Domakihub How to Clean a High Chair Properly (and Keep It That Way)
A step-by-step routine that tackles dried food, hidden grime, and tricky straps.
Reviewed by Domakihub cleaning pros · 2026-06-23 · 4 min read
High chairs collect food in places you would never think to look — inside screw holes, along strap buckles, underneath the tray lip — and in a warm Greek climate that hidden residue can attract bacteria surprisingly fast. The video above gives you a visual run-through; this guide breaks the process into five clear steps so you can replicate it confidently whether you are a parent at home, a host managing a holiday rental, or a housekeeper servicing a hotel family room. A thorough clean takes about 20 minutes and the supplies are already in most Greek kitchens.
Why High Chairs Need More Than a Quick Wipe
A single meal leaves food residue on the tray, seat, footrest, and harness straps simultaneously. Dried puree and pasta sauce bond to plastic within hours, and the textured surfaces of most high chair seats trap particles that a damp cloth pushed across the top will simply miss. Regular surface wiping is useful after every meal, but a proper disassembled clean should happen at least once a week — more often during summer heat or if the chair is used in a rental property between guests.
Hard-to-reach areas matter most for hygiene. Mold and mildew start in damp fabric seams and underneath removable pads, especially in seaside apartments where humidity stays high. A methodical approach — removing every removable part before washing anything — ensures nothing is skipped.
What You Will Need
You do not need specialist products. Warm water, washing-up liquid, white vinegar, a soft-bristle brush (an old toothbrush is ideal for crevices), a few microfibre cloths, and a clean towel are sufficient for the full clean. For harness straps that have developed an odour, a diluted bicarbonate of soda paste works well. Avoid bleach directly on plastic as it can cause discolouration and may degrade buckle mechanisms over time.
How to Clean a High Chair: 5 Steps
- 1
Disassemble Every Removable Part
Before you touch any cloth, take the chair apart: lift out the tray (and any secondary tray insert), unclip or unbuckle the harness straps, remove the seat pad or cushion cover if it unzips, and detach the footrest if your model allows it. Lay everything on a large towel or in the sink. Working on pieces individually means you will not simply spread grime from one surface to another.
- 2
Rinse Loose Debris First
Shake or brush dry crumbs away before adding water — wetting dried food first often turns it into a paste that clogs crevices. Over the sink or outdoors, use a dry brush or a quick rinse under running water to dislodge any loose material from the tray, seat shell, and footrest. This saves you significant scrubbing time in the next step.
- 3
Wash the Tray, Seat Shell, and Hard Parts
Fill a basin or use the sink with warm soapy water (washing-up liquid is fine). Submerge the tray and let it soak for two to three minutes — this softens any baked-on residue. Then scrub with your soft brush, paying close attention to the underside lip of the tray, any moulded cup holders, and recessed screw points on the seat shell. Rinse thoroughly and set aside on a clean towel to air dry, or dry immediately with a microfibre cloth.
- 4
Clean the Harness Straps and Buckles
Straps cannot usually go in the washing machine without risking damage to the webbing and buckle mechanism — check your manual first. Instead, lay the straps flat in a shallow tray, pour over a solution of warm water and a small amount of washing-up liquid, and work the liquid into the fabric with your fingers. Use the toothbrush along the edges and around the buckle crevices. Rinse with clean water and hang to dry fully before re-attaching — damp straps are where mildew starts.
- 5
Reassemble, Sanitise, and Set a Routine
Once all parts are completely dry, reassemble the chair and wipe every surface with a diluted white vinegar solution (one part vinegar to two parts water) as a final sanitising pass. Vinegar is food-safe, effective against common bacteria, and does not leave a chemical residue that could contact a child's hands or mouth. After this full clean, a quick wipe of the tray and seat with a damp cloth after every meal keeps the next deep clean quick and straightforward.
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FAQ
- Can I put high chair straps in the washing machine?
- Most manufacturers advise against it. Machine washing can weaken the webbing fibres and damage the plastic buckle clasps, which are safety components. Hand-washing in warm soapy water, as described in Step 4, is safer and just as effective. Always check your specific chair's manual for confirmation.
- How often should a high chair be deep cleaned?
- Once a week is a good baseline for a chair in daily use at home. In a rental property or hotel, the chair should be fully disassembled and cleaned between every guest stay — the same standard you would apply to bedding or towels. In a Greek summer with higher humidity, more frequent cleaning prevents mold in fabric seams.
- What removes dried food stuck in the crevices of a plastic high chair?
- Soaking is the most effective first step — a few minutes in warm soapy water softens most food residue. For anything that remains, an old toothbrush dipped in the soapy water will work into narrow grooves without scratching the plastic. A wooden toothpick can dislodge very stubborn particles from screw holes before the soapy water step.