How to Clean an Office Chair, from Top
to Wheels

You’ve decluttered your desk, vacuumed the floor, and made sure the snacks you’ve snuck in between Zoom calls are put away. Now there’s just one thing left to tackle: your office chair.

You might not think of your chair as something you need to clean regularly, but they can steadily, almost sneakily, get pretty grimy (see those snacks we mentioned earlier).

Here’s everything you need to know to get your home office chair clean, comfortable, and ready for the next workday.

How to Clean a Leather (or Pleather) Office Chair

If you’ve got a high-powered leather (or artificial leather) chair in your home office, you want to make sure it stays squeaky clean for conference calls.

Here’s how to get it sparkling without damaging the leather:

Use a neutral-colored cloth to avoid potentially staining your leather chair with dyes.
Opt for gentle or natural cleaners like saddle soap or a 50/50 mix of vinegar and water. Alcohol and harsh chemical cleaners can damage leather.
Vacuum the cracks and crevices of your chair with the hose attachment to remove debris.
If there are any stubborn stains or spills, wipe the chair with a 50-50 mixture of vinegar and water (real leather) or warm water and mild dish soap (pleather).
Wipe down your chair with a damp towel.
Completely dry the chair with a dry cloth.
Use a clean cloth or paper towel to massage nourishing leather cream into real leather seats to prevent cracking and keep the material supple. Apply a commercial protective treatment to a pleather chair.

How to Clean a Fabric Office Chair

Fabric can get tricky – and you can’t stick your chair in the washing machine. Before getting down to business, make sure you test any cleaning products on a less-visible piece of fabric to make sure it won’t cause discoloration.

Here’s how to clean the fabric on your desk chair:

Sprinkle the seat with baking soda to remove any odors. Leave it for 15 minutes.
Vacuum your chair with a hose attachment to remove crumbs, debris, and baking soda.
If the back of your chair also needs deodorizing, lay your chair on the floor so the back is relatively flat and repeats steps one and two, sprinkling baking soda on the backrest.
Check the tags on the underside of the chair for the upholstery cleaning code. The code will let you know what type of cleaner you can use on the fabric: water-based (W); mild, water-free solvents (S); both water-based or water-free cleaners are acceptable (S/W); or vacuum only (X).
If allowed, use cool water, a teaspoon or two of mild laundry detergent, and a soft-bristled brush to spot-treat stains. You can also use a dry-cleaning solvent for fabric that needs a non-water-based cleaner.
Wipe off extra water-based cleaner with a clean, damp cloth. Water-free solvents do not need to be wiped away.
Let your chair air-dry before you use it.

You can find water-free and dry-cleaning solvents online or at fabric care or home improvement stores.

How to Clean a Mesh Office Chair

Mesh chairs are typically made of polyester or nylon fibers and tend to be easier to clean than fabric. However, they may need a bit more care to avoid damage. To get started:

Vacuum the chair using a gentle setting to avoid damaging the mesh. This gets rid of crumbs, dirt, dust, and large debris.
Mix lukewarm water and a few drops of mild dish soap in a bowl. Use this solution and a clean, soft cloth to wipe down the mesh and the plastic or metal frame it’s attached to. Avoid soaking the mesh; try to keep things lightly damp.
Wipe away excess soap with a clean, damp cloth.
Repeat as necessary to get grime all the way off.
Dry the mesh and any hard surfaces as much as possible with a soft, dry cloth. Allow the mesh to fully air-dry.

How to Clean Office Chair Wheels

Wheeling desk chairs have a habit of picking up and tangling everything that drops on the floor: hair, rubber bands, loose threads, backpack straps, phone cords, and more. Not only is this a little annoying and a bit icky, but it can also stop the wheels from working properly.

Once and for all, here’s how to remove clutter trapped in office chair wheels:

Carefully flip the chair upside down, for easy access.
Remove the wheels from the chair for easier cleaning. Most chairs have wheels that you can remove with a simple pull. For some, you might need a screwdriver or wrench.
Remove visible debris with your hands or a soft-bristled brush.
Use any tools you have on hand to dig out embedded debris. You may find a range of tools helpful, including tweezers, scissors, screwdrivers, and compressed air.
Cut strips of duct tape or painters’ tape so they fit on the inside track of the wheel. Use these strips to pull out small debris that may be stuck in the track of the wheel.
Lightly soak a soft brush in soapy water and use it to clean the outside of the wheel.
Scrape off any tough debris with a butter knife or scraper.
Rinse the wheel under running water and pat it dry.
Test the wheel to make sure it spins smoothly. Repeat cleaning steps as needed if something is still stuck inside.
Reattach the wheels to your chair.

We Keep Your Work and Play Spaces Clean for You!

You already have enough work with … well, work. You handle your job and let us handle the chore of keeping your home and home office clean. The cleaning experts at your local The Cleaning Authority can take routine cleaning off your plate so you have time to relax and unwind after a long week of working from home.