Crumbs on the keyboard, dusty screens and the coffee stain still adorns the armrest of the office chair. Let's be honest - hygiene in the office is a topic that is hardly ever talked about. And why should it be? After all, the cleaner comes after work and regular ventilation will ensure a healthy working environment. Far from it! Because when the air in the office is thick, it's not always the fault of the choleric boss. Bacteria and viruses are often the cause. Colds, allergies and even skin irritations can be the result. Time to take a closer look at hygiene in the workplace and how to clean your office chair.
Do I have to clean my workplace?
Employees are not obliged to keep the workplace clean. This is the responsibility of the respective company. Medium-sized companies and corporations in particular therefore like to commission an external cleaning service. This is regulated in § 4 Para. 2 ArbStättV:
"The employer must ensure that workplaces are cleaned in accordance with hygiene requirements. Contamination and deposits that could lead to hazards must be removed immediately."
However, start-ups or other small companies often do not have a budget for a cleaning service. These employers then usually rely on the employee to ensure hygienic conditions themselves.
Exceptions confirm the rule
However, you are always required to clean your workplace if you have soiled your desk or office chair yourself. So if you have smeared the keyboard with remoulade or left coffee splashes on the carpet, you must take care of the cleaning yourself. The employer may also demand that you leave your workplace neat and tidy. After all, when customers or applicants come to the company, they shouldn't find a mess. Sensitive documents or files must also be stored securely - keyword data protection.
Office chair cleaning is often neglected
Out of sight, out of mind? While the keyboard and desk are cleaned frequently, the office chair receives comparatively little attention. This is a shame, as executive chairs or 24-hour chairs in particular are subject to heavy use and require appropriate care.
How do I clean my office chair properly?
Firstly, an important note: Professional 24-hour chairs are complex systems. The individual components and technical elements should therefore be cleaned by a trained service team. However, there are exceptions. For example, you can clean and care for the headrest and armrest or the covers yourself. Ideally, the surfaces should be made of washable materials or replaceable covers.
Our tip: Seat covers from StolComfort
At StolComfort, we are constantly developing our chairs. Of course, we also take your customer feedback into account. One result is the new protective covers for the Svenstol armrests. These are made of antibacterial artificial leather, which is also used, for example, in doctors' surgeries and other medical facilities with special hygiene standards.
Cleaning upholstery fabrics: how to do it
The upholstery fabrics for our 24-hour chairs are hard-wearing and easy to care for. A good example of this is the Climatex fabric used for the Svenstol-models. Cleaning the covers is relatively easy. Vacuum the surfaces regularly and remove stubborn stains with a damp cloth. For cleaning in the washing machine, we recommend using a mild detergent. Would you like to disinfect the covers? Then commercially available disinfectants such as disinfectant wipes, steam or bleach are suitable. If you are unsure which product to use, we will be happy to advise you.
Cleaning and disinfecting leather: What you should bear in mind
Genuine leather is a natural product and has a unique structure due to the interweaving of the animal skin. Leather is also extremely durable if cared for properly. If the surface is dusty, you can simply wipe it with a dry cloth. Visible dirt or stains, on the other hand, should be removed with a mild leather cleaning agent. If the stain has only just appeared, you should absorb it with a towel or household cloth. Soiling in the recesses of the grain structure is often particularly stubborn. The use of a leather brush is recommended here. Caution: Do not use cleaning agents containing alcohol. These attack the leather and make it brittle.
Cleaning artificial leather: The best tips
Faux leather is also easy to care for, but should still be cleaned regularly. In addition to occasional wiping with a dry cloth, we recommend weekly cleaning with liquid hand soap to extend the life of the faux leather. Use 1 part soap to 9 parts water and work the liquid into the artificial leather using circular movements. Soap residue can then be removed with a clean, damp, white cloth.
By the way: We are happy to recommend suitable products for long-term and gentle leather and artificial leather care.
Our maintenance service: Always a clean affair
As you can see: Regular cleaning and care of your workstation and office chair is not that complicated. However, for intensive cleaning of our 24-hour chairs and executive chairs, we recommend our maintenance service. We check the functionality of your model and clean the chair thoroughly. In this way, we help you to maintain hygiene in the workplace and ensure clean and safe working conditions.
