Tips on how to clean an office chair

How to maintain an office chair like new?

As with other furniture that is used every day, office chair can quickly become a breeding ground for allergens and germs. Though, with regular household cleaning supplies, you can maintain your office chair like new.

Office chairs, especially highly adjustable chairs, tend to have crannies and nooks where lint, dust, crumbs, and hair can hide and accumulate. We’ll help you clear those out, whether you have a non-upholstered or upholstered chair.

Clearly, if your chair has instructions for cleaning, either attached to the chair or on the manufacturer’s website, pursue those guidelines in the first place. For instance, Herman Miller has a maintenance and care guide for Aeron chairs. Most of following recommendations below are based on Steelcase’s surface materials guide, which covers various types of chair materials.

Some chairs have a tag, which is usually located on the underside of the seat, with a cleaning code. That upholstery cleaning codes: (W, S, S/W, or X) suggest the best types of cleaners for use on the chair will it be dry-cleaning solvents only or water-based. In order to determine which cleaners to use, follow this guide that is based on the cleaning codes.

Chairs that are vinyl, leather, polyurethane or plastic mesh-covered can be regularly maintained utilizing following supplies:

1. A vacuum cleaner: A handheld vacuum or cordless stick vacuum can make vacuuming a chair as hassle-free as possible. Some vacuum attachments are specifically designed to eliminate allergens and dust from upholstery.

2. Dishwashing soap: Any clear dish soap or mild soap would work.

3. A spray bottle or a small bowl.

4. Two or three clean, soft cloths: Microfiber cloths, an old cotton T-shirt, or any rags that don’t leave behind lint will do.

5. A duster or can have compressed air (optional): A duster can reach into tight places that your vacuum might not be able to.

For deep cleaning or stain removal:

• Rubbing alcohol, vinegar, or laundry detergent: Stubborn fabric stains require a bit more help. The type of treatment will depend on the type of stain.
• A portable carpet and upholstery cleaner: For deep cleaning or to tackle frequent messes on your chair and other upholstered furniture and carpets, consider investing in an upholstery cleaner.

How long will this take to clean?

Make sure to clean up immediately any spills or stains by blotting them with a water-and-soap solution or water, in order to prevent them from setting deeply. Try to do it on daily basis. To freshen up your chair it will take about 15 minutes a day. It is highly recommended doing this procedure weekly, or as frequent as you sweep or vacuum your workspace or wipe down your desk. Stubborn stains removal or do seasonal deep cleaning, set aside about 30 minutes.

Vacuum and dust off the entire chair

Thoroughly vacuum up any hair, dust, lint or other debris starting from the top of the chair down to the wheels. Use a duster or a can of compressed air to clear out spots that are hard to reach with your vacuum.

Wipe the chair with a soap-and-water solution

Mix a few drops of dish soap with lukewarm water in either a small bowl or a spray bottle.

With a cloth dipped in the solution gently wipe all the surfaces of the chair, you can also lightly spray the chair with the solution and dab it in with a cloth. Use enough to coat the surface of the chair, but not so much that it soaks through to the insert because that could damage the chair’s materials.

Click here to find out more about Herman Miller Aeron Task Chair.

Rinse and dry

Moisten another cloth with clean water, and wipe away any residual soap. Then utilize another clean cloth for drying hard surfaces, like armrests and chair legs, or seat coverings, like, vinyl and leather.

Let soft surfaces like fabric seats air-dry—or, if you’re in a hurry to get back to sitting, you can also remove moisture with a hair dryer on the cool setting or a wet/dry vac.

With rubbing alcohol or another cleaning agent spot-treat stains

If the dish-soap solution doesn’t get rid of some stains, an alcohol-based cleaner might be able to lift them. At first place, test a small, unnoticeable area of the chair, like the underside of the seat, to make certain the cleaner won’t damage the fabric. Then delicately rub a few drops of the alcohol into the stain, without saturating the fabric. Wipe out residue with a damp cloth and let the fabric air-dry; the alcohol should dry quickly.