Mesh office chairs.
The best thing about it is its ventilation.
You won’t feel sweaty and sticky during humid days.
But, that comes at a cost.
A lot of dirt, dust, and residue can stick to the deep crevices of the material.
Pretty soon, the mesh will be dirty…
the color will fade…
the seat will become itchy or produce allergic reactions.
It’s important to clean your mesh office chair once in a while.
There’s a problem, though.
How do you clean mesh?
Here, we’re going to show you 3 effective methods to get rid of all dirt, dust, and more. We’ll show you how to clean it with a steam cleaner, with a cloth and soapy water, and how to deep clean it.
Are you ready? Let’s get to it!
Table of Contents
How to Clean Mesh Office Chairs With a Steam Cleaner
Are you always so busy that you don’t have time to clean your mesh office chair?
Or, do you avoid cleaning it because you use it all the time?
We can come up with a lot of excuses, can’t we?
However, this method throws those excuses out the window.
It’s very quick and easy. It won’t take more than a few minutes.
All you need to do is run a steam cleaner over the mesh.
A quick tip: To avoid missing a spot, go over the whole area 2 times, making sure you cover every space and corner.
The pressurized steam loosens dirt and dust particles. It kills dust mites, molds, and other bacteria. It can even remove residues and stains.
It does all that for you!
The best part is that the high-heat moisture dries up quickly. There’s no more need to wait for the mesh to dry so you can use your office chair again.
Now, can you use any steam cleaner for your mesh office chair?
Sure, all steam cleaners will thoroughly clean the mesh. Be careful, though, as some attachments might cause damage to the material.
The best steam cleaner to use, then, is one with a fabric attachment.
Fabric is strong enough to press against the mesh, especially the seat, to get at the dirt, dust, and all that. It’s also soft enough to avoid fraying or tearing the mesh.
For a high-quality steam cleaner, check out PurSteam World’s Best Steamer.
It’s easy to handle, perfect for moving it across your office chair. And, it comes with different attachments for different surfaces. Including a fabric attachment for your mesh.
How to Clean Mesh Office Chairs With a Cloth and Soapy Water
What if you don’t have a steam cleaner?
Don’t worry.
You can clean your mesh office chair with things found in your home or office.
All you’ll need are a vacuum, a clean cloth or sponge, detergent, and a bucket of warm water.
First, vacuum the whole mesh area to remove all the dirt and dust particles.
A quick tip: If you don’t have a vacuum, you can use a duster or wipe it with a dry cloth. It won’t be as effective but it’ll do the job.
After that, mix the detergent with the warm water.
The detergent you use must be free of strong chemicals that could otherwise ruin the mesh.
A good detergent you can use is the All Liquid Laundry Detergent.
- #1 recommended detergent brand by dermatologists, allergists and pediatricians for sensitive skin
- Removes 99% of the top everyday and seasonal allergens* Dog and cat dander, dust mite matter, ragweed pollen,...
- Hypoallergenic, 100% free of perfumes and dyes
The next step is to dip your clean cloth or sponge onto the soapy water.
Squeeze it well before gently wiping it onto the mesh.
For stubborn residues and stains, put more soapy water on the cloth or sponge to foam the area a bit. Also, add a little more pressure while wiping over it.
A quick tip: To avoid stubborn stains, you should clean it right away, or as soon as possible, once the stain appears.
After that, get another clean and dry cloth or sponge to wipe away the soap.
Wait a few minutes for it to dry up.
And, tada, your mesh office chair is clean!
How to Deep Clean Mesh Office Chairs
The first 2 methods are great for cleaning the mesh’s surface.
But if you want to go deeper than the surface, you need to deep clean it.
How do you do that?
You first need to prepare a bucket of warm water with your favorite laundry detergent mixed into it. Again, make sure there aren’t any strong chemicals.
Then, bring your office chair outside and soak it with a hose.
Remember to always shower the water from above. You don’t want it getting into the mechanical parts of the chair.
Once it’s soaked, grab a soft sponge, dip it into the bucket of soapy, warm water, and start rubbing it from top to bottom.
Do this on the backrest, seat, armrest, and even the base.
A quick tip: If you want your office chair to be completely clean, you should clean out the casters as well. Click here to learn how to do that.
After that, let the soap soak into your office chair for 10 minutes.
Finally, rinse it off with the hose.
You might think you’ve finished the task already…
Wait…
If you press the seat with your palm, a lot of soapy foam will still come out.
To remove all the soap, lay your office chair sideways. Then, while hosing the seat, keep pressing your palm on it until there’s no more soap left.
It might seem endless, but you’ll get there eventually.
Give the whole office chair one final rinse and put it under the sun to dry. It’ll take around 6 hours to dry completely.
A quick tip: If you want it to dry quicker, try to squeeze out as much water as you can from the seat.
The sun can dry the seat, no matter how thick, and remove any bad odor from the cleaning process.
A quick tip: Before you deep clean your mesh office chair, make sure it’s sunny outside.
To be sure, it’s a long process. It’s worth it, though, as you’ll have a totally clean mesh office chair after.
Conclusion
So if ever your mesh office chair is getting very dirty, you know what to do.
You can choose which of these 3 effective methods you want to use.
We hope that this has been a great help!
If you want to learn how to clean vinyl chairs, click here.
My name is Vance, and I am the owner of To Ergonomics. Our mission is to improve your workflow by helping you create a supportive and welcoming environment. We hope that you’ll find what you’re looking for while you’re here.