All You Need To Know About Cleaning And Maintaining Office Chairs

Of all the items of commercial furniture that may be purchased for a medical or healthcare facility, a case can be made that the office chair is the one that suffers the most wear and tear.

The main reason these occur is that office chairs in medical facilities are used almost every day, and for more hours per day than just about any other commercial office furniture you can name, by administrators and care professionals.

It is for these reasons that anyone tasked with buying office chairs for health organisations must ensure that they are high quality and from commercial furniture manufacturers known for supplying durable office furniture to medical and care facilities.

The increased usage of the office chair that we mentioned means that it is likely to require a higher degree of maintenance and cleaning than other office furniture.

So, we thought it might be useful if we gave you some tips on what maintenance an office chair hair might require, and how you can clean them.

We have not forgotten that office chairs can be made with different materials such as leather, mesh, and fabrics, so we have included cleaning tips for all three of them.

Maintaining An Office Chair

In truth, beyond cleaning, which we discuss below, the maintenance that can be carried out on an office chair is somewhat limited.

Apart from occasionally lubricating moving parts such as the wheels and tilt mechanism, for example, there is only one main part that you have to concern yourself with, and that is the height adjustment piston.

Also known as a gas strut, this is what allows the chair height to be adjusted up and down.

At the highest height, it is the pressure within the piston that keeps the chair at that height, and when the chair is adjusted to a lower height, the pressure in the piston diminishes so that the seat moves down.

However, with prolonged use, the pressure subsides completely, and you will feel the chair sinking when you sit on it.

Unfortunately, the height adjustment piston is not something that can easily be fixed, so in most cases, you will have to purchase a replacement gas strut.

Cleaning A Leather Office Chair

One thing you should know about leather chairs is that cleaning them will have more of a positive impact in prolonging their lifespan than any other material. Tips for cleaning leather office chairs include:

• Never use alcohol-based cleaners on leather.
• To clean, use a damp (but not soaking wet) cloth to wipe over the leather which will remove surface dust, grime, and dirt.
• Be mindful of using coloured cloths as they can occasionally transfer dye to the leather.
• Ensure all parts of the leather are dried thoroughly using a towel or dry cloth.
• Applying leather conditioner will keep the leather in top condition.

Cleaning A Mesh Office Chair

Mesh office chairs are normally robust and durable. However, that can be compromised if they are not cleaned every 4 weeks at least. Tips for doing so include:

• Vacuum clean with the hose attachment to remove surface dirt but ensure you have the vacuum cleaner on a low suction setting.
• Use a damp cloth, to which you can add a small amount of dish soap, to wipe away any stubborn marks that remain after vacuuming.
• A dry cloth can be used to dry the chair, although leaving it to dry overnight is also an option.

Cleaning A Fabric Office Chair

As these are more common than leather and mesh there will be no shortage of cleaning tips, but here are ones that work:

• Using the hose attachment of a vacuum cleaner, remove surface debris.
• Before applying any cleaning fluids or solutions, always check the manufacturer’s cleaning guidelines.
• If water is allowed, do not soak cleaning cloths but, instead, make them damp.
• Always dab fabric to clean it rather than rubbing it which can cause damage such as colour variation and wear.
• Ensure the chair is given sufficient time to dry completely before using it again.