Is it safe to use disinfectants containing benzalkonium chloride on baby high chairs?

What's actually in it

Benzalkonium chloride is a common disinfectant found in many household cleaning sprays and wipes. While it is marketed to kill germs, it is a chemical that does not just disappear after you wipe down a surface. It can leave behind residue that your baby may touch or ingest while eating in their high chair.

This chemical is classified as an endocrine disruptor. These are substances that interfere with the body's hormone systems. Because your baby is in a critical stage of development, exposure to chemicals that disrupt hormones can have long-term effects on their health.

What the research says

A 2026 study in Bioorg Chem found that benzalkonium disinfectants act as emerging endocrine disruptors. The research shows that these chemicals work by blocking the function of 11β-Hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase 2, an enzyme that is essential for proper hormonal balance.

This peer-reviewed study used both human and rat models to confirm that these disinfectants use specific chemical mechanisms to interfere with your body's natural processes. When you use these products on a high chair, you are introducing these disruptive chemicals directly into the space where your child eats every day.