You have a good choice! That’s clearly seen in your decision to buy a Herman Miller Aeron chair. Now you also want to know how to clean and maintain this expensive office chair.
In this article, we shall look at cleaning each part (such as mechanical parts, cushions, arm pads, wheels, etc.) of the chair in detail.
YOU’LL NEED
Here are the tools and materials that you will need to clean and maintain your Aeron chair:
1- Protective gear (gloves and face mask)
2- Warm alkaline water
3- Vacuum (with upholstery appliance)
4- Liquid dish soap
5- Lubricating spray
6- Soft cloth
7- Sponge
8- Dry cleaning solution (avoid any that contain tetrachloride or similar toxic materials)
9- White vinegar
10- Spray bottle
11- Baking soda
12- Butter knife
13- Cotton swabs
14- Tweezers
STEPS to Clean an Aeron Chair
Your Aeron chair is divisible into two main components; the mechanical and the material. The mechanical parts are parts such as joints and the swivel while the material is the fabric aspect such as the seat, backrest, and the pellicle material they are made of.
Note: You must NEVER use hot water when cleaning your Aeron chair. Hot water will only make it more difficult to clean the stains and possibly cause permanent damage to the chair.
Cleaning the Mechanical Components
STEP 1: Use a dry cloth to wipe the external area of the joints and the swivel.
STEP 2: Use your lubricating spray to spray these areas.
STEP 3: Dampen the cloth with the lubricating spray and use it to wipe these areas carefully
Cleaning the Material Components
This mainly deals with the main areas of your chair, which includes the pellicle fabric that is the major material used in making the chair. This material is special, delicate, and very essential to the efficiency of the Aeron chair, so utmost care must be taken when cleaning and handling it.
It is important that you NEVER brush it, as it can alter the grain of the fabric and this will affect the use of the chair.
Standard Cleaning of Material
Use a vacuum with an upholstery attachment to vacuum the fabric thoroughly. This will get rid of all regular dirt and dust and keep your chair in a well-maintained state.
It is important that you do not use a brush appliance or attachment on your vacuum and that you avoid a vacuum that has a brush attachment or teeth in its end.
Deep Cleaning of Material
This is an intense clean of the pellicle material and leather fabric of your chair. We have divided the cleaning guide for this section according to the type of stains that may occur on your Aeron chair, that is water-based stains and oil-based stains.
The cleaning procedures for the two, vary as they are handled differently and have differing effects on the material. Water-based stains include stains like juice, soda, coffee, etc while oil-based stains include stains like grease, makeup, etc
Cleaning Water Based Stains
Step 1: Pour the liquid dish soap into a bowl of warm water. Pour enough to form lather.
Step 2: Mix the solution and work it into a lather.
Step 3: Use the cloth or a damp sponge to gently scrub the stained areas in a circular movement, moving from the outside to inside the stain.
Step 4: Use a cloth dipped in cold water to rub at scrubbed areas again and wipe away any leftover dirt and stain residue.
Step 5: Use a dry cloth to dab at the scrubbed areas. Once dry, vacuum your chair again before use.
Cleaning Oil Based Stains
Note: Test your dry cleaning product on a hidden spot of your chair to be sure it is safe. You should also ensure the room is aerated and well-ventilated when cleaning. There are two methods for cleaning oil-based stains that use different products, a dry cleaning solution, and vinegar
Using a Dry Cleaning Solution
Step 1: Apply your dry cleaning solution onto a damp cloth or sponge.
Step 2: Use the cloth or sponge to gently scrub the stained areas until the stain is gone. Scrub in a circular motion, moving from the outside to inside the stains.
Step 3: Use a dry cloth to soak up excess moisture from the cleaned areas.
Step 4: After fully drying, vacuum your chair before its next use.
Using Vinegar
Step 1: Mix a cup of white vinegar, warm water, and a tablespoon of liquid dish soap in a bowl and pour it into a spray bottle.
Step 2: Spray the solution onto a cloth or sponge and gently scrub the stained areas in a circular motion, following the earlier mentioned pattern.
Step 3: Use a cloth dampened with warm water to clean off any residue of the solution.
Step 4: Use a dry cloth to dab at the cleaned spots to remove any excess moisture.
Step 5: After fully drying, vacuum your chair before its next use.
How to Clean the Leather Arm Pads of Your Aeron Chair
Step 1: Make a lather out of mild dish soap and warm water.
Step 2: Apply the lather to a soft cloth and gently scrub off any stains on the leather pads. You should clean the entire surface of the leather.
Step 3: Wipe the soap off with a cloth dampened with warm water. Dry the pads with a clean, dry cloth. Leave the pads to air dry before the next usage.
Note: When the stains are oil-based, simply wipe the surface of the leather with a dry cloth and allow the leather to soak any excess oil. Do NOT use water or soap to clean a grease spot on the leather.
How to Deodorize Your Aeron Chair
Sometimes, your office chair may begin to emit a weird and unpleasant smell. While this can sometimes hint at the hygiene of the user, it can also be a result of a variety of reasons beyond your control such as bacteria or the preserving chemicals on it.
A standard procedure would be to sun your Aeron chair after covering the leather pads with cloth or nylon
There are 2 other simple solutions:
Using Baking Soda
Step 1: Use a clean cloth to dust off the surface of your chair.
Step 2: Use your hand to sprinkle a thin coat of baking soda on your Aeron chair. Make sure to cover it thoroughly.
Step 3: Gently rub and massage the baking soda into the material of your chair. Be very gentle and careful, so that you do not damage the material.
Step 4: Leave the baking soda to sit overnight.
Step 5: Use your vacuum to remove the baking soda. Dust off any residue with a dry cloth and aerate your chair before the next use.
Using Vinegar
Step 1: Dust off the surface of your chair with a clean cloth.
Step 2: Mix one cup of vinegar and one cup of water in a bowl. Mix thoroughly and pour into a spray bottle.
Step 3: Test the solution on your chair by spraying it on an inconspicuous spot. Leave overnight to see if it has any negative effect on the chair.
Step 4: Spray the solution onto your Aeron chair. Spray lightly, so as not to soak the material.
Step 5: Let the spray sit for an hour before sun-drying your chair.
Step 6: Vacuum your chair before your next use.
How to clean the wheels of your Aeron chair
People often focus on cleaning the seat, arm pads, and backrest of an office chair, often forgetting that the wheels are just as important as the rest, and just as susceptible to dirt and wear.
Wheels tend to collect dirt and particles easily because they roll around when supporting the movement of your chair, so it is important that you clean and maintain the wheels of your Aeron chair.
Here’s how to clean the wheels of your Aeron chair in simple steps:
Step 1: Turn your chair upside down to give you easy access to the wheels. Remove the wheels if you can. You may need a screwdriver to unscrew the wheels as not all pull off easily.
Step 2: Use the butter knife to remove bigger debris from the wheel. Try not to use too much force so as to avoid cutting through the plastic and damaging the wheel.
Step 3: Remove any hair strands that are caught in the wheel with the tweezers.
Step 4: Mix a bit of dish soap and warm water in a bowl. Apply the mix to a clean cloth and use it to wipe and clean the wheel. Use a cotton swab and the mix to clean the narrow crevices inside the wheel.
Step 5: Use a clean cloth to dry the wheel thoroughly. You can use a blow dryer on the lowest heat to dry the inside of the wheel.
Step 6: Using spray lubricant, spray the inside of the wheel lightly, this is to avoid squeaks and aid the rolling movement. Use a dry cloth to wipe off any excess lubricant.
Step 7: Reattach the wheels to your Aeron chair and ensure it is well balanced before the next use.
How often should you clean your Aeron chair?
You don’t have to clean your Aeron chair too frequently, it is generally advisable that you do a general cleaning of your chair once a month or every few months depending on the general hygiene of where your chair is located.
You should clean dirt, stains, and spills as soon as they occur to prevent them from setting into the material or causing any further damage to the chair.
An intense clean can come once or twice every three to six months, and less frequently if you do not use your chair often. If large areas are stained or there is significant damage to your chair, it is best that you contact a professional cleaning firm or the seller of your chair.
Conclusion
It is important that you take proper care of your Aeron chair so as to preserve the quality and good function of the chair.
