Did you know you likely spend over 2,000 hours a year sat at your office chair?
Desk chairs are easily one of the most used items in our office spaces but when it comes to cleaning, are often overlooked. Not only do employees spend a lot of time sitting at their desks, but the chairs are also high touch points. They are touched every single time someone gets up or sits down at their desk.
That’s why we need to start taking better care of our office chairs and help maintain higher standards of hygiene by including them in our office cleaning schedules.
Depending on the type of office chairs you use, will depend on the cleaning techniques and products that can be used – to avoid causing damage to the material. There is no ‘one way’ to clean them.
Cleaning Plastic Chairs
Plastic is one of the easiest materials to clean. They can simply be sprayed with an antibacterial cleaner and after 30 seconds, wiped over with a warm, damp cloth. Be sure to wipe down all parts of the chair, including the back and arm rests. Avoid using heavy duty chemicals or scouring cloths as these could damage the plastic.
Cleaning Mesh Chairs
Chairs made with a mesh material may seem a little tricky to clean but that isn’t the case. The first step is to use a vacuum to remove any excess dust from the surface (use the nozzle and brush adaptor for this). Then you can use a slightly damp cloth (not wet), with warm soapy water to gentle wipe over the mesh element of the chair.
When washing any type of fabric material, it’s really important not to use too much water as this can cause water marks and dampness which could result in an unpleasant smell.
Cleaning Fabric Chairs
Fabric chairs vary greatly and the best approach is to research the specific make of chair online. The seller or manufacturer is likely to have a recommended cleaning guide available. These often contain symbols to instruct you on how to clean them:
- “W” – use water-based cleaning products only
- “S” – use a solvent product, making sure the product is “water free”.
- “WS” or “SW” – dry-cleaning products or water-based options are okay to be used.
- “X” – professional cleaning ONLY
- “C” – Crypton cleaning can be used.
While it is really important you follow the cleaning instructions for your specific chair, there are general methods you can follow.
- Vacuum to remove dust and debris.
- Spot test any new products on the chair before use
- Always apply products using a cloth, never straight onto the fabric
- Do not use excessive amount of product or water (depending on instructions) to avoid damp or water marks.
Frequency of Cleaning Office Chairs
Office chairs should be cleaned as frequently as possible. Ideally at the same time as your weekly office clean, however, we understand this isn’t always possible. As a minimum we would recommend them being cleaning at least fortnightly, especially if they are being used on a daily basis.
If you would like help with your regular office cleaning, give Clean Shield a call today for a FREE quote.