An office chair is an essential piece of furniture that you use for a third of your workday and much of your week. It’s important to keep it clean and hygienic to avoid frequently replace your office chair. In this comprehensive guide, we’ll teach you useful and time-saving tips and tricks on how to clean an office chair for all type of soft material (leather, mesh, fabric, etc.)
We’ll go through all the supplies needed for each material type along with the most efficient way of cleaning the specific material. Get started below and find all the prerequisites you’ll need to keep your office chair sparkling.
Table of Contents
How to Clean an Office Chair: What You’ll Need
Below you’ll find some of the most common supplies to get started with cleaning your office chair. It’s wise to have these ready before you dig in. Along with the types of equipment, we’ll also specify why and what works best for each.
- Vacuum cleaner: Use a vacuum cleaner with an upholstery attachment. The small attachment will help get loose dirt and debris from the chair in hard-to-reach places. The crevice tool is also helpful.
- Soft-bristled brush or sponge: Using these works well on most materials. Make sure they have soft bristles to prevent damaging certain materials, like leather.
- Fabric/Leather cleaner: A cleaner specific to the material type of your chair is important to prevent bleaching the color away.
- Clean cloths or towels: Ensure it’s a clean cloth to stop the spread of dirt from cloth to fabric. Use the cloth to wipe the aforementioned cleaner or any excess liquid.
- Baking soda or vinegar: Both baking soda and vinegar are great for removing stains that won’t go away with normal cleaning. To create a paste, in a small bowl add 2 spoons of baking soda, 2 team spoon of vinegar and little water. It should be a dense paste not liquid.
- Fabric deodorizer (optional): These are great for removing odors from certain materials like leather and fabric. It’s important to follow the deodorizer’s instructions.
How to Clean Different Types of Office Chairs
So, how to clean an office chair? Now that we’re prepared and have our cleaning supplies and equipment, it’s time to get cleaning. But one more thing before we get started: The cleaning method you use for your chair depends on the type of material the office chair is made out of. Check the label to see what material is used and then head over to the respective section below to find out how to clean it.
Fabric
Fabric office chairs can be tricky and are one of the hardest office chair materials to clean. Make sure you have a vacuum cleaner with an upholstery attachment at the ready. You will also need a soft sponge or brush, a detergent, or a fabric cleaner along with clean towels.
You always want to start with a vacuum cleaner to remove any loose dirt or debris from the chair. Spot-clean any stains with a mild detergent with water. Use the soft brush to work the solution into the fabric. Rinse with water and wipe clean with a cloth. Finish with deodorizer if needed.
Genuine Leather
You will need a vacuum cleaner with an upholstery attachment along with cloths and a leather cleaner or mild detergent at the ready. You will also need a couple of glasses of water.
Firstly you want to use the vacuum cleaner with an upholstery attachment to remove any loose dirt and debris from the chair, especially the crevices. You will then need to use a soft cloth dampened with water to gently clean the whole office chair. Avoid too much water, as it can damage the leather material. Wipe clean with a clean cloth.
Genuine leather chairs can be tricky and sometimes will need conditioning as well.
Faux (PU) Leather
The following equipment will be needed: a vacuum cleaner with an upholstery attachment, a soft cloth, a bottle of leather cleaner or a scoop of mild detergent, and water.
First, go through the chair with a vacuum cleaner with an upholstery attachment to remove any loose dirt or debris from the chair and crevices. Use a soft cloth dampened with water to spot clean any stains. Apply the faux leather cleaner to a soft cloth and rub it in using a circular motion. Rise and wipe clean with a clean, dry cloth.
Mesh
To clean mesh material office chair properly you’ll need: A vacuum cleaner with an upholstery attachment, a couple of soft cloths, mild detergent or all-purpose cleaner, and some water.
You want to start by using the vacuum cleaner with an upholstery attachment to remove any loose dirt and debris from the chair and crevices. Using a dampened soft cloth spot clean any stains you may see. Apply the cleaning solution to a soft cloth and rub it into the material using circular motions. Rise and dry the chair using some clean, soft towels or cloth.
Plastic
Every office chair will have some form of plastic. To clean it, you will need a soft cloth, an all-purpose cleaner or mild detergent, and some water.
Firstly, use a soft cloth or brush to remove any loose debris or dirt from the chair. Next, you’ll prepare the cleaning solution by mixing the cleaner with some water in a bucket. Dip a soft cloth into the solution and wipe down the plastic around the chair. Rinse and dry using a clean towel or cloth.
Wood
For wooden material, you will need the following cleaning supplies: Soft cloth or towels, wood cleaner or mild detergent, and water. Optionally you may also use furniture polish as a finishing touch.
You want to start by wiping the wooden chair clean with a damp soft cloth to remove any loose debris and dirt. Mix a small amount of mild detergent or wood cleaner with water in a bucket. Dip a new cloth into the solution and wring out the excess. Wipe down the wooden material. Rinse and dry the chair. Optional apply furniture polish to protect and add shine to the wood.
Final Thoughts
There you have it, how to clean an office chair quickly and easily. While it may seem like a chore to clean it’s straightforward if you follow this guide correctly. An important thing to keep in mind is to always check the manufacturer’s labels on the chair for material type before committing to one of the cleaning methods. Also be careful when using strong detergents as they can damage the material, always follow the instructions.
FAQs
How long does it take to clean?
It depends on various factors, such as the size of the chair, how dirty it is, and the type of material being cleaned. If you’re deep cleaning then allow anywhere from 30 minutes to an hour of spare time.
What can I use to clean my fabric office chair?
Fabric material can be very sensitive, so it’s important to use proper cleaning supplies. Use a specific cleaner for fabric when possible or a tiny bit of mild detergent.
How do I deodorize my office chair?
Before deodorizing your office chair, do a deep clean of it using the method provided above. Buy a deodorizer specific to your material and use a clean, dry cloth to work it into the material.
