Cleaning ABS Tables

ABS Tables are designed to be easy to clean. When possible, remove stains immediately.

To clean, use warm, soapy water and allow it to sit on the table to loosen dirt. Gently scrub with a nylon brush to help remove the dirt from the textured surface. Tougher stains can usually be removed by using “409” or “Fantastic” cleaner. Difficult stains may be removed with WD40 followed by soapy water.

If you prefer a chemical-free cleaning solution, a melamine sponge, such as Xtreme Sponge, may work well to remove dirt and stains.

Avoid using citrus cleaners (such as Goo-gone, PIG, etc.), bleach, paint thinner, concentrated detergents, acetone, MEK, and other strong solvents. These products take the plasticizers out of the plastic and might shorten the life of your table. Using such products might also void your warranty.

Cleaning Metal & Plastic Folding Chairs

All MityLite folding chairs have a powder-coated steel frame. Using a soft wet rag with mild soap and water will clean up to 99% of all grime. However, be careful to avoid soaking the frame and squeezing water into the openings of the frame around the seat, backrest, and link rivets, etc.

To clean MeshOne® upholstery, use a mild household detergent or soap and water. However, avoid using petroleum distillates. For Healthcare customers, use a 10% dilution of bleach (90% water) to sterilize the mesh seat and backrest. However, avoid overexposing the fabric repeatedly throughout the day and allowing the mesh to soak in the bleach solution as it could adversely affect the mesh.

To clean the FlexOne® seat and back use a mild household detergent or soap and water.

Clean MityLite DuraMax PRO folding chairs with warm water and a regular dishwashing detergent such as Palmolive or Dawn. Apply the solution to a soft, micro-fiber cloth to wipe the resin furniture in a circular motion. Rinse it with clean and plain water. Avoid abrasive cleaners and sponges, including scouring sponges and metal brushes, as these can scratch the surface.

Remove scuff marks from white DuraMax chairs with Mr. Clean Eraser Pads.

Cleaning Banquet Chair Frames

Steel Chair Frames

Several MityLite banquet chairs are manufactured with powder-coated steel frames. To clean, periodically wipe down the frames with a light solution of soap and water or non-caustic cleaning agents to remove surface dirt and perspiration residue. If you use a cleaner, avoid ones that are abrasive as that can erode some powder-coated finishes.

Aluminum Chair Frames

Other MityLite banquet chairs are made with aluminum chair frames. Washing aluminum is similar to washing steel. Clean aluminum frames with a sponge or soft bristle brush and a solution of mild soap and water. Rinse with water and let dry. If you use a cleaner, avoid ones that are abrasive as that can erode some powder-coated finishes.

You can restore the luster of glossy finishes by using lemon oil or high-grade automotive paste wax. However, avoid using these treatments on textured finishes such as faux wood. Soft Scrub® can be used to remove scuff marks and scratches.

Cleaning Wood & Faux Wood Chair Frames

Wooden Chair Frames

Holsag is known for its lovely European Beech hardwood chair frames. All wood furniture should be cleaned, wiped down, and polished regularly to maintain the luster. It’s important to take extra precautions with wooden furniture since harsh cleaners may ruin the finish.

We recommend using a mild solution of soap and water applied with a damp rag. Dry the wood immediately as leaving water on the wood for an extended period might damage the finish. Furniture polish can be used to keep the shine and luster of the frame as needed.

You can also purchase cleaners that are specially formulated for wood, however; make sure you read the labels carefully to see if it’s an appropriate cleaner to use on a lacquer finish, which is what is used on Holsag wooden chairs. The use of abrasive cleaners and cleaners that contain bleach may void the frame warranty.

Cleaning Upholstery

Vinyl & Polyurethane

If your chairs have a vinyl cushion, use a gentle mixture of any mild soap and warm water to dissipate the most common soil from the surface. Wash the cushion using a soft cloth. If stubborn dirt remains, such as a stain embedded in the grain, use a soft brush. If necessary, use a small portion of cleaning powder or bleach and clean water.

The best way to clean polyurethane upholstery is to use a solution of bleach and clean water. Use one teaspoon of bleach for every one gallon of water. Make sure to measure carefully as stronger concentrations can damage the material. Apply the solution with a damp rag.

In both situations, rinse and dry the cushion’s fabric with a soft cloth.

Fabric Upholstery

Doing some regular cleaning of fabric upholstery is the easiest way to keep your chairs looking nice. However, this must be done correctly to protect the fabric.

Light Fabric Cleaning

The key to keeping chairs and other upholstered furniture looking nice is to clean it regularly. Day-to-day cleaning and light maintenance will pick up dust and airborne debris. The best items to use for these tasks are lint rollers and vacuums.

Lint Rollers

Lint rollers are great for quick cleaning after events and meetings. They can pick up hairs, dirt, and other fibers. The advantage of using a lint roller, as compared to most fabric brushes, is that the sticky paper lifts the fabric, rather than flattening it and rubbing dirt into the weaves of the fabric. Pushing dirt into the fabric fibers is eventually what dulls the color and leaves the furniture looking worn.

Vacuum

Though it is not necessary to vacuum every day, doing a light run every week, using nozzle attachments, will help reduce built-up grime.

Fabric Washing

A light lather can reverse regular wear and uplift small, set-in debris from woven fabric.

Chairs upholstered with fabric treated with a performance treatment—such as Nanotex, InCase, Crypton, iClean, or Alta—will generally clean nicely. In fact, you may notice a brighter color and a better general aesthetic to the fabric after cleaning.

However, a fabric made using cotton, polyester, nylon, and wool (or a mixture of these yarns) that is not treated with a performance treatment will be more difficult to clean, especially if the material is stained. It also may not brighten after general cleaning.

Something else to note, Scotchguard and Teflon are not performance treatments. These formulas are sprayed onto a material versus an actual performance treatment, such as those mentioned above, which encapsulate the yarn in a process where the material is immersed in a liquid bath. This is why it’s important to have chair fabric treated at the time of purchase.

An advantage of purchasing chairs with a 100% polyolefin material is that you can use a bleach solution to disinfect the material without bleaching out the color.

How to Create a Cleaning Solution

Make a cleaning solution by mixing ¼ cup dishwashing liquid with 1 cup of warm water. With an electric hand mixer, whisk the solution until a dense layer of thick, dry suds forms across the top.

Use a clean cloth to gently massage the suds into the fabric, being careful not to rub, as rubbing will work the dirt deeper into the woven fabric fibers. Pressing hard, use a rubber cooking spatula to scrape away the dirty suds. Rinse, by dabbing the washed area with a warm, damp cloth.

Always allow the fabric or furniture to thoroughly dry before use, as moisture will cause more dirt to cling to the chair’s surface.

Deep Cleaning and Removing Set-In Stains

Stains, immediate or set in, are always tricky to remove from chair upholstery. There’s a chance the simple soap and water method shown above could do the trick. However, sometimes the fabric needs heavier cleaning to remove stains.

Here are some measures you can take.

Steam Cleaning

Steam, unlike straight water, has moisturizing properties that will hydrate a stain without saturating it completely with liquid. Once a stain is moisturized, it may loosen from the fibers and become easier to blot out. Using a steam vacuum is the easiest way to do this. However, putting a standard iron with a steam setting over the spot may do the trick as well.

Vinegar

Vinegar has natural solvent properties that may help loosen and lift set-in stains. Apply vinegar to upholstery with a damp, clean rag and blot over the desired area. Then, take a second towel to soak up any remaining fluid and grime.

Though vinegar has an odor, the smell will evaporate after the chair is completely dry.

Cleansers*

If the above methods don’t work, try a commercial-grade fabric cleansing spray. These products contain solvents that chemically attack set-in stains. Some of our favorites are:

Resolve Stain Remover

Tuff Stuff Multi-Purpose Foam Cleanser

Folex Stain Remover

BISSELL Spot & Stain Fabric and Upholstery Cleaner