How To Clean Office Chair Smell?

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Office chairs are some of the most durable assets in our offices. Depending on the type of chair you’re using, office chairs can last anywhere between 5 to 20 years. Being in use every other day makes them dirty and smelly. Despite the fact that it’s frustrating to have your office chair smell, it can be embarrassing, to say the least.

While most of them smell after a couple of years, how to clean office chair smell can be a nightmare for many.

You can clean office chair smell by using baking powder, vacuum cleaner, or treating it using vinegar, among others. Your office chair smells bad due to bacteria, dust, plus sweat. Deodorize a fabric chair by sprinkling baking soda on it. Also, use baking soda to get smell out of a leather chair.

Keep reading for a detailed guide.

Table of Contents

Why Does My Office Chair Smell Bad?

In a nutshell, your office chair smell because of:

Your sweat
Preservative Chemicals
Fungi
Bacteria

Let’s discuss the above in detail below.

Your Sweat

Needless to say, everyone sweats. Sadly, sweat isn’t pleasant to anyone’s nose. The same applies when it’s transferred to your office chair. During those hot days in the office, sweat drops are likely to get to your chair without your knowledge.

Considering that you’re not wiping your office chair every other day, sweat could accumulate, consequently making your office chair smell bad.

Preservative Chemicals

Every new office chair has an unappealing odor that slowly fades away after some days or weeks, utmost. This smell, though not pleasant to the nose, shouldn’t cause any alarm.

Normally, the manufacturers use preservative chemicals before shipping your office chair.

Why is that so? To preserve the material used on your new chair.

I had a similar challenge not many days ago when I brought in new furniture. I had to remove the furniture outside for the entire night. The next day, the smell had gone down, and the third day, it was no more.

So, if your office chair is new, expect to have a similar experience – after a few days, it should be gone completely.

Fungi

A poorly ventilated room is likely to make your office chair smell. Here’s what I’m saying. Poor ventilation makes your office chair moist due to air humidity. Resultantly, mildew and mold are likely to grow on your office chair, thereby making your chair smelly.

Nonetheless, sweat and liquids (that you take while seated on your chair) also cause mold to grow on your chair.

Bacteria

There’s nothing much you can do about these microscopic particles since they emanate from your body odor plus sweat. Grime and dirt also cause office chairs to smell due to bacteria.

How To Clean Office Chair Smell

All office chairs, including new ones, need to be cleaned to eliminate odor. Particularly, leather office chairs are the culprit in smelling when new, though the odor soon goes away after some hours or days.

But what do you do if you’ve been using your office chair for months or years and it has a bad odor?

Firstly, depending on why it’s smelling, there are various ways to go about cleaning your office chair, as we shall see below. The most effective ones, though, are:

Baking soda
Vinegar

Baking Soda

Not only will baking powder eliminate office chair smell, but it also neutralizes every bacteria pH membrane. With all the acidity being neutralized, all the smell disappears.

One good thing about baking soda is that you can use it to clean office chairs made of leather as well as those with a fabric material.

It’s worth noting that sometimes the smell may still be there even after using baking soda. Don’t worry; simply repeat the process.

You may have to do this until the smell is all gone or try any other solution, as discussed in this article.

So, how do you clean office chair smell using baking soda?

Sprinkle dry baking soda on your office chair – dry baking soda prevents clogging vacuum cleaners. Do it lightly, though, as too much of anything would do more harm than good.
Rub it gently to save the material while still ensuring that baking soda goes deep into your office chair material (if made of fabric).
Allow the office chair to rest for 15 to 20 minutes before vacuum cleaning. If you’re not in a rush to use the chair, leave it overnight and vacuum clean the next day.
A good vacuum cleaner should remove all baking soda bits from the office chair.
Using a duster or a dry cloth can still work in place of a vacuum cleaner. However, this tops up the amount of work you’ll do to clean off the baking soda effectively.

Vinegar

Vinegar contains acid, which eliminates office chair smell. Even so, before using vinegar, it’s vital to confirm if it’s safe for your office chair material. This is why – vinegar, without being diluted with water, could be too strong for some type of office chair.

As a result, it would eliminate the smell but also leave a tear on your office chair.

Have the correct vinegar and water solution — recommended ratio is 1:1. This ratio is effective on a not-so-strong odor. For a strong smell, a ratio of 2:1 would be ideal.
Spray the mixture sparingly not to soak the office chair.
Give it enough time to dry completely. If the odor remains, repeat the process.

Be ready, though; vinegar has some cons. For example;

Vinegar discolors some fabrics. So, if you’re not sure if the material on your office chair is one such, do a small test by applying it on a small portion – preferably beneath the seat.
Vinegar equally has a smell, which may not be good for most people. So, only use it if you can bear with its smell for a couple of days.

How Do I Stop My Chair From Smelling?

Vinegar and baking soda are most effective when the office chair smell is very high — totally unbearable. The two works effectively and fast. However, these two aren’t the only solutions for stopping your office chair from smelling.

To stop your office chair from smelling;

Leave your chair under the sun
Vacuum clean often
Use cleaning spray
Use detergent
Use liquid soap

Let’s discuss the above further.

Sunlight

While the sun doesn’t always favor all office chair materials, it works for some – yours could be one of them.

Sunlight kills bacteria — thereby eliminating or preventing office chair smell. Be careful, though, don’t leave your office chair outside under the sun for so long.

Sunlight may also have adverse effects on your office chair; for example, the chair could fade, dry up, or even crack.

So, this isn’t an everyday solution; it’s something you can do once in a while.

To save you trouble, though, below is a table to help you determine if your chair qualifies to be left under the sun or not.

Check it out.

Material	Sunlight Effects
Vinyl	No adverse effects
Mesh	No adverse effects
Leather	Cracks or fades
Fabric	Fade

Vacuum Clean

Don’t vacuum your office chair only when you’ve used baking soda; vacuum it often. This is a sure way to eliminate dust grime as well as odor. Better still, don’t just vacuum the area that could possibly have a smell after a few days, vacuum the entire office chair. Each part is prone to odor.

Be careful, though; a vacuum cleaner’s head could damage the office chair material. This is, however, avoidable by using a low setting and choosing the smallest vacuum head attachments.

Cleaning Spray

Like is the case with your home windows, using a cleaning spray gives your office chair an excellent look and catchy appearance. There are many cleaning sprays in the market, among them is Mr. Sheen.

You may, however, not use this product every day, but ensure you use it once a week.

Use Detergent

Your laundry detergent is as effective on your office chair as it is on your dirty and smelly socks. It’s a fact you might not believe until you try it today. Surprisingly, some studies back up the use of detergent to remove stains as well as smells on your office chair and other surfaces.

Here’s how your detergent works – Adding a detergent to your water reduces water friction.

Consequently, water mixes effectively — thereby making it easy to clean and effectively eliminate odor and any stains on your office chair.

So, dip a cloth, if you like, a sponge into your detergent and use it to wipe the chair. For great results, mix a spoon tablespoon of your choicest detergent in a basin and add 16 ounces of clean water.

If your office chair is too smelly, use two tablespoons of your choicest detergent. Rinse with clean water and wipe using a dry cloth.

Allow your office chair to rest overnight before using it.

Use Liquid Soap

Use liquid soap to quickly and easily remove odor from your leather office chair smell. Add warm water to a clean bowl and add only one tablespoon of original liquid soap.

Mix the solution for about a minute until you’ve observed a few suds forming.

Dip a clean cotton cloth in the solution and use it to wipe the leather office chair smell away.

Heads up: Don’t use liquid soap on office chairs made of other materials as it could have adverse effects on them.

Dry Cleaning Solvent

Water-based cleaners aren’t always recommended on all office chairs. Some office chairs may tear or wear when you use water or water-based cleaners on them. If, therefore, the manufacturer’s tag indicates yours is one such type of office chair material, use dry cleaning solvent to clean the office smell.

Such may include 1-bromopropane, perchloroethylene (perc), and petroleum spirits. Ensure the dry cleaning solvent you choose is effective and safe on your chair material before buying.

How Do You Get The Fart Smell Out Of A Chair?

It’s no secret; we all fart, at least once in a while. For some, though, farting is a result of a health issue. Constant farting may cause your office chair to stink — thereby needing cleaning often.

To get the fart smell out of your chair, use:

Eucalyptus Oil
Lemon Juice
Tea Tree Oil

Eucalyptus Oil

Apart from the many benefits and use of Eucalyptus oil you know, this oil works excellently in eliminating fart smell from your office chair(s).

Simply spray the oil on your chair and allow it to dry overnight before using it. What’s the right ratio when making the solution, though? You ask.

Add three parts of water in a bottle, preferably a spraying bottle. To it, add one part of the oil. Shake well to mix before spraying.

Lemon Juice

Lemon juice contains citric acid. With two parts of clean water and lemon (one part) poured in a bottle, you can get the fart smell out of a chair effectively.

So, spray the lemon juice, which is actually citric acid, on the chair, making sure that the solution reaches the deep parts of the fiber (if that’s the material used to make your office chair).

A night would be enough for your chair to dry and for the acid to rid off all the fart smell.

So, only use the chair the following day.

Like is the case with cleaning your office chair smell, you can also use vinegar (white) and baking soda to get the fart smell out of a chair.

How Do You Get The Smell Out Of Fabric Chairs?

Fabric office chairs are particular culprits in retaining fart smell and other odors. While they last longer and provide the most desired comfort, they can be embarrassing when they retain these smells.

So, to get the smell out of fabric chairs:

Check the manufacturer’s tag to verify the recommended method of cleaning it.

If you can use a vacuum cleaner, follow the methods below to clean the smell from a fabric chair.

Using a vacuum, clean the smell causing stains out of your fabric chair. The vacuum cleaner should also eliminate any debris stuck on your fabric chair.
Deep a clean cotton cloth in mild soapy water and clean any remaining stains on the fabric chair.
Better still, use white vinegar or any other smell-removing detergent to clean the chair. Just be sure that what you choose to use is recommended by the manufacturer to avoid tears and wear on your fabric chair.
To give your fabric chair a great touch, clean the casters, too, as well as the arms and every other part. You may want to apply lubricating oil on the casters for stress-free movement.
Allow the chair enough time to dry to avoid dampening smells after a few days.

How Do You Deodorize a Fabric Chair?

Whether it’s an old office chair you want to deodorize or a new one, deodorizing is another effective way of getting rid of the office chair smell. But how to do it is a nightmare for most fabric chair users.

To deodorize a fabric chair:

Use commercial cleaners
Hire cleaning experts
Buy steam cleaners
Purchase rubbing alcohol
Use Dry cleaning solvent or,
Purchase a new office, fabric chair

Buy Commercial Cleaners

Commercial chemicals are, in most cases, effective in cleaning tough stains and removing odors from your office chairs – regardless of their make. Some of the commercial cleaners you should consider include;

Bissel cleaners
Scotchgard
Woolite
Resolve, among others.

Due to the solvents used when manufacturing them, they penetrate through the fabric to remove stains and odors you may have struggled to deal with for long.

Hire Cleaning Experts

Commercial cleaning service providers understand what to use on every office chair to eradicate odor and stubborn stains. Engaging them when you’re uncertain of the right chemical to use or if all your chemicals have failed is a good idea.

Note, however, if your chair has an ‘X’ symbol on it, you’ve no other option other than to hire cleaning service providers.

Buy a High-Quality Steam Cleaner

Steam cleaners are effective in deodorizing fabric chairs. They also eradicate compounds that cause smells on fabric chairs. Still, steam cleaners get rid of grime and dirt.

So, how do steam cleaners work?

They have suctions that pull out the smell causing odor and debris, among others, from your fabric chair. They infuse a chair’s surface using hot moisture coming from hot water to achieve this.

Rubbing Alcohol

Rubbing alcohol is effective, but it’s not a perfect choice for people who have issues with strong odors. Here’s why, while it works in deodorizing fabric chairs and removing stains, it also has a strong smell that may remain in your fabric chair for a couple of hours or days.

After it’s fully evaporated, there will be no more odor on your chair. So, if you can bear for a few days, then go for rubbing alcohol.

The good thing? It’s more effective than vinegar. Don’t use a lot if, though. Also, ensure that the room is well ventilated before you get started.

If you’re asthmatic or have other allergic reactions, I recommend using a respirator while working.

So, pour a few drops on a cloth and rub the chair fabric with it. Else, use cotton balls.

Rub your office fabric chair gently to deodorize it. Rubbing alcohol deodorizes smells on fabric chairs really fast.

Purchase a New Fabric Chair

If all else fails, there’s only one guaranteed option, buying another high-quality office chair! At least, this is a sure remedy.

However, this only depends on the material of your new chair as some leather chairs have odors when new — no cause for alarm as the smell dissipates after a few days.

When buying your new chair, consider office chairs that do not retain odors, for example, leather chairs.

Also, choose a chair that is stress-free to clean.

Also read,

How to Clean the Wheels of an Office Chair

FAQs

Does Febreze Really Work?

Firstly, Febreze doesn’t work by removing odors from your office chair. Also, Febreze doesn’t remove stains from your office chair. Instead, Febreze deactivates odor from your office chair.

In some cases, it might as well leave an attention-grabbing fragrance on your office chair, for instant, a floral scent.

It depends on which Febreze you’re using, though.

Here’s what exactly happens: Upon spraying this product, it dissolves the odor in your office chair partially.

Also, it traps odor-releasing molecules, making them donut-shape chemicals. These molecules are commonly known as cyclodextrin.

While the odor releasing molecules are still in existence, they become deactivated so you cannot smell them anymore.

Which Is Better Febreze Or Lysol?

Febreze traps every source of the smell. The beta-cyclodextrin, an additive, is responsible for covering the smell, thereby reducing the odor vapor pressure plus the smell linked to it.

Lysol rids off odor-causing bacteria on your office chairs, up to at least 99.9 percent. It releases fragrances that are powerful enough to cover smells on your chairs.

Wrapping Up

How to clean office chair smell depends on the material of the chair and the type of odor on it. Some smells need stronger cleaners than others, while some chemicals may do more harm on your chair material than good.

Simply ensure that the method you choose to remove the smell on your office chair is effective and is recommended by the manufacturer.

If you opt to replace your chair, consider a better material than the previous one to make it easy to clean odors and stains.

Author

Andrew Smith

Andrew Smith is the founder of CozySeating, is a father of 2, and an engineer from one of the leading furniture stores in the country. Due to his 10 years of experience, he has proved to be the best person to offer advice to clients regarding different seating furniture based on their needs and performance. Besides, he is a specialist in product reviews and always keeps up with the current trends in the market.

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How To Clean Office Chair Smell? – A Pro Guide