FEATURED
YOUR EVERYDAY ESSENTIALS
ExPLORE
NON-TOXIC CLEANING 101
Your Cart (0)
Your Cart (0)
FEATURED
YOUR EVERYDAY ESSENTIALS
ExPLORE
NON-TOXIC CLEANING 101
The high chair tray is basically a plate your baby eats off of. Whatever you clean it with doesn't go away; it can linger as residue that your little one touches, mouths, and (let's be honest) licks on purpose. And considering most conventional cleaners are full of harsh chemicals, what you clean your child’s high chair with matters. But the risk isn't just about the tray.
Babies spend most of their time indoors, and the air quality is directly affected by what you spray around your home. A study published in the Canadian Medical Association Journal tracked more than 2,000 infants and found that frequent use of household cleaning products in the first few months of life is linked to significantly higher rates of asthma and recurrent wheeze by age three.
The researchers think it comes down to VOCs—volatile organic compounds in conventional cleaners that can damage developing airways and trigger inflammation. Because babies breathe faster than adults and spend so much time pressed up against the surfaces you’re constantly wiping, they take in more of these compounds than we realize.
None of this means you shouldn't clean the high chair (please do); it simply means what you’re cleaning with matters just as much as how often you clean.
The tray takes the hardest hit at every meal, which makes it the most important piece to clean well. Thankfully, cleaning the high chair tray is also the most straightforward.
If you’re just dealing with typical after-dinner mess, a non-toxic all-purpose cleaner like Truly Free Home Everyday Cleaner will do the trick. Generously spray the tray with the solution, let it sit for a minute or two to break down food residue, and wipe clean with a damp cloth.
For situations that require a bit more strength, like blueberry smash or that mystery orange ring you genuinely cannot identify, opt for a baking soda and vinegar paste or Truly Free Home Enzyme Stain Remover. Add a few drops of water to either option and mix to form a paste. Apply the paste to the stains, let it sit for 5 to 10 minutes (enzymes need a little time to work), then scrub with a soft brush or damp cloth and wipe clean.
One thing that helps: high chair trays are often made from porous plastic, which means food stains soak in rather than just sitting on top. Getting to spills sooner makes everything easier. And skip anything abrasive—scratched plastic is a nightmare to keep clean because it gives bacteria more places to hide.
High chair straps are every parent's nemesis. They collect food in ways that defy logic, and they're awkward no matter how you approach them. Whether you’re cleaning removable high chair straps or the kind that stay put, here’s how to handle both scenarios.
If your high chair’s straps come off, you’re in luck. Simply remove them, fill a bucket or sink with warm water, add a scoop of oxygen bleach, and let the straps soak for 30 to 60 minutes. The oxygen-based formula works through the fabric to lift stains and knock out odors without bleach. After soaking, run them through a gentle wash cycle with a non-toxic laundry detergent, then lay the straps flat or hang them to air dry. Skip the dryer; depending on the material, heat can warp or shrink the straps, and that's a headache you don't need.
Mix a small bowl of warm water with a few drops of non-toxic dish soap, like Truly Free Home Dish Soap, and use a soft brush—an old toothbrush is honestly perfect for this—to scrub the straps and work into all the little crevices. Wipe the straps down with a clean, damp cloth until all the soap is gone. If there's still some funky smell lingering (common with non-removable straps that can't fully dry between meals), spray them with Truly Free Home Odor & Stain Eliminator and let the straps air out. Our formula uses natural enzymes to digest stains and eliminate odors at the source.
Fabric covers are great for little ones' comfort, but they're also basically a sponge for every spill that makes it past the tray. If your high chair cover is removable, here's how to clean it safely and effectively.
Treat any visible stains first. For most messes, a non-toxic stain remover works great. Spray to treat high chair cover stains before washing according to the care label. For the more stubborn stuff—berries, beets, tomato sauce—soak the cover in warm water with a scoop of Truly Free Home OxyBoost for 60 minutes to overnight before washing. Oxygen-based stain removal is especially effective on plant-based food stains.
Unless otherwise directed by the care label, run the high chair cover through a gentle cycle with cold water and a gentle, non-toxic laundry detergent like Truly Free Home Laundry Wash. Cold water is key. Hot water can set stains and cause covers to shrink. Air dry flat or hang to dry—both options protect the shape and avoid any heat damage to the fabric.
Mom-approved Move: Always check stains before drying. If a stain is still there, treat and rewash before it goes in the dryer. Heat sets stains permanently, and there's no coming back from that.
Wooden high chairs are beautiful, but they need a gentler approach than plastic. The main thing to keep in mind: wood doesn't love getting soaked. Too much moisture causes warping and cracking over time. Here’s how to clean a wooden high chair and avoid common mistakes.
Your best bet for everyday messes is a non-toxic all-purpose high chair cleaner. Instead of spraying directly onto the wood, spray onto a cloth first, then wipe down all the surfaces. Truly Free Home all-purpose cleaner is gentle enough for finished wood without stripping anything or leaving residue behind. For any stuck-on bits, a soft, damp cloth with a little elbow grease usually gets the job done. Always dry the chair completely with a reusable cloth after cleaning—don't let moisture sit on the wood.
Every few weeks, or whenever the wood starts looking dull, treat your wood high chair with Truly Free Home Wood and Furniture Polish after cleaning. Our non-toxic formula keeps the wood conditioned, helps maintain the finish, and makes future spills easier to wipe away. As a bonus, a well-maintained finish gives you a little more protection against the inevitable daily chaos of mealtimes.
The best cleaning routine is one that keeps things manageable in the first place. Here are a few small habits that’ll help you keep your child’s high chair clean.
The goal isn't a surgically sterile high chair. Babies are going to touch everything, put things in their mouths, and generally do what babies do, regardless. But a clean, non-toxic surface means one less source of harmful chemical exposure in their day, and that's worth the extra 10 minutes.
