advice needed for cleaning/improving pushchairs prior to selling

[freefruit]

I need to sell a couple of pushchairs and would be very grateful for some advice so I can make them look good
Specifically I have a maclaren twin techno I thought the covers could go in the machine but there is something hard inside them near the footrest and it says hand wash only, so what it the best way to handwash them? any suggestions as to which powder/liquid to use?

I have a icandy peach and it is essentially the same question, does the seat unit fabric detch from the frame? if so what is the best way to wash it? any suggestions as to how to make the crome look good? any suggestions about washing the footmuff?

finally repairing a foam handlebar, it was pristine until last week when it has got a tiny nick going into the boot one dark/rainy night. I thought about getting some glue and a tiny straw/piece of wood and trying to glue it back together (no foam is missing just a small 1-2mm tear) does that sound right? would it be better just to leave it? any other ideas?

finally any other useful advice gratefully received.

thanks

[Hevster]

i just sold mine on ebay and found that baby wipes were the best way to clean it! The frame came up really shiny and they got the fabric on the seats looking pretty clean too.

personally I wouldn't try and mend the foam handlebar in case I accidently made it worse.

if you are going to ebay them then add the option of a courier as you get quite a bit more cash by opening it up

[InvaderZim]

I have an iCandy Cherry which I bought off of Ebay. Most of the bits unzipped or velcroed off. I used handwashing laundry detergent and dried them outside on a hot day. The fabric doesn't absorb very much liquid anyways!

[InvaderZim]

Sorry meant to say my handwashing liquid is the Ecover "Delicate" variety.

[MonkeysPunk]

do provide a courier service. I always sell on buy it now rather than auction and tick the box that states pay immediately by paypal. This avoids all time wasters! Pay for parcel force service using paypal as it's only about eleven pounds if you can drop your parcel off at your local depot. Find out where that is on the parcel force website. pack in cardboard boxes. You can cut boxes down or tape them together to fit. You'll need a roll of brown parcel tape. It's worth making the effort to offer postage as you're much more likely to get your asking price.

[sazm]

i always take all covers off and stick them in the washing machine (i have a 30 degree handwash cycle on mine,but a cool wash should also be fine) then wipe down the frame outside and give the wheels a scrub.

the only one i had bother with was a phil and teds,as the main seat doesnt go in the machine,i put it in the bath and scrubbed it with warm water with liquid detergent,then rinsed it with the shower and hung it outside to dry (took ages though because i couldnt machine spin it!)

[sickoftheholidays]

handwash cycle for covers. Anything with rigid parts like the maclaren you were talking about, put it in a pillow case before putting in the washer. Hoods take off and scrub in the bath, then air dry in airing cupboard. covers dry back on the pushchair or they can shrink. Frames in the bath with persil and bottle brush. Tyre shine for the wheels. Brushed aluminium frames like loola/cameleon use a non scratch sponge scourer and that will remove any scratch not showing silver. Doesnt work on maclarens though!
Foam handlebar, just use a drop of superglue in the very bottom of the nick, then gently work it up until its sealed at the top. Use bare minimum as you dont want it all over the handlebar.
When selling on ebay, take close up photos of the wheels and any logo stickers (only if they are in good condition, scratched and faded ones dont bother). Taking photos outside in garden with flash on a dull day makes your colours look more vivid which is always a good thing.
Be thorough in your listing and def. offer postage. Its easy enough to wrap a pushchair.
Yes, I have done this a LOT. bought and sold for profit on ebay last year, so I know all the tricks.
Oh, and one last thing, silver wheels with scratches (like herbie, icandy, buzz) you can mask off the rubber part and spray them with silver plasticote paint. They look like new then.

[freefruit]

thanks guys that's really really helpful
what's plasticote paint?

seems like everyone is recommending I do postage which I was hoping to avoid!

[freefruit]

Anyone with anymore icandy advice?
Invader i love the peach however I need the money so was thinking about getting a cherry next!!

[KickArseQueen]

LOL! I used a jetwash on my old mountain buggy ( carefully!!) and it came up like brand new. You can also use a jetwash to remove black mould from the nylon material that most buggies are made of. If you get too close with the wand it will pucker the fabric so you do need to be careful, but it can give fantastic results.

HTH

[freefruit]

jetwash in the garage?
like they do for cars?

lol at puckering the material I have some mold on a old babygrow do you think it will work on that?

lol
thanks

[KickArseQueen]

Hiya, yes I do mean a jet wash like in a garage ( except I have one at home :) ).

If the babygrow is cotton based then the mould will change pretty much permanently the colour of the cotton - so no it won't take it all out I don't think.

Nylon however is made from (basically) coloured plastic so the colour is within the fibre and other than sun fade, generally discolouration is something stuck to the material.

Mould sits between the fibres and the jetwash blasts it out. HTH.