How to Clean High Chair Straps

How to Clean High Chair Straps- 7 Easy Methods

Are you wondering how to clean high chair straps? Those tall baby chairs sure do come in handy when it is time to feed your little one. With this type of chair, older babies and toddlers can also be part of the dinner table and they have their own little food tray that they can use to practice eating.

Things can get pretty messy when babies and toddlers are learning to feed themselves which is exactly why most of these tall chairs usually have wipe-clean surfaces inside the entire chair and on the chair tray. 

The only issue with high chairs is that the straps are usually not that easy to keep clean. It is pretty common for high chair seat straps to contain much more germs and bacteria than a public toilet seat. With so many dangerous viruses out there such as MRSA or Staphylococcus aureus, it certainly is important to clean these chair straps more often. 

In this guide, we are going to show you how to clean baby chair straps and how to remove all stains, spills, and bacteria from them. 

How to Clean High Chair Straps

Why High Chair Straps are Difficult to Clean

The main reason high chair holsters get so dirty is because of the materials they are made of. While the rest of the chair’s upholstery is usually made from PU leather – the same material used in most office chairs – that is easy to wipe down, the straps are made from tough nylon. It is the same materials used for making car seatbelts. 

The reason high chair straps are made from this nylon material is that the material is flexible, durable, and incredibly strong. It is an ideal material for keeping babies secure without hurting them. But while your little one is nice and secure, the material is quite absorbent and all sorts of stains, food pieces, dirt, grime, and bacteria tend to cling to these fibers. 

Another reason the straps are so difficult to clean – or rather so dirty – is that babies are naturally messy. Food is often spilled all over the seat. While parents usually quickly wipe down the main seat, the straps are often neglected. 

The third reason the padded seat straps are so dirty is that they are difficult to remove from the seat. it takes a lot of work to strip out that chair strap so you can thoroughly clean it.

How to Clean High Chair Straps

It is important to make time to thoroughly clean the high chair straps. And the only way to do so is by removing the baby straps from the high chair. Check your baby chair’s strap removal instructions if you are having a tough time getting these straps out of the booster seat. While you are putting in the effort to strip them from the baby eating chair, it is best to get them as clean as possible before you install them again. Here is a quick look at the best cleaning methods for these baby chair straps.

Remove Visible Messes

Once you have your baby harness free from the chair, you should try to remove all stuck-on food pieces, dried-on food, or food residues. You can do this by wiping down the straps using a damp cloth with soapy water or by using a nylon brush or toothbrush. 

Start By Soaking The Straps Overnight

It is always better to let the baby harness soak overnight. By soaking the harness, all of those dried food bits or food particles and spills will soften up so they will be easier to remove. 

To soak the harness, you can create a mixture of dish soap, laundry detergent, some other household cleaner, and lukewarm water.

If you are worried about exposing your baby to chemicals then you can use a natural cleaner and make a mixture of baking soda and white vinegar and mix it with some warm water before adding the harness.

Fully submerge the straps underneath the water and let them sit for a couple of hours. If the harness is extremely dirty, you can even let it sit overnight.

Washing Baby Harness in a Washing Machine

The easiest way to get that baby harness nice and clean is by putting them in the washing machine but you should check the care instructions to make sure that they are machine washable. Ideally, you should put the harness inside a mesh bag so the nylon straps won’t get snagged on anything or get tangled with the other laundry. It is best to wash the shoulder straps with another laundry of the same color. White chair straps can also be washed in a bleach solution but most parents prefer to avoid harsh cleaners. 

You can use mild detergent and a normal cycle to wash the straps. You can also use a natural disinfectant like bicarbonate of soda or white vinegar if you are worried about the effect of harsh chemicals. 

How to Clean High Chair Straps

Washing Baby Harness in a Dishwasher

Did you know that you can wash the baby strap in the dishwasher? This is probably one of the simplest ways to get that highchair strap nice and clean, especially if the strap is particularly dirty. The hot water of the dishwasher is sure to kill all germs and bacteria. But if you want to use your dishwasher then you should check the label first. Some of these harnesses cannot handle warm temperatures and might melt or break after putting them in the dishwasher.

It is also best to wash the strap on its own and not with other dirty dishes. If there are too many food pieces in the dishwasher, these foods can become lodged in the strap fibers. 

Washing Baby Harness by Hand

You can also wash the soaked harness by hand. Simply grab a soft bristle nylon brush and some dish soap or laundry detergent. You can also use hydrogen peroxide if the removable straps are very dirty or have a lot of stubborn stains. Add the mild soap to the harness and lightly scrub with a soft brush until it is nice and clean.

Remember to rinse off all soap or baking soda mixture in cold water after thoroughly washing the harness.

Dry The Baby Harness

After washing the harness, it should be properly dried. You can add a wet strap to a dryer if you keep it in the mesh bag. But it should dry off very quickly if you simply hang the strap out in the open air. Just dry it off with a dry cloth and hang it on the clothesline. It is best not to hang a nylon baby strap in direct sunlight since the sun can damage and fade the strap.

Install the Baby Harness

If the baby harness is nice and dry, you can install the strap in the high chair. The installation method for harness straps might be different for different types of baby chairs but most of them are pretty easy to get in. 

 

Final Thoughts

Now that you know how to clean high chair straps, you can keep that baby chair clean and hygienic all the time. We hope that this guide was helpful so you can take good care of your chair straps and your baby. 

If you are looking for other great tips on how to clean chairs, how to repair chairs, or if you are looking for a new chair for your home or office then you should have a look at some of the other guides we have on ChairsWiki. With our guides, you can find a chair for every room and you can find all the best care tips. 

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