High chair straps can get really messy during baby mealtimes and cleaning them properly is
important to prevent mold growth and bacteria on them. Follow along to learn how to clean high chair straps.
Do you have a baby or toddler that loves to make messes during meal times? The cleanups can be daunting.
But isn’t it so much fun to watch a baby eat? I don’t know…something about it is just amazing.
By the way, if you need some help with baby-led weaning, I’m in love with Solid Starts! I watch them
daily on Instagram and they inspire me.
Not all high chairs are made equally, and some baby’s high chairs are so much easier to clean than
others. I don’t know why they don’t make them all the same – removable trays, removable straps,
and dishwasher safe.
Even so, never fear, this battle-tested Mamma of 2 has your back and will teach you how to clean baby’s high chair straps whether they are removable or not.
To clean high chair straps well need detergent or dish soap, baking soda, vinegar, a cleaning
toothbrush, and a disinfectant spray. If you have all of these things at home, then you’re ready to
clean your high chair straps properly!
How To Clean High Chair Straps
This is how to clean high chair straps:
- Remove the straps from the chair.
- Remove any caked-on or heavy gunk from the straps with a stiff brush.
- Soak in a solution of vinegar, baking soda, and dish soap.
- Put the straps into a mesh laundry bag and wash the straps in the washing machine.
- Spray them with a disinfectant.
- Allow the straps to air dry.
- Place the straps back on the chair.
Now, let’s look at these in detail…
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Cleaning High Chair Straps That Are Removable
Not all high chair straps are removable, but if yours are, then you’re in luck. It’s much easier to
clean removable high chair straps.
Gather Your Materials:
- Detergent or dish soap
- Baking Soda
- Vinegar
- Cleaning Toothbrush
- Disinfectant
Steps For Cleaning High Chair Straps
Sometimes I don’t understand why high chair manufacturers don’t give an extra pair of straps for
high chairs…I feel that would be so useful, but alas, they don’t!.
Here are the steps to cleaning your high chair straps.
- Remove high chair straps from the chair. This is usually pretty easy or self-explanatory, but if you are having a hard time, try to youTube your chair brand and see if there is a tutorial on how to do it.
- Remove any caked-on or heavy gunk from the straps with a stiff brush.
- If the straps are heavily soiled, soak in a solution of vinegar and a dash of baking soda to the water along with the dish soap. Just eyeball it, you can’t go wrong here. Once the gunk has softened, scrub free with a soft brush.
- Put the straps into a mesh wash bag like this and wash straps in the washing machine. Don’t dry them in the dryer. If you do not have a washing machine or don’t want to use one, then you can soak your straps in hot water and dish soap overnight.
- After the straps are clean, you can spray them with a disinfectant, and allow them to dry. My
favorite disinfectant is METHOD because it is plant-based, smells amazing, and is not full of toxic chemicals. It’s easy to find on Amazon, but you can find it at Target and Walmart. - Allow the straps to air dry. You don’t want to wipe the disinfectant off so that it can do its job
properly. - Place the straps back on the chair once they dry and let your baby get back to their favorite job of making a mess.
Cleaning High Chair Straps That You Cannot Remove
Chairs that have non removable straps pose a special problem, as you cannot just toss the straps into the washing machine. If you are shopping for a baby’s high chair, I strongly recommend getting one with removable straps.
For my kiddos, I used totally plastic chairs which were SOOOO easy to keep clean, I think I got them from Ikea, but theyw ere so easy to clean, it made life really easy for me. My kids are 13 months apart, so you can imagine how hectic my life was when they were younger!
I removed the cushions and just put a folded towel in as a cushion. That way I could shake out the towel and toss it into the wash, and then wipe down the chair with a damp cloth.
Amazon carries a pretty cool space-saving high chair that is all plastic, has removable straps and converts easily into a toddler chair. Super easy to keep clean.
Materials You’ll Need
- Detergent or dish soap
- Microfiber cloth
- Baking Soda
- Vinegar
- Cleaning Toothbrush
- Disinfectant
Steps To Clean Non-Removable High Chair Straps
- Make a solution of baking soda vinegar, warm water, and dish soap (or detergent) in a small bowl. Use a microfiber cloth and dip it into the solution you just made.
- Rub the straps with the clean damp cloth. Make sure to wipe well and keep rubbing until all the gunk comes off. If you need to get dry food off the straps, either try prying the food off with a butter knife or your fingernail or soak it with the cloth until you soften food particles and they come off.
- For stubborn stains on the straps, take your cleaning toothbrush and dip it into the water, and then into baking soda. Gently scrub toothbrush on the stains in gentle circular motions.
- Wipe up any remaining wetness and soapy water off the straps.
- Spray the straps with your favorite disinfectant. I like to use natural stuff that won’t harm your baby’s skin so I stay away from bleach personally, but if bleach is all you have then make a 30/70 solution of bleach and water and use that.
- Let the wet straps dry completely before using.
Cleaning The Rest Of Your High Chair
While your straps are soaking or in the wash, it is a good time to go over the rest of the chair. For best results and sanitary condition, you should clean your chair after every use. Then, from time to time, you should do a deep cleaning to get the chair in top condition.
How To Clean High Chair After Each Meal
After each mealtime, you’ll want to clean the high chair straps so they don’t grow mold from
stuck-on food particles.
- Brush off all loose food. You’ll want to make sure all the loose food particles are not going to get smashed into the cushion or the straps which will make it much more difficult to clean the straps later on.
- Give the straps a good wipe. Use a cloth with water and a dash of dish soap to wipe them down.
- Sanitize the high chair tray after giving it a good wipe-down. You can use hydrogen peroxide, or white vinegar to make a homemade sanitizing solution.
I like to use the METHOD cleaner and leave it on for ten minutes before I wipe it off to completely disinfect your high chairs. If you use bleach to disinfect the high chair, give it a good wipe with just water after it has dried to keep the surface food safe for your little one.
How To Clean High Chair Weekly
To keep your high chair sanitary and clean for your baby you should do a little weekly cleaning maintenance. Here is what I do.
- Wipe the entire seat from top to bottom with a damp cloth and a dab of dish soap.
- Clean the legs and all exterior parts of the high chair.
- Ensure that the straps do not have any stuck-on foods.
How To Clean High Chair Monthly
To do a deep clean of the whole chair once a month to remove caked-on food, and any food particle build up in the nooks and crannies. Here are the steps to follow.
- Take the high chair apart so you can clean the cushions and the straps. Check the label on your
high chair cushion and if it’s ok, throw them into the washing machine. Usually, you’ll have to air
dry the cushion and avoid the dryer. - Remove gross food build up from all tiny cracks and crevices. Use a toothpick to get into the nooks and
crannies of the high chair. Food can get stuck in tiny holes and then grow mold and become a
health hazard for your baby. Use a stiff brush to eliminate stuck on food. Add a little elbow grease as necessary. - If you can, take your high chair outside and give it a good pressure wash with the hose. This
can help loosen any stuck-on foods on the chair as well. If you cannot do that, then use vinegar
and water and a little bit of elbow grease to get the high chair very clean. The point is to
remove all stuck on food on the entire high chair.
Caution
Never You Soak Parts Of Your High Chair If:
- It is made of wood- wood can and will absorb the liquid which will make it less sanitary. Plus, over time, the wood will dry out and crack.
- The cushion is fabric
- It has metal parts.
Do Not Use Bleach If:
- Your high chair is made of wood.
- The cushion is fabric.
Frequently Asked Questions
How Often To Clean High Chair Straps?
You should give your high chair straps a deep clean when you notice the food is getting stuck and is difficult to wipe up after mealtimes. Twice a month is recommended, however I recoomend you clean your baby’s high chair at least once a week.
High chair straps that are dirty can be hazardous to the health of your baby due to the mold and bacteria they can grow. You need to make sure you clean the child’s high chair straps after each meal so that food doesn’t get stuck on them.
How Do You Get Mold Off High Chair Straps?
Running a deep clean on the high chair straps can remove the mold. If the mold is very tough to
get rid of, we’ll need to turn to bleach for help.
Soak the straps in a bleach and water solution (as
long as the manufactures tag says that’s ok to do) and wait for a few hours for the bleach to kill
the mold.
Then run it through the washing machine to get the bleach off the straps.
How Can You Make Your High Chair Straps White Again?
To make your high chair straps white again, you’ll want to try to remove them and then soak them overnight in a solution of baking soda, vinegar, and dish soap (or detergent). If you continue to have stains, a bleach solution may be used- just make sure to soak again in clean water to remove any residue.
What Can I Use To Clean A High Chair?
I like to use things from around the house such as baking soda, vinegar, and dish soap to clean
high chair straps. You can use pre-made cleaners as well, just make sure they are safe for babies
because you don’t want to cause unnecessary skin irritations. Always make sure to rinse the straps thoroughly to remove any cleaner residue.
Can You Wash The Straps On A High Chair?
If the straps are removable, they are most likely ok to wash in the washing machine. You could also wash them in the top rack of the dishwasher. or put them in a mesh bag to launder. Read the manufactures instructions and see if there are any warnings against washing them in the machine before you do so.
Keeping The High Chair Straps Clean And Healthy
It is so important to clean high chair straps so that you can provide a healthy and clean eating
environment for your baby or toddler. Be sure to take good care of your high chair and wipe it
down properly after every meal followed by a disinfectant.
I would avoid leaving the high chair dirty until the next day, even if it’s very busy in the house after dinner time. As food drys it becomes more and more difficult to remove and the chair becomes less sanitary. This will make it so much more difficult to keep the child’s high chair clean and healthy.
Add this cleaning task to your daily cleaning routine, it will help you to keep your baby’s high chair clean. You could wait until the end of the day, and have your husband take it outside and give it a good hose, and let it dry in the sun – whatever works for you.
