Looking for ways to clean your office chair? We have the solution for you!
Just like other office furniture, after many months or years of constant use, your office chair can quickly become the hotspot for germs and stains.
If this is the case, you might be wondering how to clean your office chair. In this blog, we will tell you what tools you need and provide you with the best techniques to get your chair looking brand spanking new!
Here at Order Office Furniture, we have an extensive array of exclusive office chairs, perfect for working at home or in the office.
Or, if you’re buying on a budget, our cheap office chairs are perfect for you, with over 270 budget chairs to choose from.
We spend most of our day sitting down, adding more and more pressure and germs onto our office chairs. Therefore, a good clean every now and then is essential to maintain their upkeep.
Let’s get into the nitty gritty and tell you how to clean your office chair!
Tools You Need
Before cleaning, it is essential to have the correct tools and products on hand.
- A vacuum cleaner - ideally a handheld vacuum cleaner, as this makes cleaning hassle-free. They are also better at handling small and intricate areas.
- Dishwashing soap - any general cleaning product or soap will do.
- Soft cloths - they don’t have to be anything too fancy, just something soft enough to wipe the chair with. Even an old T-shirt will do!
- Stain remover - if your chair is really grubby then stain remover will do a great job at removing stains and marks.
- Warm water - essential for washing away suds and giving the chair a good soak.
- Lint roller - these are great for removing hairs or clumps of dust.
- A toothbrush - a toothbrush is great for reaching more tricky areas that you might struggle to reach with a vacuum.
Having these items easily accessible means that you can maintain cleaning, and also react quickly to things such as spillages that need immediate care.
Vacuum and Dust
Start by vacuuming from the top of the chair to the seat, ensuring to sweep up any obvious dirt or dust. If there are spaces that are hard to reach with your vacuum, then using a duster and polish will help to clear away any specks of dust.
Wipe with Soap and Water
Once you’ve gathered up the base of dirt and marks, mix a few drops of dishwashing soap into a small bowl of warm water. You can do this by eye or until you feel the water is soapy enough.
Gently wipe all of the surfaces of the chair with a cloth dipped into the solution. Use enough so that the chair is getting a good clean, but don’t feel the need to drench it as this can soak through to the insert and cause damage.
Rinse and Dry
Once you’ve soaked your chair, grab a clean cloth and clean water and gently begin to wipe away any soap residue. Then, use another clean cloth to wipe down any damp surfaces, such as armrests or seat coverings.
It is best to let fabric surfaces air-dry for around 30 minutes, but if you don’t have the time or patience, then a hair dryer will do the job just fine!
Tackle Tricky Stains
If you find that your office chair is in a real mess, then an alcohol-based cleaner might be your best option to tackle tough stains. Gently rub your stain remover or alcohol into the stain, making sure that it’s not harming the fabric.
Remove the residue with a damp cloth and let the stain air dry - this should only take a couple of minutes.
If you find that your stain is still prominent, then getting in touch with an upholstery cleaner isn’t a bad idea. Just be prepared to pay a lot extra for professional cleaning.
How Long Should it Take?
If you’re ready to tackle the task of cleaning your office chair, then you may as well do it thoroughly. It’s easy to forget about all the nooks and crannies such as armrests, feet castors, or sections that can harbour a lot of dirt and dust.
We recommend spending at least 20 minutes cleaning. If you clean your office chair at least once a month and maintain regular upkeep, then the process should become a lot quicker and easier.
To remove stubborn stains or leave the fabric to soak, then 30 minutes seems a reasonable amount of time.
Keep on Top of Cleaning
Remember, just because you’ve now given your office chair a thorough cleaning doesn’t mean that it should be left without care for long periods! Regular cleaning in the workplace is essential for a more motivating environment.
We advise that you keep on top of cleaning every few weeks at least. Spraying your office chair with polish and giving it a quick dust is all that you need to do to ensure longevity.
At the end of each day, give your office chair a quick wipe with a cloth, freshening it for its next use.
If you spill any food or drink onto your chair, remember to tackle this spillage immediately. This ensures that you aren’t adding damage or harming the chairs’ fabric.
How To Clean Different Types of Office Chairs
Now we've taken you through the general basics of cleaning a desk chair, we've got specific instructions based on different fabrics. Some fabrics are much more delicate than others, so it's important to approach it the right way to reduce the chance of damage.
How to Clean Mesh Office Chairs
Get to grips with how to clean mesh office chairs with our simple step-by-step instructions:
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Attach an upholstery cleaner attachment on your vacuum cleaner and use it to give the chair a thorough vacuum to get rid of any dust and debris.
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Clean the meshing gently with a sponge and warm soapy water. Select a mild detergent and use sparingly.
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Wipe the meshing down with clean water to ensure there is no residue left over.
- Leave the chair to air dry out of direct sunlight.
How to Clean Leather Office Chairs
If you’re wondering how to clean a leather office chair, Order Office Furniture has you covered. Take care to follow the instructions below carefully to avoid any damage to your chair. Don’t start cleaning until you have everything you need as you’ll require a leather conditioner to prevent any cracking after washing:
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Don’t be tempted to vacuum the chair to get rid of dust - leather is a natural material and you don’t want to give it scratches and scrapes from the plastic nozzle of the vacuum cleaner. Instead, use a microfiber cloth with hot soapy water to tackle both dust and dirt at the same time.
- In the majority of cases that will take care of the cleaning. Still got a stubborn stain to try to lift? Here are a few things you can try:
- Using a few drops of washing-up liquid
- Using specialist leather spot cleaner
- Using hot water and cleaning alcohol
Using one of these methods directly on the stain and giving it a gentle massage in and wipe off should help take care of stains on leather office chairs.
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Dry the chair off with a towel to avoid streaking or water marks when air drying.
- Finish off with a leather conditioning treatment to keep the leather soft, supple and sealed from moisture.
How to Clean PU Leather Office Chairs
If you’re cleaning a faux leather office chair you’ll still need to follow the majority of the same steps given for leather chairs. However, there are a few things you’ll need to do differently:
- Don’t use a specialist leather cleaner, just stick to the hot soapy water. This is because the synthetic material will not absorb the conditioning agents in the leather cleaner and it will produce an oily buildup on the chair.
At Order Office Furniture we sell a range of real leather office chairs, including plush executive office chairs as well as incredible faux leather alternatives.
How to Clean Fabric Office Chairs
When considering how to clean a fabric office chair, remember to check the label to see what the chair is made from. Synthetic blends of polyester and nylon are the most common.
The first step is the same, regardless of what material the chair is made from:
- Use a vacuum cleaner all over the fabric to remove loose dirt and debris. Most vacuum cleaners will have a specific upholstery cleaning attachment for this purpose.
Once you have a clean base, it’s time to tackle any staining.
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Check the underside of your chair to see whether it has upholstery cleaning instructions. These are usually in the form of the letters: W, S, S/W, or X. This will help you determine what kind of cleaner you can use on stains.
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Once you know what kind of cleaning agent you can use, remove any staining using either a water-based cleaning solution or a professional upholstery cleaner. Then wipe off with a clean damp cloth.
- Allow your fabric office chair to air dry.
Shop fabric office chairs to get your hands on something that completes your space while supporting your back throughout the work day.
How to Clean Office Chair Wheels
We suggest two key methods depending on how dirty the wheels of your office chairs are:
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If you suspect the wheels of your office chair only require a quick freshen-up, vacuum the wheels with a vacuum and a brush attachment. That way any dust will be removed, freeing up the wheels
- Wondering how to clean office chair wheels that need a deep clean? Simply tip the chair upside down and remove the wheels by loosening any screws. Then wash the plastic wheels in warm soapy water, leave to air dry then reassemble.
Need a New Office Chair? Get in Touch Today!
Hopefully, you now have a better understanding of how to clean your office chair.
This handy guide is here to teach you the importance of regular cleaning and the impact it has on your office chair.
If you’re looking for chairs that last, then remember to check out our fabric office chairs or other budget office furniture.
If you would like to speak to a member of our team, please don’t hesitate to get in touch. Or alternatively, you can see our full range of home office furniture in person by making an appointment at our showroom in Huddersfield.
