How to Maintain and Care for Your Office Chair in Australia 2026

Imagine you’re an office manager in Melbourne, overseeing a corporate office, a government department in Canberra, a medical clinic in Brisbane, or a home office in Sydney. Your office chairs — whether the ergonomic Ergo Chair Black or the luxurious Orca Executive Chair — are critical investments that support productivity and employee wellbeing. Without proper maintenance, these chairs can lose their ergonomic benefits, compromising comfort and compliance. With “office chair maintenance” and “care for office chair” gaining traction, and the Australian office furniture market growing at 3.5% annually according to IBISWorld, proper care is essential. Safe Work Australia emphasises that well-maintained seating reduces workplace injuries, ensuring long-term value.

At OFD, we specialise in seating solutions for Australia’s commercial, government, medical, and home office environments. This guide, How to Maintain and Care for Your Office Chair in Australia 2026, is crafted for facilities managers, procurement officers, and remote workers seeking to extend the lifespan of chairs like those in our back pain relief guide or executive chairs guide. We’ll provide a step-by-step maintenance process, material-specific care tips, and show how our try-before-buy fitout services ensure chairs remain in top condition, aligned with standards like Western Australia’s office furniture guidelines. Let’s keep your chairs performing at their best!

Why Chair Maintenance Matters
Steps to Maintain Your Office Chair
Material-Specific Care Tips
Caring for Leather Office Chairs
Benefits of Proper Maintenance
How Try-Before-Buy Fitouts Help
Conclusion: Maximise Your Chair’s Lifespan
Citations

Why Chair Maintenance Matters

Proper maintenance of office chairs is crucial for ensuring durability, ergonomic support, and compliance in Australian workplaces, from corporate offices in Sydney to home offices in Perth. Neglected chairs can develop issues like worn upholstery, loose components, or faulty mechanisms, leading to discomfort and musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs), which Safe Work Australia identifies as a leading workplace injury risk. Regular care preserves the functionality of chairs like the Buro Metro II or Ergo1 High Back, maintaining their ergonomic benefits.

A Harvard Business Review study notes that well-maintained ergonomic seating enhances productivity by reducing strain, while Australian Bureau of Statistics data indicates 40% of employees worked from home in 2024, increasing demand for durable chairs in hybrid setups. Proper maintenance extends chair lifespan by 5–10 years, reducing replacement costs and ensuring compliance with Comcare standards. For example, maintaining the Raptor Heavy Duty’s leather upholstery preserves its professional aesthetic, while regular checks on the Buro Persona’s mechanisms ensure long-term support.

Key reasons maintenance matters include:

Durability: Extends chair lifespan, reducing replacement costs, per US OSHA.
Ergonomic Support: Maintains lumbar support and adjustability, per Mayo Clinic.
Compliance: Ensures safety and stability, per WorkSafe Queensland.
Aesthetics: Preserves professional appearance, per UK HSE.
Employee Wellbeing: Reduces discomfort and absenteeism, per Comcare.
Cost Efficiency: Minimises repair expenses, per WorkSafe Victoria.

Proper care ensures chairs like those in our back pain relief guide remain supportive and compliant.

Steps to Maintain Your Office Chair

Follow these actionable steps to keep your office chair — whether the Ergo Chair Black or Buro Metro II — in top condition, ensuring longevity and ergonomic support:

Clean Regularly: Vacuum mesh or fabric upholstery monthly and spot-clean with mild detergent to remove dust and stains, preserving hygiene, per WorkSafe NZ. For leather chairs like the Raptor Heavy Duty, use a damp cloth and avoid harsh chemicals.
Inspect Components: Check gas lifts, castors, and levers monthly, tightening screws to ensure stability, per WorkSafe Queensland. Test the tilt mechanism on chairs like the Buro Persona to confirm smooth operation.
Lubricate Mechanisms: Apply silicone-based lubricant to tilt mechanisms and gas lifts every 6 months to maintain smooth adjustments, per Comcare. This is critical for chairs like the Ergo1 High Back with multi-lever mechanisms.
Protect Surfaces: Avoid abrasive cleaners on mesh, fabric, or leather to prevent damage, per US OSHA. Use a soft brush for mesh chairs like the Gust Ergonomic.
Adjust Ergonomics: Periodically check lumbar support and seat height settings to ensure they remain optimised, per Mayo Clinic. This is vital for chairs like the Buro Metro II for 24/7 use.
Store Properly: When not in use, store chairs in a dry, shaded area to prevent material degradation, per WorkSafe Victoria. This protects leather chairs like the Mirage Executive.

Pro Tip: Create a maintenance schedule for chairs like the Orca Executive Chair to ensure consistent care, as we recommend.

Case Study: A Melbourne corporate office implemented a maintenance routine for their Ergo Chair Black models. After six months, they reported notable improvements in chair durability and significant reductions in ergonomic complaints, aligning with SafeWork NSW guidelines.

Case Study: A Brisbane medical clinic maintained their Buro Metro II 24/7 chairs through regular cleaning and lubrication. After a year, they noted significant enhancements in chair performance and notable reductions in staff discomfort during long shifts, aligning with Comcare standards.

Case Study: A Sydney home office user tested maintenance routines for their Gust Ergonomic Chairs through our try-before-buy service. After a two-week trial, they purchased 3 chairs, reporting significant improvements in chair longevity and notable comfort benefits, aligning with WorkSafe NZ guidelines.

Shop Now: Ergonomic Task Chairs

Material-Specific Care Tips

Different chair materials require tailored care to maintain their appearance and functionality, ensuring long-term ergonomic support, per WorkSafe Queensland. Key tips include:

Mesh Upholstery: Vacuum regularly and clean with a damp cloth to maintain breathability, ideal for chairs like the Gust Ergonomic or Ergo1 High Back, per WorkSafe Victoria.
Fabric Upholstery: Spot-clean with mild detergent and vacuum monthly to prevent wear, as seen in the Buro Persona, per Comcare.
Leather Upholstery: Clean with a leather conditioner every 6–12 months to preserve elegance, as for the Raptor Heavy Duty, per UK HSE.
Foam Cushions: Dust regularly and avoid heavy pressure to maintain shape, as in the Ergo Chair Black, per Mayo Clinic.
Nylon/Metal Bases: Wipe with a damp cloth to prevent corrosion, ensuring stability for chairs like the Buro Metro II, per US OSHA.

Caring for Leather Office Chairs

Leather office chairs, such as the Mirage Executive Chair or Select Executive Chair, bring a premium aesthetic to Australian boardrooms, government offices, and home workspaces. But leather requires specialised maintenance to preserve its professional look and ergonomic support. Without proper care, leather can crack, fade, or lose comfort — shortening the lifespan of what should be a long-term investment.

Best Practices for Leather Office Chair Maintenance:

Regular Cleaning: Wipe with a damp microfiber cloth weekly to remove dust and dirt. Avoid abrasive cleaners that strip the natural oils.
Conditioning: Apply a leather conditioner every 6–12 months to prevent drying and cracking, especially in air-conditioned or heated offices.
Stain Protection: Treat spills immediately with a dry cloth; for stubborn marks, use leather-safe cleaners.
UV Protection: Keep chairs away from direct sunlight to prevent fading — particularly important in glass-fronted offices in Sydney or Brisbane.
Surface Protection: Use chair mats to prevent scuffing of the leather arms and bases, preserving the chair’s appearance in high-use environments.

Pro Tip: AFRDI- and GREENGUARD-certified leather chairs not only offer durability but also meet compliance and sustainability standards. Proper maintenance reduces replacements and keeps premium seating out of landfill, supporting corporate sustainability goals.

Benefits of Proper Maintenance

Proper office chair maintenance delivers significant benefits for Australian workspaces, ensuring longevity and ergonomic performance:

Extended Lifespan: Regular care extends chair life by 5–10 years, per US OSHA.
Ergonomic Consistency: Maintains lumbar support and adjustability, per Cleveland Clinic.
Cost Savings: Reduces repair and replacement costs, per WorkSafe Queensland.
Compliance: Ensures chairs meet safety standards, per Comcare.
Professional Aesthetics: Preserves workspace appeal, per UK HSE.
Employee Wellbeing: Maintains comfort, reducing MSDs, per International Journal of Occupational Safety and Ergonomics.

Pro Tip: Pair maintenance with accessories like lumbar cushions from our accessories guide to enhance support, as we recommend.

How Try-Before-Buy Fitouts Help

Proper maintenance starts with choosing the right chair, and our try-before-buy office fitout services ensure you select chairs that are easy to maintain and meet your needs, per Comcare. Testing chairs like the Ergo Chair Black or Orca Executive Chair in your workspace allows you to evaluate their durability, adjustability, and maintenance requirements, ensuring long-term performance.

This service is invaluable for ensuring chairs like the Buro Metro II remain supportive in high-use settings like medical clinics or home offices. Testing in situ confirms compatibility with your maintenance routine, desk setup, and ergonomic needs, reducing the risk of premature wear.

How It Works

Contact our team in Melbourne, Sydney, or Brisbane to discuss your workspace and maintenance needs.
Select chairs from our collection, featuring ergonomic designs and AFRDI/BIFMA certifications.
Test the chairs in your office or home workspace for up to two weeks, evaluating ease of maintenance and comfort.
Finalise your order with confidence, knowing you’ve chosen a chair that’s built to last with proper care.

Pro Tip: Test chairs with durable materials, like the Buro Persona’s fabric upholstery, to ensure easy maintenance, per WA Government standards.

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Conclusion: Maximise Your Chair’s Lifespan

Maintaining and caring for your office chair is essential for Australian workspaces in commercial, government, medical, and home office settings, ensuring durability, ergonomic support, and compliance. By following our maintenance guide and leveraging our try-before-buy fitout services, you can keep chairs like the Ergo Chair Black, Buro Metro II, or Orca Executive Chair in top condition, aligned with Western Australia’s office furniture guidelines. Proper care maximises ROI, enhances employee wellbeing, and maintains professional aesthetics.

Ready to keep your office chairs performing at their best? Explore our ergonomic chairs and discover how our fitout services can support your maintenance efforts.

Shop Now: Browse Ergonomic Seating Solutions

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Learn More: Ultimate Guide to Choosing the Best Office Chair in Australia 2026

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