Learn how to clean office chairs and get the most out of your workspace by following these general tips and tricks.
There are many factors to consider when choosing the best office chair. However, one of the most overlooked aspects of an office chair is its durability. After all, you spend a lot of time sitting in it, so why shouldn’t an office chair handle everything you throw at it? This is what many workers seem to think, but it doesn’t have to be that way.
Spend enough money on a quality office chair and you’ll get plenty of durability, but it will still need to be cleaned from time to time. In fact, regular maintenance of your favorite seats should mean you’ll extend their life. And if you spend a decent amount of money on it, it’s a big deal. So read on to get practical tips on how to clean your office chair.
It’s surprising how messy your workspace can become, especially if you tend to work long hours rather than part-time. If you sit on an office chair for more than a few hours a day, it will sooner or later need a basic cleaning. Dust and dirt are easy to find, and the best place to start is with a vacuum cleaner.
If you have a simple office chair design, you can probably get by without any accessories. Simply by using a vacuum cleaner hose, you can remove many everyday items like dust, hair, and food crumbs that seem to get everywhere with your keyboard. For a more thorough vacuum cleaning, it’s worth digging into the accessories, and the soft attachments are often the most useful.
By the way, if you have a vacuum cleaner that can reverse the draft, this can be a great way to blow a lot of dust off the surface in creases and corners. Although for obvious reasons it is best to do this outdoors.
This may seem obvious, but in addition to vacuuming to remove dust and dirt that is easier to see, a good dusting can benefit your office chair. Of course, this all depends on what material your chair is made of, but in many cases this can be done with a damp cloth or rag.
If you purchased your office chair from a reputable supplier, care and maintenance instructions should probably be included in the brochure or online. Luckily, if the chair is a good make and model, it will also have a letter cleaning code on it that will tell you what can be used on that material.
If you’ve tried the first few steps, it should be fine for a fairly young office chair that hasn’t had much use but still doesn’t look very good, then it’s time to move on. For a deeper clean, you can use mild soap and a little water. Keep in mind that some office chairs, especially those with cheaper synthetic covers, may be easier to handle than chairs made with fine and luxurious finishes.
A good quality microfiber cloth, when dampened, will be a godsend for getting into the creases and corners of your office chair. Little by little is the way to get the best results without impacting the surface of your office chair. The same fabric also works well to restore the shine of the frame and seat base. While you’re at it, perhaps apply a little lubricant to all moving parts, which should be noted in any documentation that came with your office chair.
If your office chair has been in use for a while, it may have been exposed to food and drink, and spills and accidents are almost inevitable over time. If the stains are very small, you can use a little rubbing alcohol or laundry detergent. Tougher stains may require a more effective cleaner, but vinegar is great if you don’t want to spend money on specialized stain removers.
However, if you have a more expensive office chair, it may be better to completely gut it and replace it with something off-the-shelf from your local equipment supplier. Depending on the materials your office chair is made from, you may also want to try steam cleaning certain areas. However, the key point to remember is to check which technology is compatible with which material. Obviously, different types of materials will react differently, so take your time.
If none of the things listed above are having much of an impact on your office chair, it may be time to consider calling in a professional. Interior design professionals can often achieve better results in less time, so what may seem like overkill may actually be the best course of action.
We’re all short on time these days, so spending a weekend trying to resurrect your tired old office chair may not be an efficient use of your time. Plus, with the right service, your favorite office chair will likely return to you in better than new condition.
How you clean your office chair also depends on what it’s made of and the materials used to make it. Be sure to check the owner’s manuals or brochures for the best advice on office chairs made from specialty materials. Likewise, do not use harsh cleaners or abrasive methods on more delicate materials.
Even leather, although a hard-wearing material, can be easily scratched or discolored if not properly cleaned. If you are unsure, try cleaning a small area that is hidden from view, such as the underside of a chair, where marks or stains are not visible to the naked eye.
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Rob Clymo has been a tech journalist for longer than he can remember, starting out in the strange world of print magazines before discovering the power of the Internet. Since he is all-digital, he spent several years at Microsoft managing the Innovation Channel and regularly providing news, reviews, features and other content for TechRadar, TechRadar Pro, Tom’s Guide, Fit&Well, Gizmodo, Shortlist and others, Automotive Interiors World, International Automotive. Test technologies, the future of transport and international technologies for electric and hybrid vehicles. On the rare occasions he isn’t working, he usually rides one of his many electric bikes.
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