Keeping Kids’ Wheelchairs Clean: A Guide for Parents

As a parent, you're already showing up every single day - managing routines, appointments, and advocating for your child’s needs. For families of children with disabilities, the daily load is heavier, the logistics more complex, and the quiet wins even more meaningful.

So when we talk about wheelchair cleaning, we want to start with this: we're not here to tell you what to do, or how to care for your child.

You already do that, and in ways most people will never see.

While we cannot speak for every family’s lived experience, what we can do is help with one small but important thing that sometimes gets overlooked: keeping your child’s wheelchair clean, safe, and comfortable for long-term use.

What Kind of Build-Up Happens?

Wheelchairs are more than mobility aids, they're personal spaces. They’re school chairs, dining chairs, lounges, transport, even beds at times. But unlike these other surfaces, wheelchairs don’t always get the same attention when it comes to deep cleaning.

That’s where build-up starts to creep in, silently and invisibly.

From our experience cleaning thousands of chairs, we often find:

• Sweat or sunscreen residue that’s hard to spot

• Food crumbs and spills tucked beneath cushions and trays

• Mould growth on fabrics, particularly around straps and padding

• Smells that seem minor at first but linger over time

• Soft fabric areas that trap bacteria and biofilm, which are almost impossible to remove with a surface wipe

These issues don’t just affect comfort. They can also lead to:

• Skin irritation or infected pressure sores

• Equipment damage or reduced lifespan of equipment

• Unpleasant odours 

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These things aren’t always obvious, but they can build up quietly over weeks and months.

Why Hygiene Matters

When bacteria, biofilm, or moisture sit on surfaces for too long, they can slowly wear down materials or create smells that are difficult to remove with standard cleaning. In environments like schools or respite centres, this can also contribute to the spread of germs. 

Small things, like hidden moisture under a cushion or crumbs caught in a strap, can build up quickly and quietly.

How a Wheelchair Deep Clean Can Help

At Pure Wheelchairs, we offer deep cleaning services specifically designed for mobility aids.

Our process is:

• Gentle on materials - using non-toxic, hospital-grade cleaners safe for both children and sensitive skin

• Thorough - reaching areas between frame joints, under padding, and within straps

• Judgement-free - no matter what condition the chair is in, we’re here to help!

• Mobile - we come to you, because we know you’ve got enough to do already.

For families dealing with long-term disability support, the benefits aren’t just physical but emotional, too. A clean chair means more comfort, less smell, less anxiety, and a little breathing room.

You Know Your Child Best — And We’re Here to Help

We’ll never pretend to understand a family’s day-to-day life. But we do understand equipment - how to care for it, how to protect it, and how to make it last longer.

If you’re ever unsure about when or whether your child’s wheelchair needs a deep clean, you can always:

• Send us a message and describe what you’re noticing

• Ask about what’s normal (or not)

• Book a no-pressure once-off clean, just to reset everything

Whether it’s once a year, twice a year, or whenever it gets “a bit too far gone”, we’re always here, ready to support.

Summary: When to Consider a Wheelchair Deep Clean

• You notice a smell that doesn’t go away with surface wipes

• Mould or staining starts to appear on fabric parts

• Cushions feel sticky, damp, or “off”

• You’re preparing for school, an outing, or an event

• It’s been 3–6 months since the last full clean

We Are Ready When You Are

Cleaning wheelchairs isn’t always simple. For families, there’s already a lot going on, and often, this sort of thing doesn’t make the top of the list.

If and when a deep clean might help, we’re here with practical, no-fuss support that can make everyday use a little fresher.

Need a clean or want to ask a question?

Feel free to contact Pure Wheelchairs by clicking here or call us today at 0410 614 183.