Your office furniture works hard for you. Over time, it experiences wear and tear and it’s important that you give it the love and care it needs so you can get the maximum return on your investment. Take care of your furniture and it will give you many years of satisfactory performance. Don’t and it won’t be long before you’re buying new furniture. Not only that, but maintaining a professional looking office is one of the best ways for a business to make a good impression on current and prospective clients. Here are a few maintenance strategies that will keep your furniture working hard for a long time.
Start a scheduled cleaning regimen.
It’s not uncommon to wait until your furniture is visibly dirty before cleaning it. However, you should get into the habit of regularly maintaining and cleaning it to get rid of the dust and debris you can’t see. Not only will this help the furniture last longer, it will help promote a cleaner environment in the office and may also prevent the spread of germs in an office. Using a non-abrasive cleaner and soft cloth is a good way to clean plastic, vinyl and chrome. For wood furniture, it’s best to use a dry or damp cloth only. As for your office chair, you can definitely care for it whenever you feel like it may need a few teaks, but in general it’s suggested that you perform routine maintenance about every six months.
Protect leather furniture.
Leather is used as the primary material in many premium office chairs and sofas. Being a natural product, it needs little to no care during normal use, but in the event that you have a spot or spill, the following cleaning tips should help. Use leather cleaner or vinegar mixed with linseed oil and gently wipe on the cleaner with a soft cloth. Then make sure to wipe it down again with a damp cloth to remove excess cleaner. Follow the instructions on the cleaner carefully and only use it on real leather upholstery. Additionally, position your leather furniture out of direct sunlight so it doesn’t prematurely age and dust it periodically with a dry towel to keep it in good condition.
Know what wood you’re dealing with.
Lots of office furniture is made of wood or wood laminate—both of which have different cleaning requirements. Additionally, not all wood finishes are the same and a product that’s perfectly fine to use on one wood/finish can do damage to another. The warranty is a good place to go for this information. The manufacturer will specify which product to use and which to avoid in order to get the best results and ensure their continued protection of the furniture. Laminate finishes vary in how they’re manufactured and how they’re applied to desk surfaces. Some of them can tolerate an ammonia-based spray window or multi-surface cleaner but others can’t.
Clean vinyl chairs properly.
Working with an old, broken-down office chair is uncomfortable which in turn affects your ability to be productive. Vinyl is widely used as a substitute for leather as it comes in infinite colors and only little care is needed to keep vinyl furniture fresh and lively. If you have a vinyl chair, clean it weekly by mixing a solution of warm water and mild soap to remove dirt and then dry it with a lint-free and soft cloth. It’s also a good idea to vacuum it weekly to help get rid of the dirt, dust and grime that can accumulate on your furniture. (You should do this for fabric, plastic, mesh and leather chairs, as well.)
Here at Cubix, Inc. we’re dedicated to making your office a clean, welcoming and productive space. If you’ve tried cleaning your office furniture but realize it’s time for an upgrade, give us a call to learn about how our products will fit your business’ needs.
Travis Owens, the President of Cubix, Inc., has dedicated over 18 years to refining and leading the premier leader for commercial flooring services in Florida. Before taking the helm as President, Travis excelled as the Director of Operations, solidifying his reputation as an industry trailblazer in commercial flooring consulting and solutions. A proud veteran, Travis honorably served 8 years in the Marines, exemplifying his commitment and discipline in all endeavors. Residing in Orlando with his family, he also indulges in his passion for culinary spices.
