How to Clean Fabric Dining Chairs at Home: Best Ways

The word ‘Cleaning’ somehow comes with a weird ability to make us imagine a messy scenario. But when it comes to cleaning fabric dining chairs, it probably scares the hell out of you as it’s not any random furniture that gets cleaned with a wipe. Now the question is, is there any way to change that?

Well, the only ways we see are getting professional help or learning how to clean fabric dining chairs. We’re guessing you’re not counting the first one as your option.

So, I think you’d be more interested in the second one, and that’s what we’re going to help you with. Just keep your eyes on the next part.

What Is The Best Product To Clean Fabric Chairs?

The best product to clean fabric chairs depends on the type of fabric and the level of cleaning required. Here are a few options:

Vacuuming: Regular vacuuming with a brush attachment can help remove dust and debris from fabric chairs.
Fabric Upholstery Cleaner: Look for upholstery cleaning sprays or foams designed specifically for fabric. Test it on a small, hidden area first to ensure it doesn’t damage the fabric.
Mild Soap and Water: For many fabric types, a mixture of mild dish soap and water can work well. Dampen a clean cloth with the solution, blot the stain, and then wipe the entire chair gently. Make sure to rinse with a clean damp cloth to remove soap residue.
Stain Removers: There are various stain-specific cleaners available, like those for grease, wine, or ink. Always test in an inconspicuous area before applying to the stain.
Steam Cleaners: If the fabric allows, a handheld steam cleaner can effectively clean and sanitize fabric chairs.
Professional Cleaning: For valuable or delicate chairs, consider hiring a professional upholstery cleaning service to ensure a thorough and safe cleaning process.

Always check the manufacturer’s care label and recommendations before using any cleaning product. Additionally, test any cleaning solution on a small, hidden area of the fabric to make sure it doesn’t cause discoloration or damage.

Which Cleaning Products Do You Need to Avoid?

Who knows better than a professional which cleaning products will be perfect for cleaning up your fabric dining chair? But not every time you’ll have enough time to give them a call as the lack of instant action might cause permanent damage to the furniture. So, you better go for instant action.

But that doesn’t mean you’re free to jump on it with any cleaning products you’ve got around. There are a few of them I think you should strictly avoid when your chairs have fabric upholstery. Let us give you a few names that you need to stay away from.

Bleach
Ammonia
Abrasive Cleaning Products
Stronger Acids
Alkalis

Decoding Manufacturers Cleaning Codes

If you’re thinking that manufacturers leave no clue for you to get an idea about what kind of cleaning products your dining chairs need, then you’re wrong. They know that accidents are real, and so are the stains caused by them. But taking the right step at the right will save you from having them permanently.

That’s why they give cleaning product codes that can ease your understanding about which product you need to keep around for applying on the chairs for cleaning.

Here’s the decoration of those codes;

Solvent (S)

If it’s S, then this means you need to go for Solvent-based cleaning products. It’s basically the one that is totally free of water, like the dry cleaning product.

Water (W)

Once you see ‘W’, then make sure the cleaning product you’re choosing for the chair is water-based.

Solvent or Water (SW)

This kind of fabric can be cleaned with both water and solvent-based cleaning products. I call this one the less-hassling kind.

How to Clean Fabric Dining Chairs or Fabric Kitchen Chairs: Step-by-Step Guide

Wouldn’t it have been better if you could just have a manual for cleaning furniture? But unlike machines, they don’t come with that, especially when they’re fabric dining chairs. So, does it mean you won’t clean it? Hell no!

Initially, this kind of furniture asks for the attention of professionals as the regular users don’t have much idea about how to give them a thorough cleaning. But today you’re going to get out of that circle, and for that, all you need to do is just follow the simple steps we’re going to tell you about.

Step 1: Understand the Need of the Fabric

There’s no way to question that not all furniture comes with the same kind of fabric. As I don’t know which one is on your chairs, I say you better figure out the needs of that fabric first.

All the fabrics have their own way through which you can clean or take care of them. In case you’ve never dealt with this kind of fabric before, try checking out its cleaning care tag.

If you’re not seeing one, then pick a smaller area of the fabric and try the cleaner on that part to be sure if the cleaner is working on it or not.

Step 2: Vacuuming Loose Dirt

No matter what kind of fabric it is or how careful you are while using the chair, it’ll get caught up with loose dirt for sure. The worst part of having these all over the place is, that they can create new stains that might not always go with easy wipes with a clean cloth.

The best way to get rid of loose dirt is to vacuum the chair thoroughly. In order to keep the chair stain-free in the long run, vacuum it on a regular basis.

Step 3: Making or Mixing Your Solution

If it was vinyl or leather upholstery, you could’ve just gone with the furniture polish. But for fabric chairs, I say you better go with your DIY solution for cleaning it up.

Now the question is, what kind of solution will actually work for the fabric?

If your chair isn’t reactive to any water solution, then I say you better make one on your own. You don’t need anything more than water/club soda, white vinegar, and natural dish soap to pull that off.

First, take one cup of water. You can use club soda too if you like. Then mix ½ cup of white vinegar in it. Once you’re done with that, add ½ Tablespoon of natural dish soap to complete the solution.

Step 4: Spraying and Blotting

Right after mixing the solution, take a clean spray bottle and put it in it. Now, get a clean towel and spray some of the solutions on it. Make sure the amount of solution sprayed is not too much compared to the stain you want to clean. Then put the towel on the stain and start blotting it.

Step 5: Using Hydrogen Peroxide.

In case you’re not counting water solution as an option for cleaning your chair, you can go with hydrogen peroxide as well to get rid of the stain.

To use it, first of all, put some of it on a towel and start blotting the stain. If you really want the best outcome, I say you better use microfiber. To be sure about the effect on the chair’s upholstery, try some on a smaller area first.

Step 6: Going for Deeper Cleaning with the Steamer

A plain towel will not always be enough to ensure a deep clean. You need something more effective than that. Yes, we’re talking about using a steamer.

Once you clean the whole thing with a steamer, make sure you’re getting it dry fully before sitting on it again. Otherwise, you might trap moisture within which is definitely nothing good for the chair.

How To Clean Fabric Dining Room Chairs With Baking Soda: Ste-By-Step

Cleaning fabric dining room chairs with baking soda can help remove odors and freshen up the fabric. Here’s a step-by-step guide:

Materials Needed:

Baking soda
Vacuum cleaner with upholstery attachment
Soft brush or cloth
Bowl
Water

Steps:

Vacuum the Chairs: Use a vacuum cleaner with an upholstery attachment to remove loose dirt, crumbs, and debris from the fabric. This step prevents dirt from being ground into the fabric during the cleaning process.
Create Baking Soda Paste: In a bowl, mix baking soda with a small amount of water to create a paste. The consistency should be thick enough to spread easily but not too runny.
Test a Hidden Area: Before applying the baking soda paste to the visible parts of the chairs, test it on a small, inconspicuous area of the fabric to ensure it doesn’t cause any discoloration or damage.
Apply Baking Soda Paste: If the test area is fine, apply the baking soda paste to the stained or soiled areas of the fabric. You can use your fingers, a soft brush, or a cloth to gently rub the paste into the fabric. Avoid scrubbing too vigorously, as this can damage the fabric fibers.
Let it Sit: Allow the baking soda paste to sit on the fabric for about 15 to 30 minutes. This gives the baking soda time to absorb odors and loosen dirt.
Brush Away the Paste: After the paste has had time to work, use a soft brush or cloth to gently brush away the dried baking soda. This should take away any dirt and absorb odors.
Vacuum Again: Vacuum the chairs once more with the upholstery attachment to remove any remaining baking soda particles and dirt.
Air Out: If possible, let the chairs air out in a well-ventilated area for a little while to ensure any residual baking soda odor dissipates.
Reassess and Repeat: Check the chairs to see if the cleaning results meet your expectations. If necessary, you can repeat the process on specific areas that still need attention.
Regular Maintenance: To keep your fabric dining room chairs clean, vacuum them regularly and address spills and stains promptly.

Remember that baking soda is generally considered safe for most fabrics, but it’s still a good idea to test it on a small area first, especially if your chairs have a unique or delicate fabric.

How To Remove Stains From Fabric Chair Seats?

To remove stains from fabric chair seats, follow these steps:

Act Quickly: Address stains promptly to prevent them from setting in. Blot excess liquid with a clean cloth or paper towel.
Identify the Stain: Determine the type of stain to use the appropriate cleaning method. Common stains include food, beverages, ink, or oil.
Pretest: Test the cleaning solution on a hidden area of the fabric to ensure it doesn’t damage or discolor the material.
Blot, Don’t Rub: Gently blot the stain with a clean, damp cloth. Avoid rubbing, as it can push the stain deeper into the fabric.
Use Suitable Cleaner: Apply a small amount of an appropriate fabric stain remover, mild detergent, or a mixture of vinegar and water to the stain. Follow care label recommendations.
Work from Outside In: When applying the cleaner, work from the outer edges of the stain toward the center to prevent spreading.
Blot and Rinse: Blot the stain with a clean cloth and rinse with water to remove the cleaning solution.
Air Dry: Let the chair seat air dry completely before using it again.
Repeat if Necessary: Stubborn stains may require multiple treatment cycles.
Professional Help: If the stain persists, consider seeking professional upholstery cleaning assistance.

Remember, the best approach varies depending on the fabric type, so always check the care label and use suitable products for the material.

How to Conserve Fabric Upholstery?

The more reckless you’ll be about the chairs, the harder they’ll get to be cleaned. So, the best way to keep your hassles to the lowest is by conserving the fabric upholstery properly.

So, how are you going to do that? Well, there are certain ways including –

Vacuuming Regularly

Do you know the easiest way to make fabrics wear faster? Letting them catch dust and dirt. So, you’ll have to keep them away from the upholstery in the first place. To do that, you need to go for a thorough vacuum every week once at least.

This way keeping them cleaner and brighter will become much easier. On top of that, it’ll stop the crumbs or dust from getting inside and make the upholstery last longer than you expect. And yes, it helps in stopping common allergens, too, including dust mites.

But make sure the vacuum cleaner you’re getting has upholstery attachments good enough to work with your chairs.

Keeping Away from Direct Sunlight

There’s nothing that can make a color fade away as easily as the sun does. Yes, we’re talking about exposing the furniture directly to sunlight for a longer period of time. So, while setting your chairs, make sure you’re not putting them in a place where they can get hit directly by the sunlight.

In case you’re getting no other spot ideal enough for putting the chairs, I say use curtains to block the light then.

Taking Professional Help

Often we don’t consider that as an option unless there’s a mess beyond our control. But you need to think beyond that circle when it comes to conserving your fabric upholstery.

When spending your bucks on furniture, you count that as an investment too and investments require proper maintenance in order to get a better outcome.

So, to secure that investment which is your fabric dining chair, you need professional help for cleaning. It has to be twice a year at least.

When picking up a team of professionals, always go with the one with a good reputation. Inexperienced people come with a chance of ruining your furniture rather than making it better.

Read Next: How to clean fabric sofas at home

Final Words

There’s no doubt that while buying those fabric dining chairs, you’ve bought them not only because you needed them, but you’ve also loved them. Clearly. you won’t like seeing them getting stained, will you?

So, the best way you keep them as good as new is by knowing how to clean fabric kitchen/dining chairs in the first place, unless you want to spend some thick bucks for professional help every time you see a new stain on them.