How to Clean the Wheels of an Office Chair

Having a hard time rolling around on your office chair? It’s possible that the chair wheels themselves are fine, and the problem stems from dirt and grime that has built up on those chair wheels. Your office chair rolls around all day, day after day, and easily picks up anything that’s on the floor. Eventually all that build up affects the chair wheel performance. Dirty office chair wheels are simple to overlook when you’re focused on cleaning your office. That’s why we want to talk about an easy way to clean the wheels of an office chair.

How to Clean the Wheels of an Office Chair

First, it’s important to note that cleaning the office chair wheels will be a project to work on from the floor or on a large, empty table. The chair should be on its side or positioned in a way that it is steady and it will not roll away. Consider putting down a towel first to protect the finish on your chair, floor, and table. Some cleaning supplies will also be necessary for this project:

• Gloves

• Rags

• Small, flat-head screwdriver

• Old toothbrush

• Soap and water or spray cleaner

• Cotton swabs

• Tweezers

• Scissors

• Spray lubricant

How to Remove Office Chair Wheels

If your office chair wheels are removable, this will be your first step. The chair wheels might unscrew on the sides. If not, the wheels might just pull off with a tight grip. Ask someone else to hold the chair when you pull off the wheels. It’s possible the wheels may need to be pried off the base of the chair with a screwdriver. Be firm but gentle to avoid damaging the wheel and base area, the place it connects, and the chair itself.

If you find your office chair’s wheels will not budge, you can work on the wheels while they are still in place with some of the more detailing types of tools you have gathered.

When your Office Chair Wheels Won’t Roll

Dirt, dust, and yes, hair will clog up office chair wheels. The build-up over months and maybe years will put a damper on your chair’s rolling ability. When you have finally had enough of the poor movement, you will want to disassemble the wheel mechanisms as much as you can as mentioned above.

From there you can begin cleaning and detailing your wheels to help make movement smooth again.

1. Take your smaller tools like the tweezers and remove any hair, string, or trapped bits from the office chair wheel itself. Make sure to do the same with the component the wheel attaches to. Sometimes you might need to cut away at the course materials wound up around your wheel; the wheels can become pretty matted and might need a good deal of attention.
2. Clean your office chair wheels and wheel attachments with cleaning solution, a wet rag, and a toothbrush. Scrubbing them well now will keep them clean longer.
3. Give them a good drying. They can be left aside for a few hours or overnight to make sure they are fully dry.
4. Lubricating your wheels after they are dry can go a long way to keeping them moving smoothly. Spray some lubricant into the assembly hole. Wipe away the extra.
5. Reassemble your office chair wheels while it is laying on the table or floor. Check on the lubricant spray and wipe away any extra that has appeared before putting it back on your carpet floors. Look this over a handful of times during the day in case you need to wipe up any more.

And, voilà! You will be back to rolling around your desk easily in no time!

If, after cleaning your office chair wheels, you want to clean the chair’s arms, remove odors from the office chair, or clean up the chair’s mesh elements, we have instructions to help you tackle those cleaning tasks as well.

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