How often should office chairs be cleaned? ( When and how to clean them )

How often should office chairs be cleaned?

We all spend a lot of time sitting in our office chair. It is therefore important that your chair is kept fresh, hygienic and smelling great. It shouldn't only be incidents such as accidental coffee spillages on our chair that make us consider cleaning it.

How often should office chairs be cleaned? The simple answer to this is that there is no exact answer. Factors that will influence the frequency of cleaning your office chair will include the following considerations:

  • The amount of use the chair receives
  • The clothing being worn when sitting on the chair - for example is it covered in animal hair if you have a cat or dog at home?
  • What material the chair is made from
  • If you know how to clean your office chair!

The actual frequency can vary anywhere between once a week, to once a year dependant on individual preference. We would recommend this is done at least once a month as an absolute minimum, but ideally more often.

This is for actual cleaning of the chair and not just a vacuum off, which should be done in every cleaning session.

Best cleaning processes for office chairs made from different materials:

How to clean a fabric office chair

Fabric office chairs are the most commonly seen due to the value they offer.

The first step of cleaning this chair is to vacuum the chair all over to remove any hair and debris as far as possible. Vacuum attachments can make this task more easy - learn more about picking the best vacuum for your office by clicking here.

After you have done this, check any labels on your chair for manufacturers guidance on how to clean, as some materials may have limits on what products can be used on them.

Assuming the instructions don't prevent the use of water, you have a few options available to you. A foam cleanser can be applied to the whole chair, and left for a few minutes to allow contact time and the product to work. You can then use a non abrasive brush to carefully remove any marks. After this process, use a damp (not wet!) cloth to carefully remove any residue remaining on the chair to prevent marking the upholstery.

Another simple option is just the use of washing up liquid and water. Mix a few drops of washing up liquid and dab marks off the chair. Use a damp cloth after to remove any remaining marks.

Don’t forget to clean the chair wheels and armrests, which can get very dirty too and can also be cleaned with the same solution!

If the manufacturers label states that you are unable to use water-based cleaners, use a dry cleaner, which come both in liquid and powder forms.

How to clean mesh office chairs

Mesh office chairs and becoming more and more popular now, offering great support and also a breathable back. On the face of it, cleaning them may appear a daunting tasks, however this couldn't be further from the truth.

The best cleaner for mesh is washing up liquid, so not heading to the shops for specialist products required!

Begin by vacuuming with the brush attachment to get rid of any loose debris.

Mix together a small amount of washing up liquid and warm water and dip a clean cloth in it. Wring it out if necessary. Wipe out stains and let air dry when you are done. It really is that simple!

Don’t forget to clean the chair wheels and armrests, which can get very dirty too and can also be cleaned with the same solution!

Cleaning plastic office chairs

Plastic chairs are the easiest of chairs to clean. The most efficient and effective way to clean a plastic office chair is to use a mixture of washing up liquid and water. If the chair is very dirty, try mixing a few drops more of washing up liquid into the cleaning mixture to increase the strength. You can also use a sanitiser to fully sanitise and fully disinfect on each clean.

Gently wipe out any remaining stains and rinse with a damp cloth until clean.

Don’t forget to clean the chair wheels and armrests, which can get very dirty too and can also be cleaned with the same solution!

How to clean leather office chairs

Leather does tend to absorb oils from your body more readily, but stains can usually be lifted reasonably well, as long as you use the right cleaning product and technique to complete the task.

The best product for cleaning an office leather chair is to purchase a gentle foam cleaner that is suitable for use on leather chairs. Always aim for a gentle foam cleaner, as those for leather furniture can be more harsh and may damage your chair when being used.

Apply a small amount of cleaning foam to a dry cloth and gently scrub the leather, paying particular attention to any obvious stains. Add a small amount of warm water to the foam. Use a clean cloth to wipe the leather office chair clean and dry. For extra protection for your leather office chair, you may wish to consider adding a leather protectant.

Don’t forget to clean the chair wheels and armrests, which can get very dirty too and can also be cleaned with the same solution if leather, or a mixture of washing up liquid and warm water if not!

The easiest way to keep your office chairs and whole office looking great is to hire a professional cleaning company to take care of this for you. Learn more about Green Fox Cleaning and our office cleaning service by clicking here.

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