How To Clean A Fabric Office Chair [Step-by-Step Guide]

March 9th, 2022 | 5 min. read

No matter how careful you are, you can never escape the inevitable spills that can happen on your office chair. Or the crumbs from your lunch falling into the crevices of your chair that just seem impossible to get out.

You tell yourself, “I won’t spill my coffee, I’ll be careful” or “I won’t drop my muffin, I’ll be careful” and then all of a sudden…poof – everything has fallen onto you and your now not so clean office chair.

As we all know, office chairs along with other upholstered furniture are used so regularly in the workplace which is why they become a hotbed of germs, allergens, and dirt so quickly.

However, it’s not all doom and gloom.

While most office chairs are very resilient, it’s still important to maintain them regularly so that they can last as long as possible – this is where cleaning comes in,

But how do you clean an office chair? Is there anything you can do? Should I have it professionally cleaned every now and then?

At In-Tec, we’re constantly asked whether office chairs can even be cleaned and of course, we come back with “Yes!” This is exactly why this article I’ll take you through 2 ways you can keep your office chair clean.

And with saying that, let’s begin.

How to keep your office chair clean

I’m going to let you in on a little secret.

There are two ways to clean your office chair.

One involves you, and the other involves a commercial cleaning company.

The first way is for you to clean and maintain your office chair yourself (don’t worry, we get into this below).

The second way is to have your chairs professionally steam cleaned.

Now, there is one important thing to mention before we get into things. Both methods work together – you can’t do one and not the other. For instance, you must have your office chair steam cleaned because it ensures all dirt, germs, dust, and debris are removed, which is something you can’t do yourself.

You want to maintain your office chair yourself when accidents and spills happen, but you also want to invest in yearly upholstery cleaning.

What you can personally do to keep your office chair clean

An occasional accident with food, drink, or ink is bound to happen when you’re sitting at your office chair. And surely, it’s up to you to clean it up.

We understand that you may not know the correct, or best, way to clean your office chair. And that’s okay!

Below, we’ve provided a few cleaning methods you can implement that will help you take care of your chair if any accidents ever arise.

Vacuum your office chair regularly to get rid of any dust, lint, hair, or other debris. Most vacuums come with a dust or upholstery attachment which you can use to get into all the grooves and crevices where crumbs might settle.
Use a damp microfibre cloth to wipe the armrest and the star of the chair (the base).
Vacuum and clean the caster wheels to make sure they’re running smoothly. The wheels of an office chair are notorious for trapping hair and dust.
Use a quality microfibre cloth with water to dab any spills or stains to prevent them from setting in deeply. Remember to blot/dab and not rub with your cloth. This gives you the best chance to get rid of them completely and also protects the fabric of the chair.
Always check whether your chair has the manufacturer’s instructions. It specifies how you should clean your office chair and with what solutions.

It’s really that simple.

One key thing you want to remember is, always tackle any spots or stains as soon as you notice them. This gives you the best chance to get rid of them completely.

Get your office chairs professionally cleaned

Although there are things you can do to keep your office chair clean, it’s generally not enough.

Once you spill something on it or don’t clean it regularly, the challenge to get rid of the stains or smell begins.

This is where you need to ask your commercial cleaning company to professionally clean your office chairs with a hot water extraction machine (upholstery cleaning).

To give you a brief explanation, upholstery cleaning is the process of using pressurised hot water to penetrate deep into a fabric’s fibres to help soften and loosen embedded dirt, dust, stains, and most importantly kill germs, bacteria, and viruses.

The main advantage to you is that it will freshen and prolong the life of your office chair which is what you’re after!

But how is your office chair cleaned with a hot water extraction machine?

At In-Tec, our cleaners follow a detailed 5-step process for cleaning upholstery furniture including office chairs.

Our cleaners prep the equipment such as the hot water extraction machine, the pre-spray unit, and the relevant chemicals.
Then, they pre-vacuum the office chairs. This step ensures any surface dirt or debris is removed. It ensures that dirt doesn’t get pushed further into the fabric once the hot water extraction machine is used. Plus, overall, it assists in a better outcome.
Next, our cleaners spray and treat any stains. They typically use two different stain removals and the correct handheld scrubber to help loosen the stain from the fabric.
The chair is then pre-sprayed with a non-solvent emulsifier. The chemical needs to be given enough time to soak into the fabric, but must not dry before the final step.
You guessed it, the last step is the hot water extraction. A handheld wand applies the hot water while the machine sucks up (removes) loosened dirt and leftover water.

And that’s it!

What we’ve provided you is a basic step-by-step process of how your office chairs are professionally cleaned. However, if you want a more in-depth explanation, read our article on How is Upholstery Professionally Cleaned?

Now you may be wondering, “Do I really need to do this? Why can’t I just do it all myself?”

Don’t get me wrong, there are certain things you can do to clean your office chair as I mentioned above.

But, there’s a big difference between cleaning your office chair yourself, and having a professional do it every now and then (usually once a year).

Find out the differences below!

What are the benefits of having your office chair professionally cleaned?

Of course, we’ve already mentioned a few of the benefits that come with cleaning your office chair like eliminating dust, dirt, and germs.

But, there are a few other benefits that may surprise you which include:

Prolongs and renews the life of your office chair
Deodorises and removes odour
Gets rid of spots and stains
Prevents damage to your office chair and maintains it
Guarantees an effective deep clean of your office chair

How good is that?

Wouldn’t you want a clean, rejuvenated fabric office chair rather than a dirty, worn-out office chair?

You decide.

It’s time to clean your office chair

If you haven’t been cleaning your office chair, it’s probably time to do so.

By doing it yourself, and also having it professionally done, you’ll never have to worry about dirt and germs living in your chair and making a home for themselves.

You’ll also notice that your chair will last longer too!

Remember, you sit in your office chair every day for long periods of time. Wouldn’t you want it to be clean?

Now, after reading this article, there’s no excuse to sit in that stained, smelly seat anymore!

At In-Tec, upholstery cleaning is often performed during periodical cleans. If you’re interested in finding out more, read our article on What Is Periodical Cleaning? and find out exactly why it’s beneficial for your site.