How to Clean Office Chairs and Cubicle Partition Walls

People spend a lot of their time at the office; more specifically, sitting in their office chairs. Seats, armrests, and backrests are bound to get dirty given how much time employees spend sitting. If neglected, dirt, dust, and allergens can build up, causing an unpleasant (and unprofessional) look and smell — which isn't fair for those who share the office space.

Cubicle walls are covered in upholstered fabric, which also traps dust and allergens. When left uncleaned, these surfaces can contribute to poor indoor air quality or allergy issues for sensitive individuals.

Routine cleaning of office chairs and cubicle walls is also an important part of a commercial maintenance program. Both independent cleaners and in-house cleaning staff should not overlook these areas when planning out the cleaning needs of a facility.

In this article, we’ll cover the best ways to clean office chairs as well as a bonus tip for showing your customer when it’s time to clean cubicle walls.

Why You Should Regularly Clean Office Chairs and Cubicle Walls

Office furniture can get dirty for a variety of reasons, most notably from the buildup of hair and body oils, dust and dirt, plus food crumbs and spills when employees eat or drink at their desks. This causes unsightly stains and odors and even degrades the furniture over time, leading to uneven wear patterns, color fading, and damage.

Cubicle walls and partitions can accumulate dust, dirt, and, yes, even body oils and makeup from workers who brush up or lean against walls. Ever heard a co-worker cough or sneeze at their desk? Cubicle walls help contain coughs and sneezes, but the fabric surface absorbs those tiny particles — just another reason why it’s important to regularly clean those absorbent fabric surfaces.

Cleaning your office chairs and cubicle partitions regularly provides four main benefits:

• Maintains a high level of appearance: Let’s be frank: no one wants to sit on dirty, dingy, and stained office furniture. Clean, well-maintained chairs and cubicle walls look better and convey a much more professional appearance. 
• Extends the life of the chair: Bodily fluids and acidic food spills can degrade and damage fabric over time. This makes those upholstered surfaces more susceptible to rips, tears, and damage. Cleaning office chairs regularly can help extend their service life, so they won’t need to be replaced prematurely. This helps reduce waste and unnecessary expenditures.
• Eliminates odors: Upholstered chairs and partition walls can act like sponges, absorbing liquids, oils, dust, and dirt. Unfortunately, they can also be a breeding ground for odor-causing bacteria. Cleaning office furniture regularly helps prevent odors and reduces complaints about stinky or musty-smelling work environments.
• Promotes a healthier indoor environment: Soft fabric surfaces not only provide a comfortable place to sit or lean, but they also absorb airborne contaminants. Removing those contaminants regularly keeps them from becoming airborne again, promoting better indoor air quality.

Step-By-Step: How to Clean Office Chairs

Office chairs are made out of all types of materials; however, most chairs and partition walls are manufactured from synthetic materials, such as polyester and nylon. To ensure you are using the appropriate cleaning products, be sure you know what type of fiber you are dealing with.

Start by reading the product's care tag or manual. These items should include important information or a cleaning code, which will provide clues on the type of cleaning agent to use as well as what to avoid.

Upholstery Cleaning Codes

Standard cleaning codes for upholstered furniture are as follows:

• W: Water-based cleaner
• S: Solvents (dry clean only)
• W/S: Combo of water-based and dry solvents may be used
• X: Vacuum clean or light brushing only; no cleaners

If you’re still not sure what type of fabric is covering an office chair or cubicle wall, conduct a burn test to identify the fabric. 

How to Conduct a Burn Test to Determine Fiber Type

Conducting a burn test when you’re unsure about the material of a chair or partition wall will help you determine which types of cleaners are suitable to use and which to avoid.

Here’s how: Cut a small piece of fiber from an inconspicuous area of the chair or wall and burn it in a safe environment using a butane lighter. Avoid using matches as they give off a sulfur smell which can interfere with the test.

Check the table below to determine which type of fiber you may be working with:

Cubicle Wall and Office Chairs: Basic Cleaning Procedures

The following steps are suitable for use on most synthetic fiber office furniture; for example, a typical mesh office chair or gaming chair. These same procedures and products can also be used to clean office cubicles or partition walls that are covered with synthetic fabric. If you’re working with natural fiber types, such as cotton, silk, or wool, check out our upholstery cleaning tips for specific recommendations.

1. Thoroughly vacuum the fabric to remove as much dry soil, hair, food crumbs, and debris as possible. Gently scrape off any caked-on food or residue with a bone spatula or plastic utility scraper.
2. Using a pump-up sprayer, apply Matrix® Outset Upholstery Pre-Spray undiluted to the fabric. For natural fibers, such as wool, use Matrix® Accomplish Fine Fabric Pre-Spray diluted at 4 ounces per gallon of clean water.
3. Using a horsehair brush, agitate in a circular motion. Pay close attention to the arms of chairs where people frequently touch or wipe their fingers.
4. Thoroughly rinse and extract the fabric with Matrix® All Fiber Rinse diluted at 4 ounces per gallon of clean water. (If it’s a natural fiber, such as wool, use Matrix® Complete Rinse diluted at 2–4 oz of water).
5. Use an air mover to speed-dry the area.

Tip: Clean more than just the seat! Don't forget to scrub the backrest, armrests, and office chair wheels for a complete clean.

Additional note: Jon-Don highly recommends using a low-moisture hand tool, such as the Freedom Upholstery Tool, DriMaster Upholstery Tool, or Sapphire Upholstery Pro. These tools are designed to clean the fabric chair without overwetting, which can lead to bleeding, warping, and other damage.

Working with Leather or Faux Leather? 

While cleaning a leather office chair is similar enough to a fabric chair, it deserves its own step-by-step guide to ensure that utmost care is taken to preserve the material. Check out our technical tip guide on How to Clean Leather Furniture and Upholstery.

How to Show Your Customers That Their Cubicle Walls Need Cleaning, Too

Cubicle walls are often overlooked. The change in appearance or buildup of dirt is so gradual that workers and facility owners don’t usually notice that they’ve become dirty. However, these areas are an important part of a commercial maintenance program.

Being able to show an office manager or business owner that these areas need attention is a great add-on service or upsell opportunity. To test for soiling, you’ll need a clean cloth and hose vacuum. When ready, follow these simple steps:

1. Place a white, dry cloth over an open vacuum hose.
2. Vacuum the panel/wall for about 15-30 seconds.
3. Remove the cloth and observe the debris.

Soils will get caught in the towel, which makes it easy to show your client just how dirty their walls are. Once you have the green light to clean, follow the Basic Cleaning Procedures listed earlier in this article.

Learn How to Clean Upholstery Like a Pro with IICRC Certification from Jon-Don

Upholstery cleaning and commercial cleaning services are important, and your clients deserve the best results possible. If you’re looking to brush up on your skills and want to learn how to clean upholstery and fabric like a true professional, enroll in our IICRC Upholstery and Fabric Cleaning (UFT) Seminar. 

This one-day course will teach you:

• How to test for the correct cleaning method
• How to select the proper chemicals and cleaning equipment
• How to clean bleeders and sensitive fabrics
• And much, much more!

This course is taught online by a certified IICRC instructor. Discover the best tips and tricks to clean upholstery and avoid costly mistakes. Learn more at LEARN.JONDON.COM or call 800-556-6366.