If you are anything like me, then you are bound to spill something on your office chair especially if you are using it 8 hours a day, 40 hours a week. You could just leave the spill and let it stain. Unfortunately with that solution, you will constantly have to look at the stain everyday and will be reminded of that one time you spilled your cup of coffee all over your perfect looking office chair, or that time you ate butterfingers and were too lazy to wash your hands so instead you used your office chair as a napkin. Or perhaps the best solution, you could use one of my five tips I have compiled on how to effectively remove a stain from a chair for a relatively cheap price and what preventative action to take against stains.
Before trying to clean your office chair, it is important to find out what kind of material the chair is made of. Generally chairs have a manufacturers cleanability code found beneath the seat which refers to what material/s the chair is made of. If there is no cleaning instructions, a good rule of thumb to follow is the upholstery is made of at least 50% polyester. Most office chairs are made of synthetic materials (such as polyester). If your chair is made of a leather or vinyl material you will not have to worry as much about cleanliness because those materials do not stain as easily, and most of the time you are able to wipe the spill right off. It is important to prevent stains as they do not fall under manufacturer’s warranties.
Here are our five ways we get rid of stains and prevent them from happening:
- Foam Upholstery Cleaner: A general foam upholstery cleaner will clean, deodorize, and freshen soiled fabrics. Woolite is a great product for cleaning chairs and removing bad odors. To use a foam upholstery cleaner, first dampen the fabric with a rag, making sure not to soak the material. Spray the chair with the cleaner, and wipe gently with a clean, damp rag. Blot out the excess moisture with a dry towel and repeat the steps until the chair is clean.
- Home made shampoo: A little bit of a cheaper option is making your own home made shampoo alternative. Most stains should come right off if cleaned immediately. A little bit of Dawn dish detergent mixed in a small bowl of warm water, diluted about 20 parts water to 1 part soap. Instead of scrubbing up and down, it is best to apply the shampoo in a blotting, circular motion. Blot up the soap with a clean, but damp rag. Continue rinsing in this method until all the soap has been removed. Pat the area dry with a towel.
- To prevent stains on chairs you will be spending a lot of time sitting on it is best to choose a vinyl upholstery option instead of fabric. It may cost a little bit of money to upgrade to this option, but it will save you the hassle of having to clean a fabric office chair . If you do choose a fabric chair, apply Scotch Guard prior to sitting in the chair because it will make it much easier to clean stains when they do occur.
- Rug Doctor:If you have a little bit more money to spare on cleaning your office chair, it may be worthwhile to invest in a Rug Doctor which you can find at your local grocery store or Home Depot, especially if you are cleaning multiple chairs in an office setting. It will be cheaper than hiring a steam cleaning company, yet it will give you the same results. Generally Rug Doctors cost anywhere between $25-$40 to rent for 24 hours and come equipped with furniture attachments.
- Cleaning Solvent:Cleaning solvents work well on office chairs if you take swift action after the stain has been made. First you will need to apply the cleaning solvent directly to the stain. Use a toothbrush or scrubber to work the paste into the stain. Allow it to sit for about 5-10 minutes. Then come back with a damp cloth towel to buff the stain out. A few good cleaning solvents are Quick and Brite as well as Resolve.
Follow these tips and your office chair will look spotless for year to come!