TL;DR
Hair wrapped around the wheel axles is what makes a pet stroller stiff and noisy, and no amount of fabric cleaning fixes it. Vacuum the cabin, wash the liner separately, cut the hair off each axle, then wipe the frame and mesh and let everything dry fully before you fold it. Never machine wash the whole stroller.
Four different jobs in one product
A pet stroller is a fabric cabin, a metal frame, mesh panels, and a wheel assembly. Each part wants a different treatment, and doing them all with a hose gets you a rusty frame and a stroller that smells for a week.
The cabin and the liner hold fur, dander, and the occasional accident. The mesh traps hair in the weave and tears if you scrub it. The frame collects grime at every joint and needs to be dried so it does not corrode. And the wheels collect hair, grit, and road salt.
Work in that order and each step makes the next easier.
How do you clean a pet stroller?
Remove the liner and any pad and wash them separately, then vacuum the cabin and mesh with a crevice tool. Wipe the frame and interior with warm soapy water and a cloth, clear hair from the wheel axles with scissors, rinse the residue off, and dry everything fully before folding.
The step-by-step routine
1. Empty it out. Liner, pad, blankets, toys, and anything in the storage basket.
2. Shake and vacuum. Take the stroller outside and shake it, then vacuum the cabin, the seams, the corners, and the storage basket with a crevice tool. Do the mesh from both sides.
3. Dry brush the fabric. A rubber brush lifts hair the vacuum leaves behind, especially on plush liners.
4. Wash the liner and pad. Check the label. Most wash on a cool gentle cycle with unscented detergent, no fabric softener, air dried flat. Foam pads should be hand washed and pressed between towels.
5. Wipe the cabin fabric. A cloth wrung out hard in warm soapy water, over the interior walls and the floor of the cabin. Then wipe again with a clean damp cloth to remove the soap.
6. Clean the mesh gently. A soft brush and soapy water, supporting the mesh from behind with your hand. Rinse by wiping. Do not scrub, since torn mesh is an escape route and a repair nobody enjoys.
7. Wipe the frame. Every tube, joint, the handlebar, and the folding mechanism. The handlebar is greasy from hands and gets missed.
8. Do the wheels. Covered below, and it is the step that matters most mechanically.
9. Dry everything completely. Open the stroller fully, somewhere with moving air, for a day. Fabric folded away damp mildews within days.
Wheels, axles and the hair that stops them turning
Long hair wraps around an axle and builds into a dense collar that binds the bearing. It happens on vacuum cleaners for the same reason, and the fix is the same.
Take the wheels off if the design allows, which is usually a clip or a pin. Then cut the hair collar with scissors or a seam ripper, working carefully around the axle, and pull the pieces off.
Wipe the axle and the inside of the hub, clear grit from the tread, and check the wheel spins freely by hand. Rinse if the wheels are muddy, then dry them thoroughly.
Road salt matters here. Salt corrodes axles and bearings, so rinse the wheels with plain water after walking on treated pavement and dry them the same day.
If the wheels still drag after cleaning, a dry lubricant on the axle helps. Avoid heavy oil and grease, which attract exactly the dust and hair you just removed.
Check the brake at the same time. A brake that does not lock firmly makes a stroller unsafe on any slope.
Accidents, odor and what not to use
Blot up liquid first, rinse the area with plain water, then use an enzyme-based pet cleaner and let it stay wet for the time on the label before blotting clean and drying fully. Enzymes break down the compounds that cause the smell rather than covering them.
Baking soda sprinkled in the dry cabin, left fifteen minutes and vacuumed out, handles light odor between cleans.
What to avoid:
Chlorine bleach. It fades and weakens fabric, and it must never be combined with ammonia, which is present in urine, or with vinegar or any other acid, since those release chloramine and chlorine gas.
Fabric softener. It leaves a coating and a scent on something an animal lies in, and it reduces the water resistance of the canopy fabric.
Scented sprays and essential oils. Many essential oils are toxic to cats, and birds are extremely sensitive to fumes. A stroller cabin is an enclosed space an animal cannot leave.
A hose or pressure washer on the whole stroller. Water in the frame tubes and the bearings causes rust that never comes out.
A machine dryer. Heat shrinks fabric, warps plastic fittings, and ruins the canopy shape.
Source: ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center guidance on household hazards for pets
Canopy, zips and the folding mechanism
The canopy is usually a coated fabric that sheds light rain. Wipe it rather than soaking it, and skip softener, which kills the water resistance.
Zips are the most common failure point on a stroller. Brush hair out of the teeth with a dry toothbrush, rinse, dry, and run the zip a few times. A zip that catches is usually full of fur rather than broken.
Clean the folding mechanism and the release catches with a brush and soapy water, then dry them. Grit in a folding joint makes a stroller stiff to collapse and eventually damages the catch.
Check the tether or safety clip inside the cabin at the same time. That clip is what stops a pet jumping out, and a frayed one should be replaced.
How often should you clean it?
Vacuum after each outing with a heavy shedder, wipe the frame and handlebar weekly, and do a full clean monthly with regular use. Always clean it before storing it for a season.
Rinse and dry the wheels after any walk on salt, sand, or mud, and cut hair off the axles every month or two rather than waiting for the wheels to seize.
Travel gear is easiest to do as a batch. Carriers hold the same fur and odor and have their own routine in how to clean a soft or hard pet carrier, and the car side of the job is covered in how to clean a dog car seat cover.
For bowls, beds and the rest of the kit, our guide to cleaning pet bowls, bedding, toys and gear keeps the same rinse-and-dry-fully rules in one place.
FAQ
Can you put a pet stroller in the washing machine?
No. The frame, wheels, and fittings damage a drum and are damaged in return, and water trapped in frame tubes and bearings causes rust. Remove the liner and pad and wash those separately, then wipe the cabin and frame by hand and dry everything fully.
How do you get hair off pet stroller wheels?
Remove the wheels if the design allows, then cut the hair collar around each axle with scissors or a seam ripper and pull the pieces off. Wipe the axle and hub, clear grit from the tread, and check that each wheel spins freely before refitting.
How do you get the smell out of a pet stroller?
Vacuum thoroughly first, since trapped fur causes most of it. For accidents, blot, rinse with plain water, then apply an enzyme-based pet cleaner and leave it wet for the time on the label. Dry the whole stroller fully before folding it away.
Can you hose down a pet stroller?
Avoid it. Water gets into the frame tubes and the wheel bearings, where it causes rust that cannot be cleaned out. Rinse the wheels alone if they are muddy, and clean the frame and fabric with a cloth wrung out in soapy water instead.
How do you clean pet stroller mesh without tearing it?
Vacuum both sides with a crevice tool while it is dry, then wipe gently with a soft brush and warm soapy water, supporting the mesh from behind with your hand. Rinse by wiping with a clean damp cloth. Avoid pressure and never use a stiff brush.
How often should you clean a pet stroller?
Vacuum after each outing if your pet sheds heavily, wipe the frame and handlebar weekly, and do a full clean monthly. Rinse and dry the wheels after walking on salt, sand, or mud, and always clean and dry the stroller before storing it.
Travel gear is a small part of a much larger job. Every home is different, so the real number depends on size, condition, and what you want covered. Get a quote or read more about house cleaning services.