If you have a desk job, then you are likely glued to the computer, sitting on your office chair, all day long, day after day. And that means that you basically live in that office chair, so it better be comfy! And if you work from home, then it falls down to you to maintain not only your office space, but your chair, to ensure that it remains comfortable, ergonomic, and clean.
When it comes to keeping your office chair clean, specifically, we are referring to regularly office cleaning it, because just like all other things around the house, your office chair is going to become dirty.
Especially with the amount of usage that you will be giving it! And sure, you could just leave it be. But who wants to sit in a dirty chair day after day? You will feel much better if it is clean and well-maintained, which will, in turn, lead you to work better and more comfortably!
But…how do you clean an office chair? It’s not exactly something that can be dumped in the washing machine, or placed under the sink. So how do you clean it? Are there different methods? And how regularly should you be cleaning your office chair, ideally?
Not to worry, we, CLEANA commercial cleaning services company can answer all of these questions and give you plenty of tips on how to clean an office chair, so that yours is as good as new. Does that sound good? Then let’s get right into it!
Step-By-Step Instructions On How To Clean An Office Chair
Let’s start with answering the main question: how to clean an office chair.
Before we give you step-by-step instructions, it is important to remember that there are many different types of office chairs, so not all office chairs are cleaned the same.
You have to take into account the design of the office chair, but also the materials that it is made out of, as different materials and fabrics have different cleaning requirements in order to ensure proper care and maintenance.
Meaning that the first step, before you even begin cleaning, should be to check the manual of instructions, or any labels on the chair itself, for any instructions or tips on the cleaning requirements specific to that particular office chair.
That being said, the steps we will go through are standard and can be applied to most office chairs. Just change and adapt steps when needed, according to your chair’s specific requirements, as simple as that!
Without further ado, here is how to clean an office chair:
- First of all, you need to remove any visible debris from the office chair, such as food crumbs, objects, pencils, pieces of paper…anything that might have fallen onto the chair while you work, basically. Just empty the office chair until it’s clear.
- Next, you need to use a vacuum cleaner. Yes, a vacuum cleaner, on the office chair. A handheld one would be ideal, but honestly, any vacuum cleaner will do. Vacuuming the chair will help remove smaller bits of debris, as well as any other dirt and dust that have accumulated on the surface over time.
Make sure to vacuum the entire chair, including the armrests, the back, and other parts.
- Now, depending on the label or tag on your chair, you will need to clean any stains that you find in one of two ways. If there is an S on the tag, it means it should be cleaned with solvent-based solutions. If there is a W on the tag, it means it should be cleaned with water-based solvents only. (If you see both an S and a W then you can choose any kind of solvent for cleaning, all types will be fine).
Whichever type of solvent it is that you are using, make sure to apply a small amount of it onto a cloth, and then press that dampened cloth against the stain, blotting it. If you rub, make sure it is very gentle, or else you could damage the fabric of the office chair!
- If step two doesn’t quite get rid of the stains on your office chair, you might want to try a stronger product. Make sure it is a product suitable for the fabric of your office chair, and if in doubt, try a small bit beforehand.
- For a deep general clean of the office chair, we recommend using a solution of liquid soap and warm water (maybe some detergent, just make sure that it isn’t too abrasive, or else it might damage the chair’s fabric!)
Wet a cloth in the solution, and then wipe down the chair all over. Remember to flip the chair over so that you clean the underside too!
You can then go over the chair with a dry cloth, to absorb the moisture, and let it dry completely out in the air.
- Last, but not least, you need to clean the wheels. Rolling around the office eventually fills the wheels up with dirt and debris, and they need cleaning in order to be able to keep functioning properly, and not get stuck.
This part can be a bit of a hassle, especially if there are hairs and similar tangled around the wheel’s mechanism. You might have to use a butter knife to get rid of some of the dirt that is trapped, or alternatively some scissors.
The good thing is that you don’t need to be as careful with the wheels, so you can use a wider range of products and methods. Oh and don’t forget that the wheels can be removed for cleaning, this makes it so much easier!
And that’s basically it! You could also spray the chair with something to make it smell nice and fresh, if you want, for that extra touch. But the chair should be pretty clean and ready for continued use!
How Regularly Should You Clean An Office Chair?
Now that we’ve talked about how to clean an office chair, it’s time to address the other major question: the frequency. How often should you be cleaning your office chair?
Many people forget that they should be cleaning it every so often and simply don’t. But trust us, if you want your chair to be well-maintained and comfortable, cleaning it is important.
As to the specific frequency of cleaning your office chair, however, we don’t have an exact answer. As a general rule, we’d say that you should be cleaning it every week, or maybe once every two weeks if you don’t really dirty it.
But basically, you should clean the office chair whenever it becomes dirty, or whenever it has been a long time since you last cleaned it and checked it over.
Usually, it’s quite easy to accidentally spill a drink or food on your office chair, especially if you get snacky during work. And when this happens, you should clean the chair immediately, to avoid the stains from becoming permanent.
