Guest Blog | How to Clean Your Office Chair: Instructions for Different Upholstery Types

A clean office chair is a happy office chair.

The occasional coffee spill or breadcrumbs falling off your sandwich and getting trapped in your mesh office chair can lead to serious hygienic issues as the dirt piles up.

We all know that sitting on a dirty, germ-infested office chair isn't fun and can lead to some pretty nasty health issues.

So, if you're looking for tips on how to properly clean your own office chair, this article will be perfect for you.

How to get started with cleaning your office chair

Get your equipment and cleaning utensils ready

You will need the following things to clean your office chairs:

- A vacuum cleaner.

- A cleaning cloth or sponge with some dish soap.

- Water in a spray bottle (optional) *Make sure to use the right amount of water so that you don't end up leaving streaks on your chair's surface*

Start by vacuuming your chair

Make sure that you change your vacuum bag first and use a brush attachment or upholstery tool if possible. This will help loosen debris from deep in the fabric of the chair, which is often where most dirt hides.

Clean spills

Spilling something on your office chair is bound to happen. Even the most careful office workers will eventually have a soda, water or coffee spill. Once you've noticed that something has been spilled on your office chair, it's important to clean up as soon as possible!

If it's just liquid (like water), blot with paper towels and then use dish soap and warm water mixed together in a spray bottle to wipe down the fabric of your office chair. If there are any stubborn stains left over from that type of mess, mix equal parts white vinegar and hydrogen peroxide into a bucket filled with lukewarm water and soak the area for about 20-30 minutes before wiping away what remains with some cleaning solution or mild detergent diluted in cool/lukewarm

Cleaning the wheels

Examine your wheels for build-up - this can be tough to clean off, so if you don't see any dirt on them then nothing needs done there! If they're dirty, scrub with Woolite® Advanced Cleaner & Protector using an old toothbrush or nail brush. Rinse well afterward before reattaching the wheel casings securely in their respective slots.

Tips for cleaning different upholstery types

Whether your office-fit out consists of leather chairs, vinyl chairs or other, the steps to get the best cleaning results are very similar, but there are a few things to consider for specific chair types.

Depending on the upholstery type, it can be a little more difficult to clean. If you follow these tips, you'll get the best results:

Leather chairs

For leather chairs, clean them as soon after using them if possible. If you can't do this, at least shake or brush off any loose dirt before it dries and becomes difficult to remove later on. Then clean the surface with a damp cloth or sponge, using a mild soap that is recommended for use on leather.

Don't forget to wipe over any seams and tufting where dirt can gather (and we all know how hard it can be to remove this later!). Dry well after cleaning. If you're not confident of your ability to get everything perfectly dry and no longer sticky, invest in some furniture polish spray which will help add an extra layer of protection against dust-mite allergens.

Seat Upholstery: For fabric seats, vacuum them regularly as before mentioned but also make sure you have something like Woolite® Advanced Cleaner & Protector at hand when stains occur. Spray down then let it soak into the material.

Vinyl office chairs

Similar to cleaning leather chairs, you'll want to use a mild soap that is recommended for vinyl. Test an inconspicuous area first, because not all soaps are the same and could affect the material of your chair in unforeseen ways.

Wipe over any seams and tufting where dirt can gather with a dry cloth or towel before spraying down with Woolite® Advanced Cleaner & Protector as well.

Mesh office chairs

So what's the best way to clean a mesh office chair?

Your best off by starting with a thorough vacuuming of the chair's surface, armrests and back.

Then spray on a Woolite® Advanced Cleaner & Protector to cover any stains or dirt that remain.

Something else you can try is a diluted mixture of Woolite® and water.

If you need to remove the cover, be sure to close it so that dirt doesn't get on your office chair!

Our final tip on how to clean a mesh office chair is to use a lint roller.

Closing words

In summary, cleaning office chairs is really not that difficult.

Chairs tend to get dirty from spills, crumbs and all sorts of things. They can get dusty if you renovate your home or get dirty while being transported when moving house. Either way knowing the best way to clean your chair definitely comes in handy.

Most office chairs can be cleaned with a vacuum cleaner and soap, while some may require more effort.

To prevent your office furniture from looking worse after cleaning it, make sure you remove the cover before vacuuming or washing so that dirt doesn't get on the fabric!

We hope this this article was helpful in showing you how to clean your office chair.