When it comes to fabric dining chairs it would be simply wonderful if they didn’t require any upkeep whatsoever, we can only dream! But as with any piece of furniture, a little bit of TLC can go a long way. Even if it becomes a once-a-year task (or even every other year) there are quick and painless methods to get the best appearance from your chairs. But, what are these? Well, today we intend to answer the question:

How to clean fabric dining room chairs?

Prepare

Before even beginning the task at hand it’s important to know exactly what materials you’re working with, and then how best to get your surface prepared. To understand which cleaning is best suited to your fabric dining chairs, locate the fabric information either on the underside of the chair or in the info sheet/tab with the original packaging.

Then clear the chair of any large pieces of debris or muck, be attentive to anything lodged into the weave. Dislodge any crumbs or dirt in the crack where the chair seat meets the back.

Vacuum

Vacuuming is very much the easiest step in this guide on how to clean fabric dining chairs. It’s the quick fix for when your chairs don’t need the full attention of a scrub, but also step one before you get the wet cleaning going. Any vacuuming will be beneficial in removing finer debris that’s lodged, and giving  you a great dust free start point to get your clean on! Use the small upholstery funnel and do so in strips, then go over again in criss-cross fashion. Now, to get down and dirty clean.

Act quick! Spot clean with water for immediately tackling potential stains

For best results when dealing with potential stains, it’s good to get at them instantly after they’ve just occurred. Begin with a clean, dry white cloth and blot, don’t rub the area affected. Let it dry and remove any excess staining by gently using a soft nylon brush.

If the above method hasn’t lifted the stain, trying distilled water only is a safer option rather than reaching straight for the cleaning products. Why distilled? Because tap water may contain minerals that can cause a ring. Dab your cloth, or a sponge if preferred, with lukewarm distilled water then blot the stained patch, never scrub or rub as this can make the stain worse. Let it dry and remove any excess staining by gently using a soft nylon brush.

Using products on problem areas – deeper cleaning

When thinking about how to clean fabric dining room chairs it’s probably this measure that’s most obvious, and yes it sure is the most involved way to go about it – usually with great results, it is of course – using cleaning products.

Firstly, be clear with the general do’s and don’ts:

DO test any cleaning solution in an in­conspicuous area before use. We always recommend a mild solution to limit the risks of an adverse outcome. Begin with a few drops of the solution on a cloth, hold it against the colour and wait a few seconds. Look to see if any of the fabric colour has transferred to the cloth or if there has been a change in the colour of the fabric. Leave longer before then checking again if you want to be entirely sure.

DON’T use a cleaning solvent containing bleaching agents (always check the ingredients and warnings on the packaging). Stains can become permanent if the wrong solution or process is used, therefore if you’re at all unsure, it’s always best to seek the advice/service of a profession­al upholstery cleaning specialist. 

So, to begin with, apply a small amount of your chosen cleaning solution to your cloth, ensuring it’s compatible, as covered above. When applying a solvent based cleaning solution, use one dry clean cloth to apply the solution and a second cloth to blot the stain. Again, as above, use distilled water if the product calls for use of water. Blot the stain with the cleaning solution. Do not rub, brush or scrub. It kind of goes without saying but be sure to always follow the instructions on the cleaning solution bottle.

Now, work from the outer edge toward the center of the stain to avoid enlarging it. The stain should start to re­lease as you blot.

When you have removed as much of the stain as possible, blot any remaining cleaning solution or moisture from the fabric. If the spot is in a place where you can leave a clean, dry cloth on the stain, go for it! Be sure to weigh down the cloth allowing it to remain on the spot while it dries. If the stain persists contact an upholstery professional for cleaning.

So, that concludes our delve into how to clean fabric dining room chairs. If you have specific questions for products purchased through Inside Out Living, don’t hesitate to reach out to our attentive customer care team who will be very happy to answer these.