Mesh chairs are stylish, affordable, and one of the most popular office chair options. They enhance breathability and can be more comfortable than regular fabric or leather chairs. Still not convinced? Here is a detailed comparison between chair leather vs mesh seats.
KEY TAKEAWAYS:
- A mesh back office chair can suffer from wear and tear if not cared for properly.
- Expect to take no more than 30 minutes to replace a broken mesh with new strips of mesh.
- Wiping your mesh back office chair with a microfiber cloth and soapy water regularly is highly recommended.
Sitting on mesh offers a floating feeling. However, they are subject to early wear and tear if not taken care of properly, especially the soft mesh that stretches and contracts a lot, eventually sagging over time.
Note, there are three kinds of mesh chairs – mesh seat and back chairs, mesh back with padded mesh seat, and a padded mesh seat with padded mesh back, which allows you to sit for extended periods. The following repair instructions apply to the mesh portion.
Tools Needed: Mesh strips, screwdriver
Here are steps you can take to repairing a mesh back office chair.
- Unscrew the padded mesh back or cushioning from the chair frame by disassembling the screws using a screwdriver.
- Retrieve new strips of mesh to replace the broken mesh strips.
- Apply each new mesh strip over the affected torn area, adding a little buffer room (e.g. 5 inches) to fold the mesh strip over itself and your chair’s frame.
- Cut off all excess mesh if needed.
- Ensure your new mesh strips fit tightly across the chair, incorporating them into the existing mesh pattern.
It is worth noting that you should handle the office chair well and protect the office chair arms as they can easily get damaged during the process.
The importance of a cleaning schedule for your mesh chair
Avoid eating or wearing dirty clothes when sitting on a mesh chair. Rather than use cloth towels to clean, try a high suction vacuum and hover it over the mesh to get rid of stray bread crumbs and debris stuck within. A microfiber cloth and soapy water will work wonders as well. Try to avoid cloth towels, which could fray and rip in between the mesh and leave more of a mess. If you have a torn office chair then you can find out how to repair a tear in office chairs.
F.A.Q.S
Is a mesh chair good for the back?
Yes, we are big fans of mesh chairs, as it aligns nicely with your natural spinal curvature and redistributes pressure across your various joints, hips, and buttocks pretty evenly. We recommend softer mesh over stiffer mesh for better weight distribution.
Do mesh office chairs last?
Yes, expect good quality mesh office chairs to last anywhere from five to ten years. If you go for a value option, they will probably last no more than two hours, more or less based on wear and tear.
How do you clean an office chair mesh?
Our recommendation is to use warm water and mild soap with a microfiber cloth. Avoid brushes, which can cause your mesh fabric to break down. Paper towels should be avoided also because they are too soft and may rip in between the fibers for an ineffective clean.
STAT: On average, a mesh office chair should be replaced once every five years. This number is more or less the same for all types of office chairs. However, in general, mesh chairs last longer than leather chairs or other types of chairs. So, mesh chairs need to be replaced less often. (source)
REFERENCES:
- https://www.officechairs.com/blog/how-clean-your-mesh-chair
- https://chairpickr.com/common-office-chair-issues-and-solutions/
- https://forum.dontpayfull.com/threads/repairing-office-chairs-instead-of-replacing-them.24372/r
- https://www.btod.com/blog/mesh-office-chair-problems/
- https://www.familyhandyman.com/project/office-chair-repair/
- https://www.arnoldsofficefurniture.com/should-you-repair-or-replace-your-office-furniture/
- https://www.instructables.com/Quick-and-Easy-Office-Chair-Fix/
