How to Clean Fabric, Leather and Mesh Office Chairs

For most office workers, much of their working week is spent sat at the same desk and on the same chair. While many of us regularly tidy and clean our desks, the same often cannot be said for our office chairs. With so many workers eating and drinking at their desks every day, accidents and spillages of coffee, tea and food are bound to occur.  

With that in mind, how do you keep your chair free from odour and stains? Office chairs come in a variety of styles and, more importantly from a cleaning perspective, materials, each of which need to be treated differently to avoid causing damage or worsening blemishes. The following guide provides step-by-step instructions to help you clean your office chair as effectively as possible. 

How to Clean Fabric Office Chairs 

Fabric is the most commonly used and most affordable material for upholstering office chairs, but can attract significant amounts of dust, dirt and grime over the years. This is often highlighted by the bright colours used to cover office chairs and requires an intensive process to effectively clean. 

If your fabric office chair needs a little TLC, be sure to go through the following steps: 

1. Vacuum  

Before you proceed with any wet cleaning products, make sure your chair has been thoroughly dusted and vacuumed. This will remove any dry dirt or debris that may be sitting on the surface of the chair, allowing a more thorough clean once you move onto the next step. 

2. Check the label 

Before you go in with cleaning product, always check to see if there are any labels present on your chair. These can indicate whether your chair can be treated with a water-based solution (“W”), or a dry-cleaning solvent (“S”). Once you’ve checked which products are suitable, we’d recommend spot-checking the solution on a small, inconspicuous part of the chair, to ensure it doesn’t cause any damage.  

3. Clean the fabric 

If your chair can be cleaned with a water-based solution, a clean, damp cloth, with warm water and liquid soap is a simple yet effective option. If you’re tackling a specific stain, always make sure you’re using a dabbing motion rather than scrubbing, as this could force the dirt further into the fabric.   

If you’re cleaning your chair with a water-free solvent or dry-cleaning product, make sure you’re doing so in an open, well-ventilated room. Use a dry, clean cloth and again, blot any stains in order to remove them.  

4. Dry 

Whether you’ve used a water-based or solvent-based solution to clean, you should always leave the chair to completely air dry before moving onto the next step.  

5. Re-vacuum  

Once you’ve cleaned the fabric, vacuum one final time to ensure the chair is free from any dirt or dust that may have been lifted by your cleaning product.  

6. Wipe the arms and legs 

Finally, dampen a cloth with warm, soapy water or an all-purpose cleaning product, and wipe over the non-fabric components including the legs, armrests, and underneath of your chair. 

How to Clean Leather Office Chairs 

After fabric, leather is one of the most common types of office chair. Leather is often chosen for furniture as it is very hard-wearing, however, it does still require some upkeep to ensure it looks and feels its best over the years.  

To clean a leather office chair: 

1. Vacuum 

As with fabric office chairs, when cleaning a leather office chair, you should first vacuum the surface to remove any dust or dirt. To avoid scratching the surface of the leather, use a vacuum with a soft brush attachment and low suction.  

2. Wipe the chair 

With a leather office chair, it is best to wipe the surface regularly to stop excessive dirt building up. This can be done on a weekly basis with a clean cloth dampened with warm water. For a deeper clean, you can use soapy water or a specialist leather cleaner. Always gently wipe the surface rather than scrubbing, so you don’t damage the grain of the leather.  

3. Dry 

Leave the leather to fully dry, then gently buff the surface with a dry cloth for a polished finish. 

4. Protect and condition 

Regularly applying leather protector or conditioner ensures your leather remains soft, supple, and doesn’t crack or damage over time. You can use protective sprays or conditioning liquids – just be sure to check any specific cleaning instructions or limitations for your chair before selecting a product. 

5. Wipe the arms and legs 

Again, once you’ve cleaned the surface of the chair, use a soapy, damp cloth to wipe over the armrests, legs, and underneath of the chair.  

How to Clean Mesh Office Chairs 

Mesh has many benefits that make it a great choice for an office chair – it not only goes with a lot of office décor but is durable and comfortable, with the mesh back allowing pressure and weight to be evenly distributed. However, dirt, crumbs and other debris can quickly settle within the mesh, meaning regular cleaning is vital.  

If you’re looking to clean mesh office chairs, simply follow these steps: 

1. Vacuum 

Vacuuming is one of the most important steps when it comes to cleaning mesh chairs. Use a brush attachment to remove any surface dirt, as well as any deeper dirt that may have settled within the mesh or crevices.  

2. Clean with soapy water 

Use a cloth and warm soapy water to wipe the mesh of your chair. You can also wipe down the armrests, legs and underside of the chair at this point.  

3. Use a cotton swab 

A mesh chair contains multiple crevices or cracks that mean dirt can be missed if you only wipe the surfaces. To tackle any deeper dirt, use a cotton swab to clean less accessible parts of the chair.  

4. Dry  

You can either leave your mesh office chair to air dry or wipe it down yourself with dry paper towels or a dry cloth.  

How to Clean Office Chair Wheels 

Most modern office chairs come with rolling wheels, allowing you manoeuvre around your desk space quickly and easily. However, this means they can become clogged with dirt, crumbs, hair and other debris, which can affect the usability of your chair.  

There is a simple method for cleaning office chair wheels and returning your office chair to its best – just work through the following steps: 

1. Place your chair upside down 

First, turn your chair upside down so the wheels are facing upwards. This will make it much easier for you to access them for cleaning. 

2. Remove debris 

Any larger bits of dirt or debris can be removed from office chair wheels using a blunt butter knife to slide through the slots of the wheels. Be gentle here, and make sure your chair is securely placed on the floor rather than balanced, to ensure you don’t slip and hurt yourself. For smaller pieces of debris caught in the wheels, or for removing hair, you can use a pair of tweezers. 

3. Remove the wheels 

Most office chairs have wheels that can be removed easily, however some designs require a screwdriver to be used. Unscrew the wheels from the chair before moving onto the next step. 

4. Thoroughly clean the wheels  

Use a damp, soapy cloth to thoroughly wipe down the wheels – this includes the surface of the wheels and inside the wheel cover. If there are cracks or crevices you are struggling to clean, use a cotton swab. 

5. Dry and reattach the wheels 

Either leave the wheels to air dry or wipe over them with a dry cloth or paper towel, taking additional care to remove any moisture from the inner parts of the wheel. Once they are dry, your wheels can be reattached to the chair.  

Regular cleaning of your fabric, leather or mesh office chair will ensure it always remains in its best working order. This not only means your office furniture will last for much longer before needing to be replaced, but helps to promote a clean, tidy, comfortable and more productive working environment.