Stroller Spa stroller repair (guest review)

IMPORTANT: Please note that I am not running a stroller repair service. This is a review of the service only. Please contact the company directly via the links below. Thanks.

Jen has a one-year-old baby and a seven-year-old stepdaughter at home.  She just returned from maternity leave last month. She received a free stroller repair in exchange for her honest review of the service.

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Do you have a stroller that’s covered in months, or – even worse – years, of infant and toddler grime? Or a wheel that could potentially fly off and you just hope it doesn’t happen on a long walk alone with your little one?

If you can relate to these scenarios, you are likely a good candidate for the Stroller Spa.

Our Bugaboo Frog’s broken wheel and rusted chassis.

Our situation was all of the above and more.  My family received a Bugaboo Frog as a generous hand-me-down from my husband’s brother.  The fancy stroller had been through the wear and tear of two children and had seen better days.  It needed TLC to say the least. A quick Internet search for “stroller cleaning Toronto” led us to the Stroller Spa.

After checking out the global site to ensure the company’s credibility, we contacted Liz at the Toronto Stroller Spa location and explained our situation.  She was very helpful and offered us a broad range of options, at various price points, to fix up our preloved stroller:

• SUV-type stroller:  Bugaboo, BOB, UPPAbaby Vista, Peg Perego Skate, Quinny, Orbit, phil&teds.  Fabric hand wash, wheel clean and tune-up, full disinfecting steam clean, detail work in the chassis: $80
• Umbrella-type stroller: Maclaren, City Mini, Chicco.  Same services as above: $50
• Double strollers, with same services as above: $150
• Car seats
  • Infant: full steam clean and fabric hand washing: $40
  • Toddler with same services as above: $45

THE GOOD

We dropped off our stroller and just a few days later when we picked it up, it looked brand new!  The wheels were shiny and fully intact. The fabric looked like it had just been through the wash on turbo setting, which Liz informed us was because of an industrial grade steamer that sanitized and cleaned everything including the hardware. Plus, all of the rust was gone! Magic.

And, we were informed, Stroller Spa uses only eco-friendly, non-toxic products.  The stroller fairy had truly given our haggard Bugaboo the attention it deserved and desperately needed.

The Stroller Spa is the only authorized service centre for Bugaboo in Canada.  They can repair Bugaboo brake cables, brake handles, chassis and handle-bar extensions.  Most people don’t know this option is available and may think they have to buy a new chassis for $300, for example.  A repair is often much cheaper and will extend the life of your stroller for your family or make it more appealing for resale.

The Stroller Spa also repairs phil&teds, Mountain Buggy, UPPAbaby, Peg Perego, BOB, Bumbleride and Maclaren strollers.

THE GAFFE

The most obvious issue with the Stroller Spa is not having your beloved stroller for up to a week. If you want, Liz can give you a loaner for the duration of the service but it won’t be the same as old faithful! Cleaning generally takes anywhere from two to seven days, because the fabric takes at least a day to dry after being cleaned. Of course, it also depends on how busy they are and how dirty your baby’s ride is.

If you live outside the GTA (or even inside they city and you are without a car), it will likely be an inconvenience to drop off and pick up your stroller.  However, Liz will do pick-up and drop-off if it’s local to her west-end Toronto home – where she does the cleaning and repairs.

THE GEARS

4/5

So…where can you do it?

• If you’re in Canada, there’s only one option and it’s in Toronto
• Find a Stroller Spa location near you if you’re in select U.S. States