Mesh office chairs offer the best ventilation out of all chair types. They are durable, and allow airflow to pass through its mesh backrest. While working in an office, mesh chairs provide comfort and coolness that makes working at a desk all day manageable.
However, mesh office chairs still accumulate dust and grime from time to time. It is important to understand the proper method of keeping a mesh office chair clean in order to maintain its good condition. In this article, we'll present the proper way to clean a mesh office chair that you can easily do in the workplace!
What You’ll Need
Gather your materials. Advance preparation will decrease the time it takes for you to look for the supplies you need later on. Here's what you'll need to start cleaning your mesh office chair:
- Vacuum cleaner
- Microfiber cloth or Sponge
- Warm water
- Dish soap
- Vinegar
- Baking soda
- Steam cleaner (optional)
How to Clean Mesh Office Chair: A Step-by-Step Guide
Step 1: Vacuum the Mesh Office Chair
First, vacuum your office chair. Use a vacuum cleaner with the upholstery or nozzle hose attachment, and go over your entire mesh chair. Be sure to go deep into the nooks and crannies of your mesh chair. Vacuuming would remove dust and loose debris before you wipe the mesh chair clean, which will prevent the dust from sinking deeper into your office chair.
If your vacuum cleaner is having a difficult time to clean the mesh fabric, place a clean t-shirt or other cloth behind the mesh. Keep the vacuum cleaner as close to the mesh fabric as possible. Do this on both sides of your mesh chairs, and you should be able to get more dust and debris out through vacuuming.
Step 2: Gently Wipe the Mesh Office Chair
Take a soft cloth, like a microfiber cloth, and dampen it with a mixture of warm water with a few drops of dishwashing liquid. Use the wet cloth, and gently wipe away any grime from your mesh chair. Rinse out the microfiber cloth, and keep applying the diluted soap combination until the cloth comes back clean.
Do a final rinse. Wipe the microfiber cloth across the entire mesh chair with just plain, warm water, and let the chair dry completely before using it. Be careful when cleaning your office chair as the mesh backing may rip with too much scrubbing. Gently wipe the chair, but do not scrub.
Step 3: Spot Clean Stains on a Mesh Office Chair
You'll need a good stain remover to get rid of unsightly spots or discoloration from your mesh office chair. A mixture of white vinegar and baking soda does well in removing most kinds of spots, and is an inexpensive way to clean a mesh office chair.
Create a paste with baking soda and just enough vinegar to give it a paste-like viscosity. Apply the paste directly on your mesh chairs, and let it sit until the mixture has dried. Take a towel, and wipe the mesh chairs clean to remove any excess residue. You can use the same paste to clean any office chair!
Step 4: Disinfect Mesh Office Chair
A steam cleaner is the perfect way to disinfect your mesh office chair as it delivers heat through vapors instead of using a chemical disinfectant spray to kill microbes. Take your steam cleaner, and run it over the entire office chair. Let the steam soak the chair slightly before moving onto a separate area.
This way, the heat will be able to penetrate through the mesh fabric office chair, and kill any harmful mold, mildew, or bacteria lingering deep within the chair. The steam will also deodorize your office chair, which may have gotten an odor due to regular use. You can use the same steam cleaner to disinfect other office chairs, as well as your desk and carpets.
How to Maintain Mesh Office Chairs
After a good mesh office chair cleaning, you would understandably want to maintain the pristine condition of your mesh office chair. Mesh office chairs are generally low maintenance, though they do require some cleaning and deodorizing from time to time. Here's how to keep your office chairs in great condition longer:
- Wipe or vacuum the chair at least once a week to remove any accumulated dust.
- Wipe spills immediately before they stain.
- Use baking soda to deodorize your chair before vacuuming it.
- Avoid using or wearing pointy pieces to prevent poking a hole through your chair.
- Clean the rest of your office to prevent dust from settling on your chair.
- Don't forget to wipe down the arm rests, wheels, and legs of your chair as well.
- Have your office chair professionally cleaned at least once a year.
For more office cleaning tips, check out our helpful articles in our blog!
