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One of my pet peeves is germs and office chairs, desks, and keyboards have about “21,000 germs per square inch. In fact, the average office desk harbors 10 million bacteria”… yuck!
With the amount of use that office chairs get, they can quickly become a center for bacteria, dust, and allergens. But we can’t see all of the germ buildup them so they go unnoticed. As someone who has spent countless hours over the years and decades cleaning my office, home office, and my husbands, I have pretty much seen it all.
In this article I’ll share all of that experience and help guide you through how to clean an office chair, whether it be a mesh office chair, leather, or any other fabric.
How to Clean an Office Chair with Chair Instructions
Your chair will have its own cleaning instructions, so have a quick look before starting. Below are the codes to look for so you use the right cleaners and avoid accidental damage.
Finding and Reading Care Labels
I always start by checking under the seat or on the back for cleaning codes:
- W: safe for water-based cleaners
- S: solvent-based cleaners only
- WS/SW: both water and solvent cleaners are acceptable
- X: vacuum cleaner only
I’ve saved chairs from accidental damage by checking these codes first!
Essential Cleaning Tools and Materials
From my extensive experience, here’s what you’ll need:
- Vacuum with a soft brush vacuum attachment
- Microfiber cloths are ideal
- Material-specific cleaners, which are easy to find, or mild soap
- Compressed air canister
- Hand towels
Choosing the Right Cleaning Solutions
I recommend:
- Fabric office chair: use mild dish soap solution or specialized upholstery cleaner if your chair comes with some
- Leather office chair: leather-specific cleaner and conditioner are ideal because you want to be specific with a high quality leather chair
- Mesh office chair: use a gentle soap solution (1:10 ratio of soap to water)
How to Clean and Office Chair by Material
Fabric Office Chairs
After cleaning as many chairs as I have with various fabrics, here’s what I do:
- Initial Dust Removal
- Maintaining fabric upholstery through regular cleaning practices, which can be quick if you get into a routine. Just a minute or two at the end of each week will prevent staining and potentially unpleasant odors if food has dropped
- Gently rub the surface with a dry microfiber cloth
- Vacuum thoroughly, especially in using low suction
- Pay special attention to seams and crevices where dust and other stuff build up
- Deep Cleaning
- Test any harsher cleaner on hidden areas in case they cause damage to your specific material
- Work in small sections
- Use dabbing motions, never rub
- Use a hair dryer to dry residual moisture within the material
- Drying Process
- Air dry away from direct sunlight
- Use fan for faster drying
- Avoid high heat sources, but low heat with low power on a hair dryer is usually fine
Mesh Office Chairs
Mesh requires special attention and a gentle touch because the mesh can stretch:
- Preliminary Cleaning
- Use compressed air canister (click link to view on Amazon) to dislodge particles
- Vacuum gently with brush attachment
- Wipe with dry microfiber cloth
- Deep Cleaning
- Apply gentle cleaning solution
- Use soft brush in circular motions
- Avoid oversaturation
- Blot excess moisture
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Leather Office Chairs
Leather office chair care is my specialty because they are my favorite home office chair material, and here’s what works best for a thorough cleaning to maintain their comfort and luxurious appearance:
- Initial Care
- Dust with a dry microfiber cloth
- Inspect for any damages or stains (use effective stain remover)
- Remove surface dirt
- Cleaning Process
- Apply leather cleaner sparingly
- Work in small sections
- Wipe clean with fresh cloth
- Condition after cleaning
- Maintenance
- Apply leather conditioner about quarterly
- Keep our of direct sunlight
- Regularly dust between cleanings
Tackling Common Office Chair Problems
Removing Stubborn Stains
Based on many chair cleanings due to my clumsy husband, here’s what I’ve found works:
Coffee Stains:
- Blot immediately (never rub!)
- Apply specialized cleaner
- Use clean cloth to absorb the liquid
- Repeat if necessary
Ink Marks:
- Dab the chair’s upholstery with rubbing alcohol
- Work from the outside inward
- Change cloth frequently
- Follow with appropriate conditioner
A steam cleaner can also be a really effective method for cleaning a chair’s upholstery. Always check the upholstery label to ensure that steaming is safe for the fabric.
Component-Specific Cleaning
Chair Wheels
I’ve found this method most effective:
- Remove the wheels if possible, but if you’re not handy, please don’t!
- Clear any debris with tweezers, which is tedious but necessary
- Clean the wheels with damp cloth
- Apply a silicone lubricant to keep your wheels rolling well
- Reattach and test to make sure they’re attached properly
Armrests and Base
My proven approach is to:
- Wipe with an appropriate cleaner
- Pay attention to any texture changes that might need a different cleaning solution
- Dry them thoroughly so moisture doesn’t stay, which can cause mold
- Apply a protectant if needed
Preventive Maintenance Schedule
These are best practices to keep your office chair clean, but I have to admit that I am not this thorough. If you do even a portion of this, it will be a great improvement.
Daily:
- Clean your office chair right away if anything falls, don’t wait
- Quick wipe of high-touch areas
- Visual inspection
- Address any spills immediately
Weekly:
- Thorough vacuuming
- Wipe down all surfaces
- Check for loose components
Monthly:
- Deep cleaning
- Condition leather if applicable
- Inspect mechanisms
- Clean wheels thoroughly
Professional Tips for Long-Term Care
From my years of experience:
- Invest in a good chair mat to help your floor and to keep the wheels clean if you have a carpet floor
- Implement a no-food policy if possible
- Use protective sprays appropriate for your material
- Keep cleaning supplies easily accessible
- Document cleaning schedule
For deep cleaning and addressing tough stains, consider hiring a professional upholstery cleaner.
When to Seek Professional Help
Consider professional cleaning when:
- Deep stains aren’t coming out
- You can smell unusual odors
- Material show any damage
- After any water damage
- Periodic deep cleaning is a good idea once a year or every 18 months, especially if you have a “statement chair”
Environmental Considerations
I’ve developed these eco-friendly practices:
- Use biodegradable cleaners
- Opt for reusable cleaning cloths
- Choose water-based solutions when possible
- Minimize chemical use
- Consider steam cleaning for fabric chairs
Final Thoughts and Recommendations
Remember that germs fester if you leave them unattended. A clean chair is good for your health and stain removal will keep your chair looking great. You should try to rub down the entire chair every few weeks at an absolute minimum, with special attention to hard to reach places. I use a mild detergent in a spray bottle that are approved with my chair’s specific code with paper towels for quick maintenance.
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