How to Keep a Leather Office Chair Cool?

The use of ergonomic chairs has gained immense popularity in recent years. More people are working out of their houses, which means it’s also frequently used in homes. There has also been an increase in people’s awareness about health and wellness. It has contributed significantly to ergonomic office chairs’ use.

As far as these go, there’s always been an ongoing debate about which material is better — mesh or leather.  Although mesh chairs have been gaining popularity in recent years, it’s still frequently compared to a more traditional type: the leather office chair.

No one can deny that using a leather office chair has its benefits. If you’re wondering why so many prestigious firms invest in them, it’s because they consider it an investment. Despite the steep price, it does wonders for your image, denoting class and distinction.

It’s durable, especially if you take good care of it. Leather office chairs are typically easy to clean. You can wipe off most liquids with minimal effort. If you’re the type who prefers to snack while working, any crumbs can be vacuumed or wiped off. You also get additional comfort from its padded features.

But no chair is perfect.

One challenge most people have with leather office chairs is that it becomes hot when the surrounding temperature rises. If it’s fall or winter, it wouldn’t cause so much of a problem because it’s cooler — using a leather chair on a cold day sounds delightful. When it’s summer, however, you may not be so appreciative.

When your seat becomes hot, your discomfort increases. It eventually causes you to be distracted, interrupting your workflow. In worst-case scenarios, your productivity plummets.

It is part and parcel of using a leather chair. But it doesn’t mean you can’t do anything about it.

From understanding why it happens to ways you can work around it, this article can help you.

Curious? Read on!

Do Leather Chairs Make You Sweat?

Technically, the material itself doesn’t make you sweat. However, leather has qualities that make you sweat more. Several things contribute to this, such as:

Leather is a natural thermal conduit. It means the material tends to reflect the temperature of its immediate environment. — it becomes cold in lower climates and hot in warmer conditions. When you use a leather seat for long periods, your body heat makes it warmer. In turn, the heat makes you sweat.

Your chair isn’t made of genuine leather. Cheaper version of the material — often called faux leather or pleather — is less breathable and porous. It gives you a feeling that you’re sweating more than usual because there’s nowhere for your sweat to go.

Leather isn’t as absorbent as other fabrics. One great feature of leather is its durability. That same quality, however, makes you feel sweatier. Unlike other materials — like cotton — leather doesn’t absorb liquids, so your sweat stays on your skin, not on the chair.

You need to clean your office chair’s leather surfaces. Dirt clogs the pores of leather items. It prevents your skin from breathing when it comes in direct contact, which leads to excessive sweating.

How Do You Keep Your Leather Chair from Getting Hot? (Or What to Do to Avoid Sweating So Much)

 

Although there’s no way to keep your leather office chair cooler aside from putting it in an air-conditioned room 24/7, there are several things you can do to prevent it from becoming too hot.

Another way to approach the situation is this: if you can’t keep your chair from becoming hot, maybe you can find ways to avoid excessive sweating.

Here are the things you can try:

• Try maintaining the room temperature by adding an air conditioner. It will keep the surrounding temperature cold, which will keep the leather cool. Having an air conditioner is costly, however.
• If you can’t have another air conditioner, go for a double exhaust fan. Install one facing the typical direction inside the house and another facing the other direction outside. The exhaust fan inside blows away the hot air outside the room while the other pushes cooler air inside. Be prepared, however, to do some cleaning afterward as this may bring dust from outside.
• Choose a light-colored leather chair. As with other fabrics, light colors generally reflect the heat while dark hues absorb it. A lighter-colored chair may not make your leather chair cooler, but it can help prevent it from getting warmer.
• Regularly clean your leather chair. Maintaining your office chair doesn’t take much effort, so it’s easy to overlook. Unfortunately, it may cause the material to become less porous and breathable. You can use a damp cloth with mild soap to gently wipe the surface of your office chair to keep it clean.
• Choose your chair’s location wisely. Don’t place it in an area that is typically directly hit by sunlight. It causes it to become hotter more quickly, especially in summer.
• Use curtains. In-home offices, most people prefer to situate their workplace somewhere with a view, which means it’ll be near a window. It increases the likelihood of being exposed to sunshine. If you can’t avoid it, try to have curtains or blinds. You can also explore the possibility of having your window partially frosted.

• Cover your office chair with fabric during the hours you aren’t using it. It may not completely stop it from getting hot, but it lessens the amount of direct sunlight hitting it.
• Avoid sitting down on your leather chair after a workout. If you’re sweaty, dry off or take a shower before settling on your office chair.
• If you really need to use your leather office chair right away and you’re still sweaty, put down a towel or any other absorbent material on the seat. What you want to avoid is your skin coming in direct contact with the leather.
• Wear cotton clothes when you use your leather office chair. Even if you end up sweating a bit, your clothes provide a layer that absorbs them.

The Wrap Up

A leather office chair comes with all the adjustable features of an ergonomic chair, plus the luxurious feel of its padded surfaces. In colder temperatures, using one can be an extremely comfortable scenario. Owning one has advantages.

Unless you can maintain an air-conditioned area all day long, you may find yourself sweating after using it for a while. It may eventually lead to discomfort, frustration, and distraction.

Switching your office chair to another made of different material isn’t possible all the time, so you should find ways to work with what you currently have. Hopefully, several things mentioned above are workable for you.

We hope it helps you have a more comfortable workspace — and enjoy your leather office chair!