Recent studies reveal that study and/or office desks and chairs contain germs and microbes 400x more than that of a toilet seat! That’s definitely a no-go when thinking about keeping your home as hygienic as can be, especially with the looming threat of the pandemic still lurking around the corner. Undoubtedly, it should be a compelling reason to clean your children’s ergonomic furniture regularly, and we’re here to offer you a helping hand.

“Cleanliness is the first law of health.” This public health slogan is a statement we can all agree with. So here’s a list of 8 easy steps you and your children can carry out to make it less of a hassle to keep their study chairs and desks squeaky clean and hygienic.

1. Wipe… Immediately!

“Immediacy” is the word to remember when cleaning your kid’s ergonomic furniture. When we let dirt, dust, and spills sit for too long, the harder it will be to clean them. Not to mention how this may lead to staining. Always promptly wipe them away with a dry lint-free cloth. 

Just remember not to rub the cloth in too harshly. Repeated gentle dabs will do the trick. A dry sponge or foam-like material are excellent alternatives, too. And when liquid spills seem to be tougher to get rid of with this method, head over to #2 below. 

2. Use Damp Cloth for Tough Dirt and Spills

Create a solution of a few drops of subdued soap like dishwashing detergent mixed into a cup of clean water. Stir well until the soap is completely blended in. Next, test the solution on a small and inconspicuous portion of your kid’s office chair or desk. Call it a fail-safe to ensure that it won’t damage these fittings. 

For upholstery with fabric, leather, or vinyl, a handful of soap drops and 240ml of water is a good enough combination.

For furniture arms and legs, wiping can go a long way in making your child’s desk and chair look spick and span in a jiffy. In addition to this, a soft-bristled cleaning brush may be necessary if wiping isn’t effective. 

Arms and legs of chairs and/or desks are frequently made of durable materials. For this reason, you can brush them without worrying about ruining their surfaces. Just be careful not to overbrush. 

3. Consider Different Solutions for Tougher Dirt and Spills

…but only for stains that seem much more challenging to deal with like juice spills, food sauces, and the like. At the same time, it’s important to check the manufacturer’s notes regarding the type of solvent that can be applied to the ergonomic chair and desk. 

3 major categories for compatible cleaning solutions: W vs. S vs. S/W

• W - Allows water-based solutions (i.e. water mixed with dish soap, baking soda, or vinegar, as well as commercially bought non-viscous cleansers that have “water” as one of the main ingredients)

• S - Allows solvent-based solutions (i.e. commercially bought cleansers with “flammable” ingredients like alcohols, propylene glycol, glycol ethers, benzene, ketones, perchloroethylene, trichloroethane/ methyl chloroform, toluene, xylene, etc.)

• S/W - Allows either one of the above

Once you are able to identify the solution type for your child’s furniture, follow the instructions mentioned in #2 about testing a small and inconspicuous area first. After that, soak a part of the lint-free cloth with the solution and dab it around the target section. Do not pour the solution directly on it.

4. Utilize Light Scraping

Light scraping may be required for thick bits of dirt trapped in the wheels or casters. Use a butter knife or any object with a similar width, like old credit cards or old IDs, to slowly remove the hardened muck portion by portion. Afterward, wipe the same area with a damp cloth, and then with a dry cloth. 

5. Switch to Low-Intensity Vacuuming

This step can be observed soon after wiping. In other cases such as cleaning dry dirt and debris that are merely on the outermost layer of a desk or chair, wiping can be replaced by vacuuming, especially on thin materials like mesh. As long as the vacuum you utilize does not give off heat, you can rely on it for quickly removing hair strands, dust bunnies (clumps of hair-like dust balls), and dry food particles. 

6. Leave to Dry Naturally - No Heat!

Let your child’s desk and chair dry on their own. Do not use electric blowers or hair dryers as heat may cause the furniture material to lose its structural integrity and could result in the material shrinking, shriveling up, or becoming loose. 

Simply let it be and let the power of the atmosphere work its magic. And if you have the time, take it outside and place it underneath a canopy to avoid direct sunlight and for it to dry well. 

7. Implement the rule: Study Furniture is for Studying Only :)

Finally, prevention is always better than cure, even on the subject of furniture. Ultimately, one of the best solutions to maintain and extend the life of ergonomic furniture is by avoiding having food and drinks while using them.

In another blog, we’ve discussed how having a designated study area furnished with ergonomic furniture (Check out our blog on: 5 Positive Reasons to Setup a Dedicated Study Area for Your Child) may bring about numerous benefits for children. Therefore, guide and train your kids in using their study corners solely for studying, coloring, writing, reading, etc. As for meals and snacks, they can be enjoyed in the dining area or kitchen instead. :)

Visit SingBee.us and browse through our collection of ergonomic furniture to add to your child’s study area. Plus, learn about other facts and info regarding the benefits of ergonomic furniture, tips in creating better study habits, enhancing children’s study areas, and more through our blog posts and updates!