brown wooden chairs inside a cathedral

Upholstered church chairs are more comfortable for your congregation, but they require a little extra care and maintenance to keep them looking their best. The good news is that cleaning and maintaining your chairs is a straightforward process.

Let’s take a closer look at how to clean upholstered chairs

Vacuum Upholstered Chairs Often

brown wooden chairs and tables

Upholstered chairs collect dust and dirt just like any other piece of upholstered furniture. However, regular vacuuming can help keep your chairs looking clean and fresh.

How often should you vacuum your church chairs? At least once a week. You may need to vacuum more often, depending on how often the chairs are used and for what purpose. The more often they’re used, the more often you should vacuum.

Chairs that aren’t used as often don’t have to be vacuumed quite as frequently. Still, it’s important to remember that stored chairs will accumulate dust and should be cleaned at least once a month, even if they aren’t getting any use.

Clean Upholstery According to Codes

When you buy a new piece of clothing, you wash and dry it according to the directions on the label. The same approach should be taken when cleaning your church’s fabric chairs.

Not sure how to clean fabric chairs according to codes? Here’s a quick guide on what the codes are and what they mean:

·       X: Clean only with vacuuming or light brushing using a stiff-bristled brush. Avoid using water or solvent-based cleaners.

·       W: Spot clean only using a foam upholstery cleaner or water-based shampoo. Test for color loss first. Use professional cleaning service for overall soiling.·       WS: Spot clean using a mild dry cleaning solvent, upholstery shampoo or a mild detergent. Test on a small area first. Avoid hot water extraction (steam cleaning). Vacuum frequently or brush lightly with a stiff bristle brush.

SW: Spot clean using an upholstery shampoo, mild dry cleaning solvent or mild detergent. Avoid saturating the fabric and steam cleaning. Vacuum frequently or use a stiff-bristled brush to remove dust. Clean stains by working from the outside inward to prevent circling.

·       S: Spot clean only using a dry cleaning, water-free solvent. Pretest first before proceeding, and do not saturate the fabric. Avoid using water at any time. Vacuum regularly or use a stiff-bristled brush to remove dust and grime. Blot spills immediately. Clean stains from the outside working inward to prevent circling.

Make sure that you follow these instructions carefully to keep your fabric chairs looking like new. Using the wrong cleaning products may damage your chairs. Instead, check the label to find the cleaning codes for your church chairs.

How to Get Stains Out Of Fabric Chairs

brown wooden chairs

Stains happen. When you have dozens or hundreds of churchgoers and families using your seats each week, you are bound to get stains eventually. 

Here’s how to get stains out of fabric chairs:

To remove stains, first consult with the care tag on your furniture. Check the cleaning code for more information on how to clean fabric chair seats.

First, if you can, vacuum the chairs. This will make it easier to remove stains without dust and grime getting in the way.

If your furniture can be cleaned with water:

·       Try using some steam to loosen up the stain. Steam from an iron or a steamer can work for this job.

·       Mix cool water with some mild dish soap, and blot the stain with the mixture. Avoid rubbing the stain, as this can damage the fabric.

·       Use plain water and a clean cloth to blot out the soap mixture.

·       Press dry with a clean cloth or paper towels.

If you have tougher stains or your chairs cannot be cleaned with water, consider hiring professionals to clean your chairs.

For Our Customers: How to Clean ComforTek Church Chairs

As you can see, cleaning upholstered chairs isn’t complicated. It may take some time, but it’s worth the effort to keep your chairs well-maintained. Keeping your fabric looking its best also means fewer repairs and replacements, which can be costly in the long-run.

At ComforTek, we offer a wide range of fabric options for our church chairs, including:

·       Polyester

·       Polyolefin

·       Blend of polyester, recycled polyester and Repreve®

All of these fabrics are easy to care for and maintain while offering superior comfort and style. When cleaning ComforTek chairs, we recommend:

·       Vacuuming regularly (once a week at least) to remove dust and debris.

·       For heavy cleaning, use a solution of dishwashing liquid and warm water with a damp rag. Use a wet vac to expedite the drying process.

·       Using steam to help lift stains and make them easier to remove. You can use a steam vacuum or even a standard iron for small stains.

Follow these steps to keep your ComforTek chairs looking their best for years to come. If you have any questions about cleaning or care, please reach out to customer support. We will be happy to address your concerns and answer your questions.