Chair Care 101: Some Basic Do's and Don't's

You'd be amazed at what comes back to our service department. Some chairs look immaculate and only need a part replaced or a jam unjammed. Others look like they've been dragged behind a truck from Chicago to St. Louis and need major surgery.

The great thing about cool chairs like the Aeron or the Freedom or the Leap is how little you have to do to keep them looking and performing their best.

The important thing, though, is to avoid the most common mistakes that can actually do serious damage to your trusted office companion. Or, even worse, make it virtually impossible for us to honor the warranty.

First, what NOT to do...the #1 mistake people make.

The mistake we see most often is when a well-meaning client uses WD-40 to lubricate the chair. What most people don't realize is that WD-40 is a very effective de-greaser.

The only lubricant that should be used is the one all of our chair manufacturers use: white lithium grease. So when you apply WD-40 you're actually "de-lubricating" your chair. The resultant metal-on-metal wear will ultimately destroy the unit.

These chairs really shouldn't require lubricating unless you have a very dusty work environment or a cat or small dog that's fond of rubbing up against it. Pet hair and dirt sticks to the grease and can really gum up the works.

In these cases you simply wipe off the mess and apply a small amount of white lithium to keep your chair moving as fluidly as the day it arrived. You can find white lithium at any hardware store or home center. It comes in an aerosol can with a long directional tube, just like WD-40, so it's quick, convenient and doesn't make a mess.

By the way, white lithium is a great lubricant for garage doors, too. It eliminates the squeaks and reduces wear and tear.

The #2 mistake...removing the labels from beneath the chair.

All the fine quality chairs we sell come with anywhere from a 5-year to a lifetime warranty. If you should ever have any problems, the first thing we'll need from you is the information on the manufacturer label affixed to the bottom of the chair.

These labels contain things like the factory order number, color information, date of manufacture, etc. -- the information we need to provide the factory to get the chair repaired or replaced under the warranty. Without this information the process becomes very difficult.

It's kind of like removing the Vehicle Identification Number from your new car or truck. Just try to get warranty work done without the VIN...it just doesn't happen.

So please DON'T remove any labels from beneath your chair.

Go easy on the soap.

Your chair is constructed of materials that are engineered to clean up easily. All it takes is mild soap and some water.

Harsh detergents and many stain removers can permanently discolor fabrics. So if the mild soap and water doesn't do the trick, then please call us toll-free at 1-877-MY-OFFICE before you apply any other cleanser. We'll happily recommend the best course of action depending on the situation.

For leather or mesh...

Every few months or so I recommend that you put the dust-brush attachment on your vacuum cleaner and give your chair a good going-over. Besides making the chair look good, you're also removing potential friction problems.

If your chair has any leather surfaces, after you vacuum up the dust you might also want to use a little Lexol — it's the best for keeping the leather moist, supple and luxurious.

See? There's really not much to it. These chairs are built to last. But if you ever have any questions or issues at all, please call us. We've seen it all and we'd be happy to help you any way we can. Call toll-free 1-877-MY-OFFICE.