How to Clean Office Chair Smell – 10 Home Remedies

Imagine, what it would be like to sit in front of your computer in a poor odor environment, and struggling really hard to keep yourself focused on the screen despite the appealing workspace? It would be nasty, indeed!

When you work in an office, you share things more than you can think.  You breathe the same air as everyone else. That may make you wish you had a window to open to get rid of the bad scents that always occur in any shared environment.

Most of us are not aware of it but fifty percent of the unpleasant odor arises from the furniture which we are utilizing in our workstation. Either it is due to the repulsive chemicals scent from office chairs and desks or due to their filthy condition.

And when you haven’t cleaned them in a long time, the stinkiness tends to get stuck in the place which is a major put-off for any employee.

The scent of your office chair might reveal a lot about the quality and condition of your workbench. This smell of an untidy chair is not only unpleasant, but it works like an indicator too, that your office needs to be thoroughly cleaned.

However, it is not only about looks. A dirty chair releases dust particles into the air, which can trigger allergies and asthma attacks in sensitive individuals. The dust particles can also exacerbate pre-existing asthma or other respiratory disorders such as COPD or bronchitis and that in return could affect your productivity.

Thus to get rid of the musty attic, you need to analyze the material of your chair and then you can proceed with its cleaning. Also, stick with us till the end because we have shared a pro-tip too!

Analyze the Chair Material

Since each chair is made up of a different kind of material, not every method is applicable to cleaning them. If one stinky chair is purified just with the aid of water does not necessarily mean that all other chairs could be as well.

Some require solvent while many of them need professional cleaning and this is why one has to make sure their compatibility with the chosen cleaning technique, to keep the cushion fabric safe.

For this purpose, every cushion comes with a fabric tag attached to it and the symbols on it depict the suitable type of cleaning. For instance, the following letters indicate;

• W: Water only
• S: Solvent only
• WS: Both water and solvent-based cleaning are admissible
• C: The chair consists of Crypton fabric, thus it is vital to provide special care.
• X: Professional cleaning required

Such codes are truly a life-saver and can help you maintain the cushion fabric quality while removing the unpleasant scent.

How to Clean Office Chair Smell?

Do we all have a stinky couch or other furniture odors and want a safer, chemical-free alternative to commercial sprays like Febreze?

Therefore, while discussing office chairs, in particular, a terrible odor or stinky tang is fairly natural, demanding prompt attention. Our straightforward, easy-to-follow, and all-natural methods will assist you in getting rid of the strong smell from your office chair.

1. Sun-Drying and UV Disinfection

Airing out new furniture, whether upholstered, polished, or coated, allows the chemical odors to evaporate naturally. Allow the new furniture to breathe the fresh air in the outside environment. The sunshine rays, low humidity, and a mild breeze all contribute to the refreshment of the furnishings. But for any reason I f you are unable to leave the things outdoors for a day, place them on a  balcony, or in a space away from your main area activity, opening doors,  windows and turning on fans near the furniture to help reduce odors.

2. Vacuum

A strong suction vacuum may reach deep into the seat of a chair, pulling up dust and particles that generate or hold odors. Depending on the intensity of your vacuum and the length of time since you last cleaned your chair, you may need to go over it more than once. This will not completely deodorize a chair, but it will aid with any subsequent cleaning.

3. Steam Cleaners

The act of steam cleaning the chair can remove a lot of filth. Even the most tightly woven chair material can accumulate a lot of dust and filth.

So, if you think your chair isn’t composed of a material that will collect dust and filth, you’re mistaken, for sure.

4. Baking Soda

Baking soda may do a lot more than just make your baked products rise. When sprayed to household mishaps, this granular product functions as an odor absorber as well as a mild abrasive, instantly dissolving trapped gunk without affecting the surfaces. When combined with other home cleaners, such as dishwashing liquid, baking soda becomes an even more potent cleaning agent, helping you to remove oily residue, polish metal, and many other things.

Baking Soda Mist

Assuming that you don’t have time to clean your furniture’s upholstery with baking soda, you may use a spray solution instead. Fill a small spray bottle halfway with:

• 2 to 3 teaspoons of baking soda
• a few drops of fragrant oil, such as lavender
• Mildly warm water

Blend it well before spraying it over your textiles for a quick, safe refresher. The pleasant oil masks odors, while the baking soda coats the surface with a gentle layer. The key is to acquire the right proportion so that both constituents can show their action and the soda doesn’t leave a noticeable residue.

5. Vinegar Spray

Your chair is a breeding ground for filth and smells, and cleaning that smelling chair may be a tiring chore. If you don’t want to spend loads of money having your office chair professionally serviced and dislike the chemical odor of some fabric cleaners, vinegar may be the perfect answer!

i. Take 1 cup (240 ml) of warm water in a spray bottle.

Water disintegrates and dissolves dirt and smells, allowing them to be washed away.  Club soda can also be substituted, but the additional carbonation may cause bubbles to appear.

ii. Add to the spray container 12 cups (120 ml) of white vinegar.

To avoid spills, use a funnel. Vinegar is a gentle acid that dissolves dirt and eliminates smells.

iii. Include 12 tbsp (7.4 mL) liquid soap that should be added to your solution.

You can use natural soap or dish detergent. A modest bit of soap will aid in the removal of grease and grime. To avoid bubbles, gently mix the solution.

One is to Two Punch

Baking Soda and Vinegar are the most widely used combination and rightly so it has been proven beneficial for multiple uses. Yet it might damage the cushion of a chair due to its high acidic or basic nature.

Hence, it is critical not to combine them in equal quantities because the mixture must stay on the neutral portion of the pH scale, neither acidic nor basic. When baking soda and white vinegar forms a solution the acid degrades the baking soda, producing carbon dioxide gas in the surrounding that can aid in the removal of grime from the surfaces being cleaned, removing the putrid scent.

6. Activated Charcoal

Activated charcoal is a superior adsorbent and stink eliminator than baking soda and can handle a wider array of particles. It is quite good at removing even the most tenacious odors. These activated charcoal filters may remove a wide range of aromas and scents, including burnt food, strong spices, cigarette smoke, pet odors, and new paint odors.

However, this highly purified charcoal dust is not recommended for use on furniture because it can discolor. Instead, acquire activated charcoal freshener packs like these and bury them in the corners of your furniture to help decrease odors.

7. Dryer Sheets

Drying Sheets help to prevent static electricity and can also extend the life of your clothes. Nonetheless, it can also be an excellent technique to disguise scents in your chair.

Although dryer sheets aren’t ideal for cleaning your stinking chair, they can help to mask surface odors.

Step 1: Vacuum the chair.

The first step, similar to using baking soda, is to vacuum your smelling chair. Remove any crumbs since you don’t want to drive them further into the cloth.

Step 2: Rub the area with a Dryer Sheet.

It is now time to eliminate the odor with the use of a dryer sheet. You only need one or two sheets.

Begin sliding the sheet softly across the surface of your chair. To work the sheet into the substance, you should ideally employ circular motions. Pay special attention to the high-traffic regions of your chair, such as the backrest and seat cushion.

8. Citrus Enzyme Cleaners

Have you come across citrus enzyme cleaners? Well, if not then check out this remedy to omit the odor from a smelling chair.

What you’ll need;

Instructions

Choose a bottle with a wide opening and be sure to follow the amounts in this recipe. Do not multiply the recipe in this bottle by two. Cut any citrus fruit remnants into chunks that will fit into the bottle’s opening. Shake the water, sugar, and yeast for about 30 seconds. Then, loosely close the cap and wipe the chair with it to remove the foul odor.

9. Soapy Water

If you don’t want to take a risk and clean your chair with strange concoctions and natural cures, we’ll have to get back to fundamentals. In this scenario, the basics is to use a soap and water mixture, a scrub, and an overnight drying process.

10. Chemical Free Fresheners

Many non-hazardous chemical-free purifiers are available online.  For bad odors, a multi-faceted strategy may be ideal, thus combining cleaning, baking soda, and a commercial spray can be successful.

Pro-tip to Get Smell Out of Office Chair

While a musty smell in your office chair is a frequent occurrence for most office workers, especially those with old or heavily used chairs, it is nevertheless a factor for your own hygiene and can be awkward.

The following are the best techniques to keep your office chair clean:

How Often Should We Clean Office Chairs?

One of the most significant things to have in your own office is an office chair. It implies that you must learn about chair maintenance recommendations in order to properly care for this chair. Your office chair should be cleaned at least twice a week. This frequency provides you with the opportunity to remove any undesired materials from your chair.

• Give your chair a deep clean once a month, using a disinfectant spray to disinfect it and allowing it to dry
• Oil your office chair wheels, joints, and mechanisms around once every 6 months; delay in such a process can cause dirt and grime to become lodged in these difficult-to-reach spots.
• Replace your workplace chair every 15 years at the most, as most office chairs are not designed to endure that long.

Wrap-Up

If a workstation doesn’t appeal to you, you’re not alone. We’ve all had that sinking feeling when you go into the office and are greeted by that stale, musty odor. You already know it’s time to tidy!

Working environment elements such as lighting, design, music, and smell can all have an impact on office productivity. It is not necessary to revamp the entire office with an aim to yield maximum output, instead; you can start small by using the above odor-removing techniques to improve mood and performance.