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We are proud to offer a variety of mobility helpers to make life easier and more accessible. Whether you’re looking for a wheelchair or an electric scooter, we offer something for everyone.

This a guide into basic care and maintenance of these particular vehicles, so that you can extend its life and usability.

Electric Scooters

Using an Electric Scooter 

Simply put, a mobility/electric scooter is an aid with a similar purpose and functionality to a classic wheelchair. It has one seat over several wheels, a flat area for you to place your feet, and handlebars at the front.

Electric scooters are designed to remove a lot of the strength often required with wheelchair use, and there are several benefits to using an electric scooter, such as flexibility.

Because they have swiveling seats this allows easy access both on and off, and you can also adjust their heights to make it a comfortable fit. Some of them can also be dismantled, which saves a lot of space and makes transportation a lot easier.

Electric Scooter Maintenance

Electric scooter maintenance can be pretty straightforward, and taking time to maintain your scooter will increase its lifespan.

There are a few things you can do that will help to make sure your scooter is always in excellent shape. Ensure that you follow the specific instructions on maintenance in the manual that accompanies your scooter. Generally speaking, a scooter should also be serviced every couple of years.

Battery Care

One particularly important aspect of scooter care is to make sure that the battery is in good condition. Sometimes, it has a shorter warranty than your actual scooter, but there are a few simple steps to take which will keep your battery in working condition.

Charging your scooter overnight is an excellent way to make sure the battery stays healthy and lasts longer. Important to note that yes it is completely safe to leave it charging overnight, as these days chargers will automatically turn themselves off when the battery has reached full capacity.

When not in use, storing the batteries in a cool and dry place keeps them from potentially being damaged. Make sure to use the right charger for your particular batteries as it doesn’t always come with the scooter. Generally speaking, a scooter battery will last about 18 months if it’s looked after.

Tire Care

Sometimes, the scooter tires will suffer from a bit of wear and tear. The best way to make sure your tires are in good condition is to have the scooter serviced, where they will make sure that your tires/wheels are correctly fixed and inflated so that you do not have to worry about it when you are using it.

Seat Care

Most scooter seats are detachable so it’s always worth adjusting the seat to make sure it’s properly attached before use. It’s also important to check for tears because if the material is exposed to your skin, it can cause irritation. You can also use disinfectant wipes to regularly clean your seat. If you find that your seat is worn out during inspection, it’s worth replacing it as soon as possible to prevent further deterioration. 

The average lifespan of an electric scooter is about five years, and following the above steps for scooter maintenance ensures that lifespan as well as further longevity to your scooter.

Wheelchair Maintenance

We offer a wide range of wheelchairs to fit your specific needs. Wheelchairs are also a form of mobility aid, which require particular maintenance to ensure they have a long lifespan.

Just like with electric scooters, the average lifespan of a wheelchair is roughly five years if you follow the maintenance steps below. Caring for your wheelchair might vary depending on the model, so it’s always worth checking your manual for specific instructions.

Tire Care

One of the more important aspects of wheelchair maintenance is to check the tire pressures, which can usually be done every other month. There are two types of wheelchair tires: Pneumatic (which means air-filled) and solid (which means that they are made from rubber).

If you have air-filled tires, these need to be checked every week because under or over-inflated tires lose their rigidness and wear out easily. Solid tires do not need this kind of maintenance because they cannot be punctured or deflated.

Brake Care

While you’re checking the pressure, it’s also worth making sure the brakes and backrest are also in good condition. This can be done easily by giving the backrest a wiggle and if you notice it’s not quite right, tightening the bolts will fix it.

Brakes should be inspected once a week, during which you should make sure they are not looser or tighter than usual and if they’re easy to lock and unlock. If you can’t fix the fault yourself, bring the wheelchair in for service and the mechanics will help you.

All the moving parts on a wheelchair have a specific function that adds to its longevity.

It is particularly important to check that the front wheels of your wheelchairs are working because they play a crucial role when it comes to stabilization and turning. An easy way to see if your front wheels need adjusting is to see how smooth the right and left turns are. If there is too much resistance or too much effort, the wheel might need fixing.

Cushion Care

Your cushion is an extremely important component of your wheelchair, and plays a big part in ensuring it stays in good condition. Your cushion keeps you comfortable and clinically safe.

If the cushion begins to deteriorate, it can cause damage, but there are easy ways to make sure this doesn’t happen. For example, you can remove the cover and inspect the cushion and cover regularly to look for tears or holes. Cushion covers can be easily washed in washing machines, and it’s worth cleaning underneath your cushion because dusty and/or crumbs easily collect there.

Depending on what material the cushion is made with, flaking foam is a sign that it needs maintenance. A cushion inspection is something that should be done every week.

Bolts Care

Finally, and perhaps the most crucial part of wheelchair maintenance, is to look for loose bolts and nuts. Fixing potentially loose bolts and nuts is easily done by tightening with a screwdriver. This is an inspection that can be done monthly.

Electric scooters and wheelchairs are fantastic mobility aids that help gain independence and confidence in your daily life. Following these maintenance steps and the ones in your manual, will make sure you get the most use out of your mobility aid. It will also make sure that whichever aid you’ve chosen lasts for a long time. Browse our selection of wheelchairs and scooters here and get in touch to find the right one for you.