gets its ideal environment to widespread.
Usually, mold takes a bit of time to show up. Mold spores spread through the air. In a favorable environment, mold spores spread on stroller fabric, and grow over it.
Luckily, mold stains can be cleaned, and there are ways how to get mold out of fabric in a stroller.
What if you don’t remove mold? Mold attacks may turn severe and damage the stroller, forcing you to throw it to the scrapyard. Removing severe mold stains can be tricky. But, there are tips and tricks and simple hacks on how to get mold out of fabric in a stroller that can help you protect the stroller.
So, What is Mold, By the Way?
Mold is essentially a type of fungus that grows both indoors and outdoors on any organic material. Molds usually come in white, green, orange, blue, purple, or black colors. Mold produces spores that are transmitted by air. If these spores find a favorable environment (damp and dusty), it doesn’t take much time to spread.
Apart from the stains, it has harmful effects on us. Molds are allergic, toxigenic, or pathogenic. If you are sensitive to mold, it may cause health issues if you breathe in mold spores. Newborns usually have weaker immune systems, so it is strongly advised to keep your baby away from mold.
How to Get Mold Out of Fabric in a Stroller?
Well, the best way is to prevent mold by not giving it a chance to grow on a stroller. If the stroller gets damp, after wiping, expose it to the sun immediately. Do not store it in a dark and wet place. However, if you don’t have the option to store your stroller in open areas, remember to clean your stroller 3–4 times a month to keep it in the best shape.
The best thing is to clean it after every use. If you can’t clean the stroller every day, do it after each use, I guess it would be more convenient for you.
How to? Use a brush to get rid of dirt or mud off the wheels. Remove stains or crumbs off the fabric and wipe any sticky mess thoroughly.
What if mold has already grown on the stroller fabric? Roll up your sleeves and follow the below step-by-step instructions to clean mold stains off of the stroller easily!
Best Ways on How to Get Mold Out of Fabric In a Stroller
1. Water, white vinegar, and lemon
For mild mold stains, you can apply the following solution on fabric, frame, and other parts of the stroller too.
What you need
- Damp cloth
- Dry cloth
- 1 cup water
- 2 cups white vinegar
- ½ cup lemon juice
How to:
Mix lemon juice, vinegar, and water into a solution.
- Step 1 – Wet the stained area first.
- Step 2 – Apply the solution over the area. Leave it for 1-2 hours.
- Step 3 – Rinse the area thoroughly and love the clean and shiny brand-new look of it.
2. Water and baking soda
If the mold stain is severe, apply this solution to get instant results!
What you need
- 1 to 1 ½ cups of water
- Spray bottle
- ¼ spoon of baking soda
How to:
- Step-1 – Add water and baking soda into the spray bottle.
- Step 2 – Shake the container until the soda completely dissolves.
The best thing about this mix is that it removes mold stains and prevents mold from building up.
Tips: Whether there is mold or not, use this spray once a month to keep the molds away.
3. White vinegar and baking soda
A mixture of vinegar and baking soda is popular as a cleaning solution. You can apply it to the stroller too.
What you need
- 1 to 3 cups of white vinegar
- 5 tablespoons of baking soda
How to:
- Step 1 – Make a thick paste of white vinegar and baking soda. Make sure there are no crumbs at all.
- Step 2 – Apply it on mold stains.
- Step 3 – Leave the paste for at least 15 minutes.
- Step 4 – Once the paste is dry, scrub it gently to find no stains on the fabric, voila!
4. Bleach and sponge
Bleach can work a charm on mold stains. Let me show you how:
What you need
- 1 cup of bleach
- A sponge
How to:
- Step 1 – Take a cup of bleach and apply it directly with a sponge.
- Step 2 – Let it sit. Re-apply until the old stroller is mold-free.
How to Clean Stroller Canopy Fabric
The stroller canopy should not be overlooked while cleaning. The canopy can get moist, too, and thus can become a habitat for mold. So, like other stroller parts, it needs to be cleaned regularly. The cleaning process is the same as for the seat fabric. After cleaning, expose the entire stroller to the sun to dry up.
Tips: If you opt for machine wash, look up cleaning instructions for your stroller model.
How to Get Mildew out from the Fabric in the Stroller
Whereas mold looks slimy, mildew is powdery. It looks white and can leave a tough stain as mold does. A combination of lemon and salt works superbly for mildew stain.
What you need
- ½ cup lemon juice
- 1 tablespoon salt
- A brush
How to:
- Step 1 – Make a paste of lemon and salt.
- Step 2 – Apply using a toothbrush into the affected area.
- Step 3 – Dry up the stroller under the sun.
- Step 4 – Cleanse to get stain-free renewed fabric. If you do not get the desired result at the first attempt, repeat it a few times.
Pro tip: Mildew can be removed on a washing machine, add a fresh squeeze of lemon, to remove stains to get mildew-free to brighten fabric.
What if the fabric is Non-Removable?
Nowadays, most strollers come with removable fabric. Somehow, if you have a stroller that has non-removable fabric, you can clean the mold from the fabric by applying the cleaning solutions with a washcloth.
But in this process, you must allow stroller fabric to dry out completely; it may take more time. Carefully look for the underside of the fabric if it is yet mold stained or not. Toss the stroller upside down if needed and apply the solutions to the affected area to eradicate the mold stain.
How to Prevent Mold from Returning
Removing mold is not a one-time project; mold may come back to pay a visit from time to time! So, it is best to prevent mold rather than let it grow in the stroller fabric. Below, find tips on how to prevent mold from returning:
- Firstly, make sure you clean and dry out the stroller entirely after each use.
- While stored, check on the stroller once a week, wipe it, and let it dry in the sun.
- If somehow, baby food spills, instantly wipe, dry, and follow up the wet area to ensure mold does not get a new habitat!
- Since strollers are frequently used items, and are susceptible to mold attack, repeat the removal process to ensure that molds cannot keep coming back!
- Exposing the stroller to sunlight helps kill the mold spores, so do it more often.
- Store the stroller in a cool, dry place for long-term storage.
- If you have to store the stroller in a dark and damp place, use citronella anti-fungal spray once a week in your storage area.
How to Get Mold Out of Fabric In a Stroller: Final Thoughts
Mold, like any other fungus, may ruin your stroller. It’s better to prevent mold than to spend time removing it. Always keep your closet or basement and the entire house clean so that mold cannot grow. If somehow the stroller is attacked by mold, follow up the steps and tips on how to get mold out of fabric in a stroller mentioned in this article to eradicate these devils from damaging the stroller.
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