You work hard all day at the office. You deserve a comfortable chair in which to sit. A nice chair is also good for your health because it can reduce back strain and stress—but only if kept clean and tidy.
So how do you keep your office chair from becoming the worst feature of your workday? The answer is simple:
Keep it clean! Neglect your chair, especially its upholstery, and you risk sitting in a hotbed of germs and dust mites, with back support that feels like a sack of potatoes.
The regular cleaning Process is straightforward, but many people are guilty of neglecting their desk chairs and upholstery until things get bad enough to motivate action.
Fortunately, cleaning an office chair isn’t so much a chore as a series of small tasks that add up to big rewards—a right cleaner home-away-from-home with healthier air quality for you and those around you.
What You’ll Need
First and foremost, you’ll need to familiarize yourself with your office chair’s cleaning instructions.
You can find these on a sticker on the bottom of the chair, on the box it came in, or in the user manual. Most upholstered office chairs are made from fabrics that are common allergens.
To clean them without risking a reaction, you’ll need a vacuum with a HEPA filter, cleaners, and cloths made with non-allergic ingredients and cleaning agents that don’t contain strong chemicals.

You’ll also need lint rollers to remove hair from chair altogether and prevent dust from the upholstery.
If the chair has a leather or vinyl seat, you’ll need a damp cloth to gently wipe off tough stains, followed by a dry cloth to remove warm water and excess dirt.
How Long Will This Take To Clean?
Vacuuming will take approximately 10-15 minutes, followed by wiping down the chair with dish soap and water solution for 5 minutes.
Depending on the room’s humidity, you’ll need to leave the chair to dry for about 15 minutes.

You can spend 5 minutes removing minor stubborn stains with a damp cloth and 5 minutes drying the area.
You can spend additional time removing large stains with rubbing alcohol or another cleaning agent.
You can also hire a cleaning service to clean your office chair.
Many cleaning services charge by the hour, so you’ll want to factor that cost into your decision.
Step 1: Vacuum The Upholstery
Start by removing loose hair, dust, and debris with a vacuum’s upholstery attachment. This will eliminate allergens and other nasties that could harm your health.
If you vacuum the fabric, you should start at the top and work your way down: Don’t start at the bottom and work your way up, as this will cause the fabric to bunch and become permanently creased.

A good rule of thumb is to vacuum for one minute, then switch the attachment to a brush or “beater bar” for another minute on the same spot. This will help dislodge dust and debris from the fabric.
When vacuuming the leather or vinyl parts of the chair, start at the top and work your way down. Vacuum for one minute, then switch to the brush attachment for another minute on the same spot.
Step 2: Wipe The Chair With A Soap

Once the chair is clean, you can wipe the upholstery with a damp cloth, removing dirt, grime, and other contaminants that could lead to health problems.
If the fabric is delicate or you notice stains, use a mild dish soap and water solution instead.
Use a clean cloth to wipe down the chair’s upholstery, starting with the seat, then each armrest, and finally, the backrest.
Pay special attention to the areas where the back comes in contact with the seat. If the chair has a high back and arms, you’ll want to wipe them, although this isn’t as important.
The high back can collect dust and other debris, but it isn’t easy to reach. Wiping it with a damp cloth regularly can help keep it clean.
Step 3: Rinse And Dry
Once you’ve wiped the chair down, rinse it with the lukewarm water-only mild solution, followed by a dry cloth.
This will eliminate dirt and other contaminants that could lead to health problems. It will also destroy the water you used to rinse the chair.
Step 4: Spot-treat Stains With Rubbing Alcohol

If your chair has tougher stains, you can remove them with a small amount of rubbing alcohol. Rubbing alcohol has anti-bacterial properties and will kill most germs and bacteria, but it won’t remove stains.
For that, you’ll want to use a small amount of stain remover that is safe for the fabric on the chair.
Note that the longer a stain sits on the fabric, the harder it will be to remove. If you don’t clean a stain as soon as it happens, it will become permanent and difficult to remove.
Step 5: Go Deep With An Upholstery Cleaner.
If your chair is still looking dingy or you want to clean it thoroughly, you may want to use an upholstery cleaner.
An upholstery cleaner will get out deep stains and remove odors. It’s essential to read the instructions on the cleaner to make sure it’s safe for the type of upholstery your chair has.
Before using the cleaner, vacuum your chair to remove any loose dirt or debris. Use a small amount of the cleaner on a clean rag, and work around the chair.
Let the cleaner sit for the recommended time, then wipe it off with a clean rag. You can do a quick once-over on the chair every couple of weeks to keep it clean.
A deep clean every couple of months will help your chair last longer.
How To Clean Different Types Of Office Chairs
How To Clean Office Chairs Without A Vacuum
You can still clean the chair if you don’t have a vacuum with an upholstery attachment. You can take the chair outside and shake it thoroughly to remove loose dirt and dust or wipe it with a damp cloth.
You can also take a lint roller to the chair to remove dust and hair. If you have a fabric chair, you can use a mild soap-and-water solution to wipe down the chair.
Make sure to rinse the chair thoroughly after cleaning it, as the fabric can retain water and cause mold to grow, damaging the chair.
How To Clean Office Chair Stain?
If you notice a stain on your chair, remove it as soon as possible. A stain has two components:
The stain is caused by a chemical reaction between something in the fabric and something in the air (like specific air pollution). – The set, which is the discoloration caused by the stain.
If you don’t clean a stain quickly, it will become part of the fabric and almost impossible to remove. Here are some quick tips for removing common stains:
Blood stains are caused by iron in the blood reacting with the material. Blood stains can be difficult to remove, but they can done with the following steps:
Coffee stains can remove coffee stains with a small amount of baking soda.
FAQS
How do you clean an office chair mesh?
If your office chair has a mesh seat, it can be cleaned using the same methods you would use for any other piece of upholstery. You can use either an upholstery cleaning product, or you can clean the mesh with a soft brush and water. Be sure to follow the manufacturer’s instructions on the product you are using. If you are using a product that requires rinsing, make sure to allow the product to dry before using the chair.
Can we wash office chair?
We can definitely wash office chairs, and it’s a good idea to do so occasionally to keep them clean and fresh-smelling. Some office chairs are not designed for regular washing, so be sure to check the instructions before you begin.
First, unplug the chair from the electrical outlet and remove any pillows or cushions. Next, use warm water and mild detergent to scrub any dirt away. Scrubbing bubbles are a great way to get stains out of your office furniture and are perfect for an office chair. After scrubbing, rinse the chair well with water and allow it to dry completely before using again.