How To Clean a Gaming Chair in Easy Yet Effective Ways

Unfortunately, it’s fairly common for gamers to dismiss or not give much importance to cleaning their gear.

These include everything from their console and controllers to monitors and other peripherals.

The same is true for furniture, such as chairs, shelves, and sometimes even desks.

If you want to preserve your chair’s sleek design and top condition, you should keep it well-maintained.

You’ll save money and the hassle of buying a new gaming chair if you just put some effort into taking care of your belongings.

For this piece, we’ll look at how to clean a gaming chair and other related topics.

How To Clean a Gaming Chair

To clean your gaming chair the right way, here are the steps to follow:

Step 1: Identify the Type of Upholstery Used

Most likely, you are aware of the material of your gaming chair.

In case you are not sure, check out the paperwork that came with the chair or look it up on the brand’s official site to confirm.

Here are the four most common types of gaming chair upholstery material:

PU Leather

Polyurethane leather is an artificial material consisting of thermoplastic polymer.

It is primarily used in making shoes and furniture.

If you’re someone who prefers vegan products, you should consider gaming chairs made from PU leather such as the Merax Gaming Chair.

Compared to genuine leather, it is cheaper and doesn’t absorb water.

ALSO READ: How To Clean White Gaming Chairs

PVC Leather

Polyvinyl chloride leather is a type of faux leather with multiple layers underneath its coating.

Compared to PU leather, it is more durable but less flexible.

It is also made from non-animal products, but its production causes damage to the environment because it uses dioxins and high toxic chlorine.

Fabric

The most popular material used in clothing, fabric is made from weaving various materials such as cotton, wool, nylon, and other threads.

Similar to leather, it can be faux or genuine.

This type of material is mainly used to make our clothes, curtains, table cloth, and other similar products.

Designing fabric with colors and shapes is much easier than leather, as it is easier to cut and process.

Mesh

Mesh is created from a knitted structure of nylon or polyester, which are both synthetically made.

This results in a net-like, flexible material utilized in a lot of products, gaming chairs included.

Mesh is one of the most-used materials on rubber shoes for its water-resistant properties and breathability.

Step 2: Use the Right Cleaning Tools

Now that we know the material of your gaming chair, let’s see what tools you need to clean it.

Whichever material you have, it is a good practice to use a vacuum cleaner or dry cloth first to remove debris and excess dust.

In hard-to-reach spots, such as the corner of the seat and backrest, a vacuum cleaner should do most of the hard work.

Here are the correct cleaning tools to use depending on your gaming chair’s materials:

Cleaning PU/PVC Leather Gaming Chairs

Leathers are generally the easiest material to clean.

Basically, all you need is a damp cloth to wipe off liquid stains and dust.

You can also opt for a microfiber cloth and water sprayer if you want better results.

Cleaning agents are also ideal to use if you have some lying around in your garage.

Just remember that a small amount of water/solution is required to effectively wipe away dust and stains.

Remember never to use a blower to dry your leather gaming chair. Instead, let it air dry or use a dry cloth.

Using a blower and other high heat-producing machines could affect your leather’s coating, durability, and color.

Cleaning Fabric/Mesh Gaming Chairs

Cleaning fabric and mesh gaming chairs need a bit more effort and tools.

You might need an upholstery cleaner, vacuum cleaner, and blower if you aim to clean your fabric/mesh gaming chair thoroughly.

A damp cloth effectively removes dust and liquid stains on the leather surface, but not very much in fabric and mesh.

If anything, wet cloth would make the dust and stain spread more, making your cleaning more difficult than it should be.

Start cleaning by using the vacuum cleaner all across the backseat, headrest, cushion, and back.

Make sure that debris, dirt, and dust are all gone before using an upholstery cleaner.

This cleaner specializes in removing spots and stains from fabric/mesh materials.

Use it like how you would when cleaning your bed, sofa, and other fabric furniture.

Once satisfied with the results, use the blower to dry the material.

Don’t rush in removing stains by rubbing excessively and drying because doing so could easily ruin your gaming chair.

Step 3: Clean the Base, Frame, and Armrests

Now that the most prominent part is done, what’s left is to clean the remaining pieces.

Cleaning the base, frame, and armrests is pretty much straightforward.

First, prepare a detergent solution, a bucket, a sponge/cloth, and paper towel.

Put the solution in the bucket and slightly dip your sponge/cloth in it.

Then, start gently scrubbing the parts until they are all clean.

Finally, use a dry cloth or paper towel to dry the parts.

Step 4: Clean the Caster Wheels

Cleaning the wheels of your gaming chair could be a tad annoying.

After all, they are a collector of debris and thin materials, such as hair and thread.

Once these become tangled with the wheels, completely removing them could be a challenge.

Using your vacuum cleaner should lessen the dirt and hair inside the wheels.

Afterward, pour some rubbing alcohol on the wheels to help loosen the remaining debris.

Then, use a damp cloth to remove the remaining dirt.

If you see some still stuck in narrow spots, get a tweezer to pick out these stubborn debris.

After you finish cleaning the wheels, it is a good practice to check if your wheels need a lubricant.

If it’s squeaky, apply a small amount to reduce or remove unwanted noise.

How to Take Care of Your Gaming Chair

Knowing how to clean a gaming chair is not enough to keep it in top condition for a long time.

Here are a few tips from the experts:

1. Don’t eat while gaming.

Bits of food, especially from chips, could quickly get into the tight spots of your chair without you noticing.

These could attract pests, such as ants and cockroaches, which could damage the upholstery.

2. Keep pets off-limits.

As much as you love your pet, you have to keep them away from your gaming chair.

Cats and dogs have sharp claws and teeth that could easily cause permanent marks and scratches to your gaming chair.

Cats tend to “sharpen” their claws on various surfaces, and your gaming chair is no exemption.

While we do not encourage declawing, be alert whenever your cat gets near your gaming chair.

On the other hand, dogs tend to bite and chew just about whatever they can.

The pillows and cushions of your gaming chair are the most likely targets for them.

If you can’t resist having your pets not around you while you are gaming, keep them in your lap or your arms to control their movement at a moment’s notice.

3. Keep it dry and clean.

If your room has minimal ventilation or is generally humid, chances are, you’ll sweat a lot while seated on your gaming chair.

The high temperature and the leather to your skin could easily get you sweating in no time.

The constant exposure to acidic compounds in sweat could cost damaging effects on your gaming chair’s leather cover.

So, if you’re someone who perspires a lot, wipe the sweat off your chair with a semi-dry cloth whenever you have the chance.

If you leave the sweat to get constantly absorbed by the surfaces, most likely, it will cause the leather to fade.

4. Don’t place it under direct sunlight.

Constant exposure to direct sunlight spells doom for many materials.

Plastic, wood, rubber, and paint could quickly lose their luster if they get more sun exposure than they could handle.

Leather is also prone to irreversible damage when constantly exposed to direct sunlight.

Cracking, discoloration, and brittleness are the most likely outcome.

Keep your gaming chair away from the windows of your room to avoid direct contact with sunlight.

5. Limit liquid exposure.

Most types of moisture or liquid can cause damage to leather and fabric.

It would be best to use a non-spill mug to minimize spillage to your gaming chair.

If you accidentally spill on the leather, wipe it off as soon as possible to avoid staining and discoloration.

Use a damp cloth for wiping.

Other Useful Tips for Taking Care of Your Gaming Chair

• Adjust the components only when needed. Do not play with it because it may lead to issues in the long run.
• When reclining, avoid putting your full weight on the backrest. Doing so may result in accidents or damage to your gaming chair.
• If you have the resources, apply a leather conditioner to your leather gaming chair once a week to avoid cracking and maintain its shine.
• Check if the screws are tight. Regular inspection of nuts and bolts will help avoid accidents and even detect defective components.

RELATED: How To Assemble a Gaming Chair in Easy Steps (Guide)

Conclusion

Even without any visible dirt, make it a habit to clean your gaming chair.

You will want to do it once or twice a month, at the very least, to make sure it will last for many more years of service.

With the steps and tips provided above, we’re sure you will find no problems learning how to clean your gaming chair.