Why Office Chair Smells After Sitting? Easy Solutions

An office chair is the most important piece of furniture responsible for providing us comfort and relaxation during long hours of working. Therefore, it needs to be comfortable, and supportive and most importantly, it should smell nice.

An unpleasant smell coming from the office chair badly impacts your concentration and productivity levels. It also determines the level of your hygiene and above all, it can be a potential source of irritation and embarrassment. If you are also experiencing the same problem, you are at the right place.

In this article, we are exploring why an office chair smells after sitting as well as the possible remedies for this problem.

Table of Contents

Why Office Chair Smells After Sitting?

Many reasons may contribute to the smell coming from your chair such as:

Lack of Ventilation

One of the key reasons behind the odour coming from your office chair might be the poor ventilation of your working space. It implies that there is no way out for hot air or gases present in the office. Lack of ventilation also contributes to the buildup of moisture or humidity in the room which leads to the growth of bacteria, further exacerbating the problem.

Lack of Maintenance

Poor maintenance of the office chair also causes it to stink over time. Lack of maintenance makes the chair prone to bacteria growth that in turn causes the smell. In addition, the quality of the office chair material and the period of use also determine the extent of smell.

Poor Hygiene

Office chairs tend to pick up the poor hygiene of the people sitting on them. It may be due to body perspiration, shedding of skin cells or oils released from the skin due to long hours of sitting. All such substances get absorbed in the fabric of the chair which leads to mould and bacteria growth that eventually causes the smell.

How to Stop Chair from Smelling?

If your office chair smells, instead of buying a new office chair, you can simply remove its smell in some simple ways. However, before proceeding to any of these methods, make sure to read the tag or instruction manuals that come with the chair so that you won’t damage the chair while cleaning it.

Use of Antibacterial Wet Wipes

The easiest and most effective remedy for getting rid of chair odour is the use of antibacterial wet wipes. Regular use of these wipes kills the bacteria grown on the seat and keeps your chair clean and odourless.

Washing the Seat Cushions

Regularly washing seat cushions with a good detergent also leaves your chair smelling fresh afterwards. For deeper cleaning, remove the stuffing from your cushion and clean it with a good enzyme-based cleaner.

This would help in eliminating the odours present in the material used in making your cushion. If you are still not satisfied, replace the cushions of your office chair.

Vacuum Cleaning

For plastic or upholstered office chairs, you can also use a vacuum cleaner for removing any stink or musty smell. Try using two or three passes with the machine to effectively remove the odour.

DIY and Natural Methods to Remove Office Chair Smell

Here are some home-based remedies for eradicating the smell of office chairs.

Baking Soda

Baking soda is an effective home-based remedy to get rid of the bad smell of office chairs. All you need for the process is a small amount of baking soda and some water.

Spray water on your hands and make them wet.
Apply the baking soda all over the surface of the chair with the help of your hands.
Allow the baking soda to settle for about 20-30 minutes.
Baking soda would absorb all the smell and stink from your chair and it would smell nice and fresh. If you are not satisfied with the results, repeat the process two or three times or let the baking soda sit for more time (a few hours or overnight).

White Vinegar

White Vinegar is another home-based solution that can effectively kill germs and clean office chair smell from its surface. The use of vinegar does not damage the fabric, therefore, it can be used repeatedly.

Make a solution by mixing 1 teaspoon of vinegar in about 30ml water.
Mix it well and shift the solution to a spray bottle.
Spray this solution on the surface of the chair. Make sure the chair feels damp when you touch it, however, avoid soaking the chair in this solution.
Allow the vinegar solution to settle overnight or until it dries.

A major drawback associated with the use of vinegar is its strong aroma. This problem does not arise until you use it in a large quantity. Therefore, you can easily prevent this problem by using it in small amounts as mentioned above.

Vodka Spray

Vodka is another excellent option for deodorizing fabrics and neutralising odours. You don’t necessarily have to apply expensive vodka on the chair as cheap vodka can also disinfect the surface of all the odour-causing bacteria. Por the vodka in a spray bottle and spray it thoroughly over the surface of the chair. Now, allow it to air dry or place it under direct sunlight so that the smell dissipates. For better results, make sure that the vodka has a 70% concentration level.

Sunlight Exposure

Placing your chair in sunlight is also a useful hack for getting rid of odours. A few hours of sunlight exposures disinfects the office chair from all the bacteria or microbes present on its surface. Solar radiations, especially UV rays break down all the natural or man-made particles responsible for causing the smell. However, avoid leaving the chair in sunlight for an extended period as it would affect the fabric and deteriorate the plastic, making the chair brittle and more likely to crumble.

Useful Tips for Keeping the Chair Odourless

Once you have gotten rid of the smell of office chairs, follow these simple tips daily to avoid the buildup of such odour in future. These tips would also help to increase the lifespan of your office chair.

Clean any food or water spilt from the chair immediately.
Regularly sanitize your office chair and working area.
Keep your office chair dry and moisture free.
Avoid smoking while sitting on the office chair as cigarette smoke may get absorbed in the chair.
Keep the overall environment of your office clean to remove lingering bacteria.
Ensure a good ventilation system in your working space.
Consult a professional cleaner if you notice any mold growing on the office chair.

Keep in mind that regular cleaning of the chair is extremely important so that it remains in good condition and smells fresh. Moreover, if your chair is made of poor-quality materials or if it is too old, you should replace it with a new and better-quality office chair.

Final Thoughts!

In a nutshell, a stinky office chair may have a big toll on the well-being and productivity of users. There can be many reasons behind the smell coming from the office chair such as poor ventilation, lack of maintenance, and the user’s unhygienic conditions.

All these factors led to the growth of bacteria on the surface of the chair which causes it to stink. You can remove the smell easily through the use of wet wipes, washing seat cushions or vacuum cleaning the chair. If you are looking for some home-based remedies, applying baking soda, or white vinegar or exposing the chair to sunlight for some hours can also effectively remove the smell.

Chair Smells After Sitting