How to care for and clean your chairs

Fabric upholstery

• Vacuum regularly with an upholstery attachment to remove dust and grit that wears fibres
• Blot spills straight away with a clean cloth; don't rub, which spreads the stain
• Test any cleaner on a hidden area first
• Check the fabric's cleaning code or the maker's instructions before using water or solvents

Leather and synthetic leather

Wipe with a soft, slightly damp cloth and dry it afterwards. Real leather benefits from a suitable conditioner every few months to stop it drying and cracking; keep it out of strong direct sunlight and away from heaters. For PU and vinyl, mild soapy water is usually enough. Avoid harsh solvents, which can damage the coating.

Mesh office chairs

Vacuum the mesh with a brush attachment, then wipe with a damp cloth and mild detergent if needed. Avoid soaking the mesh. Every few months, check that bolts on the base, arms and backrest are tight, and remove hair and threads from the castors so they roll freely.

Wooden chairs

Dust with a soft dry cloth and wipe spills quickly. Use felt pads under the legs on hard floors. If joints start to feel loose, tighten any screws or have the chair repaired early: a slightly loose joint becomes a broken one if it's ignored.

Metal and outdoor chairs

Wipe metal frames with a damp cloth and dry them. Outdoors, rinse off dirt and salt occasionally, store cushions inside when not in use, and cover or store chairs during long wet periods. Our outdoor materials guide covers teak, aluminium and resin in more detail.

When to call the vendor

Contact the vendor or maker if a gas lift sinks, a mechanism stops locking, a frame cracks or upholstery fails early. These are often covered by warranty, so keep your purchase details and photos of the problem.

A simple maintenance routine

• Weekly: dust or vacuum seats and frames, and wipe up any marks
• Monthly: check for loose screws or wobbly joints and tighten as needed
• Every few months: condition leather, clean castors and glides, check felt pads
• Seasonally (outdoor): deep-clean, check coatings for chips and store cushions

Things to avoid

• Bleach or strong solvents on upholstery, leather or coated finishes unless the maker says they're safe
• Soaking wooden joints or mesh with water
• Standing on chairs, especially swivel chairs and stools
• Dragging chairs across hard floors without glides or felt pads

Dealing with common marks

• Food and drink on fabric: blot, then use a little water or upholstery cleaner suited to the fabric code, working from the outside of the mark inwards
• Water rings on wood: wipe dry promptly; persistent marks may need a furniture-care product suited to the finish
• Scuffs on metal or plastic: a damp cloth with mild soap usually removes them
• Grease on leather: blot with a dry cloth; avoid water-heavy cleaning, and use a leather cleaner if needed

For valuable or delicate upholstery, a professional upholstery cleaner is safer than experimenting.

Office chair problems you can check yourself

If a chair wobbles, check and tighten the base and seat bolts. If castors don't roll smoothly, remove hair and threads wrapped around the axles. If the seat slowly sinks, the gas lift has usually worn out. That's a part the vendor or maker can replace, and on many chairs it's covered by the warranty.