4 Types Of Office Chair: Cleaning Tips & Advice Compiled

According to a recent study by mobile access technology company, Kisi, Singapore was ranked second place in terms of work intensity score at 95.2, which is slightly just behind Tokyo whose score is at 100.

This work intensity score was based on several factors per city such as hours worked per week and number of vacation days taken, suggesting that Singaporeans generally spend a considerable amount of time at work, on their office chairs facing the computer. Whether it is a leather, mesh, plastic or fabric office chair, it is undeniable that all these office chairs are susceptible to wear and tear or stubborn stains due to prolonged use over time. Depending on the type of office chair, there are various methods to clean the chair.

While achieving high cleanings standards involves maintaining and cleaning office sofas, floors, and cabinets – a good way to kick off this cleaning process is with office chairs. Hence, this article seeks to provide tips and instructions on how to properly and effectively maintain your office chairs. You just need to follow a few sets of cleaning instructions and you will be good to go!

Leather office chair

A leather office chair is comfy, stylish, and professional. When you spend your money on such high-quality, elegant-looking furniture, you want to make sure that it stays in its most optimal condition. Here are some tips and instructions on how to maintain your leather office chair.

General Leather Cleaning Advice

Under daily usage, regular cleaning (dusting & vacuuming) is sufficient to clean your leather upholstery office chair – and to maintain the appearance of the leather, the solution is to keep your chair away from the direct sun and light. This is because of the leather’s susceptibility to fading due to sun exposure.

In addition, to keep the condition of your leather upholstery office chair in good quality, soft and supple that is, it is recommended that you apply a leather cream on a monthly basis. This leather cream can be used to easily remove stains and clean up dirt too.

Removing Stains and Scratches

When looking to remove stains and scratches, the recommended solution is to keep things simple. Anything too complicated could cause more detriment to your sofa and result in nullifying its warranty. Therefore, the ideal precaution to take is to protect your leather upholstery office chair through prevention from scratches and stains.

-For minor liquid spills such as alcohol, the first step is to use a dry, clean cloth to wipe any excess liquid. If required, use a moderately wet cloth to thoroughly clean the spot(s) that have stains and allow it to air-dry.

-For grease or stains, again, the first step is to use a  dry, clean cloth once more to wipe away any excess so the stain will vanish into the leather upholstery.

-Do take note that it is NOT recommended that you use any ammonia, harsh soaps, detergents or cleaning solvents to remove the stain as this may cause even greater detriment to the leather.

-Should the stain persist, it is advised that you contact a professional cleaning service provider such as Abba Maintenance Services to avoid further damage.

-Finally, when it comes to minor scratches, you may use a chamois cloth to buff the leather upholstery surface. If the scratch persists, get a small amount if distilled solution and rub it into the scratch using a dry, clean cloth.

Plastic office chair

A plastic office chair is comfortable and suitable for long-term use because of its ability to handle wear and tear. It is also easy to clean and maintain. In addition, if you want the option of stacking chairs to save space, plastic office chairs are definitely the way to go! Here is a quick and easy guide to cleaning your plastic office chair. Look forward to a plastic office chair that is free of dust, dirt, scratches, and stains!

General Plastic Cleaning Advice

You can usually get to cleaning most of your plastic office chair by using a solution of mild detergent mixed with warm water but do follow these tips carefully:

1. Make sure not to use any abrasive or highly alkaline solution.

2. Use a soft rag/brush to clean your plastic office chair. Do not trap any dust or dirt between the rag/brush to prevent scratching.

3. Avoid any scouring pads/any similar product, as they will also cause abrasion and, hence scratching.

4. Once done, put the chair upside down and rinse off the chair with water to free it from any residual dirt or soap.

5. Upon rinsing, use a dry and clean cloth to wipe the chair clean.

Fabric office chair

A fabric office chair is comfortable, easy to maintain and comes in a wide variety of patterns, colours and designs. However, they are prone to spills and can be a headache to clean up.

General Fabric Cleaning Advice

Before you start cleaning your chair, consult the manufacturer’s instructions on the chair to check for any types of cleaners that you should avoid. To clean the fabric office chair, you can use the brush attachment of a vacuum to get rid of any dirt and debris. The brush attachment allows you to work your way into hard-to-clean corners and easily removes dirt and debris.

Removing Stains From Fabric

For chairs that allow water-based cleaners, you can follow these steps to clean your fabric chair:

1. Apply foam cleanser onto the chair.

2. Let the cleanser sit for a few minutes.

3. Use a brush to rub and scrub the stained area.

4. Rinse and wipe the cleanser and residue off with clean water.

5. Use a high-volume fan or dehumidifier to dry the chair quickly. If you do not have either of them, you can allow the chair to air dry.

For chairs that do no allow water-based cleaners, you can follow these steps instead:

1. Apply a small amount of dry cleaner (liquid form or powder form) onto a piece of dry cloth.

2. Rub the stained area gently to get rid of the stains.

3. Use another piece of damp cloth to wipe up the residue.

4. Use a high-volume fan or dehumidifier to dry the chair quickly. If you do not have either of them, you can allow the chair to air dry.

Mesh office chair

A mesh office chair is breathable, compact and inexpensive. They provide excellent ventilation and keeps your back cool. Therefore, many individuals prefer the mesh office chair. Nonetheless, mesh office chairs require occasional cleaning.

General Mesh Cleaning Advice

1. Use the brush attachment on a vacuum to get rid of any dirt or debris off your chair.

2. For remaining dirt or debris, use warm soap and water.

3. Wipe the chair with a dry cloth.

Removing Stains From Mesh

When removing stains from a mesh office chair, you have to be gentle. Handling the mesh roughly could damage it and cause the mesh to fray. Here are some tips on removing stains from the chair:

-Use a soft cloth and gently dab the stain with a small amount of spot cleaner.

-Do not rub or scrub the mesh.

-After removing the stain, use a clean cloth to wipe up the spot cleaner.

-Allow the mesh to air dry.

Cleaning the caster wheels

Cleaned office chair caster wheels are smoother and quieter. Since they can easily trap dust and debris, the wheels need to be cleaned occasionally:

1. Lay the chair on the floor or turn the chair upside down to remove the wheels.

2. Pick out any dust or debris stuck between the wheels.

3. Use tape to remove any fine dirt from the wheels.

4. Since all the grits and particles are off the wheels, let them soak in soapy warm water.

5. Dry the wheels.

6. Reattach the cleaned wheels.

Conclusion

Every office chair type needs regular cleaning to maintain its condition and lengthen its lifespan. However, each type has its own way of cleaning, and is something to be constantly mindful about to achieve optimal results. So, with this guide – we hope you have a better idea of office chair cleaning.

But at times, certain stains, germs, and dirt can be hard to removed on your own – so it may be best to seek professional office cleaning services for help instead. Besides upholstery cleaning for office chairs, Abba also offers all sorts of cleaning services like pest control,  one-time cleaning, office carpet cleaning, and disinfection. Simply inform us of your cleaning worries and we’ll do the rest of the work.

Give us a call now or send in an enquiry for a free quote!