Somebody in your office is about to clean a $2,150 chair with whatever is under the sink. It is usually well meant, it is usually a spray bottle of general-purpose cleaner, and it is the single most common way a good chair is made to look old before its time.
The manufacturers have all published what to use. Almost nobody reads it, because it arrives as a PDF in a box that goes in the skip on delivery day. So here it is in one place: what Herman Miller says about the Aeron, what Flokk says about the HÅG and RH ranges, and the routine that keeps a chair looking like it cost what it cost.
We have had a care and maintenance guide for Framery pods for a while. This is the same thing for the chairs.
The rule that covers most of it
Across both manufacturers, for almost every surface on almost every chair, the instruction is the same three things: a soft cloth, warm water, and a mild detergent. Not a spray cleaner. Not a kitchen surface spray. Not methylated spirits.
Herman Miller's instruction for the Aeron's base, frame and arm pads is to "wash surface with a soft cloth soaked in mild detergent and warm water", and then, plainly: "do not use solvents or abrasive kitchen cleaners." Flokk's instruction for painted metal is to "use mild soaps or detergents (eg, pH-neutral liquid hand dishwashing detergent) in warm water and clean with a sponge or a soft cloth."
Plain dishwashing liquid in warm water, wrung out well. That is the answer for the great majority of what you will ever need to clean on an office chair, and it is what both manufacturers name.
The Herman Miller Aeron
The Aeron is the chair people most often get wrong, because the seat and back are not upholstery and do not behave like it.
The Pellicle suspension mesh
Herman Miller's instruction is to vacuum it: "vacuum fabric as needed using an upholstery attachment." And immediately after it, the part that matters most — "do not brush fabric or use a vacuum attachment with a rotary brush." A rotary head on suspension mesh is the fastest way to damage it.
For a water-based spill, Herman Miller specifies "a water-based cleaner (specifically made for cleaning fabric) or a solution of mild (alkaline) warm soapy water", with a warning worth committing to memory: "never use hot water; it will set the stain." For an oil-based mark it is "a dry cleaning solution applied with a damp clean cloth or sponge."
And the one that catches people out on a suspension seat, because there is nothing underneath to absorb what you put on it: "do not over apply water or any liquid solution to fabric." Damp cloth, not wet.
Frame, base and arm pads
Soft cloth, mild detergent, warm water. No solvents, no abrasive kitchen cleaners. That is the whole instruction, and it applies equally to a graphite base and to an aluminium one.
Leather arm pads
If your Aeron has leather arm pads, Herman Miller treats them separately and strictly. "Vacuum or dust frequently with a clean, dry cloth." Then: "do not spot clean leather; clean the entire surface" — treating one patch is how you end up with a visible clean patch. And a list of things to keep away from it: "do not use saddle soap, cleaning solvents, oils, furniture polishes, varnishes, abrasive cleaners, detergents, or ammonia on leather."
Note that detergent is on that list. The mild-detergent rule that covers the rest of the chair does not apply to the leather.
HÅG, RH and the rest of the Flokk range
Flokk publishes its guidance by material rather than by chair, which is more useful once you know what your chair is made of. A HÅG SoFi Mesh has an upholstered seat, a mesh back and painted metal. A HÅG Capisco 8106 is upholstered over a moulded shell on an aluminium base. A Capisco Puls is a moulded polyurethane shell. If you are not sure what yours is covered in, our guide to fabric, mesh and leather compared sorts that out first.
Fabric and upholstery
The headline instruction is frequency, not chemistry: "we recommend frequent vacuum cleaning, ideally every week (do it gently – at half power and a soft nozzle where appropriate)." Flokk's reasoning is that "regular cleaning prevents dust and dirt from wearing down the textile" — the dirt itself is the abrasive.
On spills, speed beats technique: "remember to act quickly and always remove stains as fast as possible. If removed right away, most spots and impurities can be easily removed with clean, lukewarm water or if needed, add a neutral detergent." Use very little of it — "use only small amounts of cleaning agent at a time and dry up with absorbent paper" — and whatever you do, "never soak the entire piece of furniture," because soaking can damage the material underneath the fabric.
If water and a neutral detergent do not shift it, Flokk's advice is to stop and "contact a professional dry cleaner" rather than escalate through the cupboard.
Plastic and moulded shells
"For slightly soiled areas, clean with a cloth or sponge moderately moistened with warm water. For more serious dirt removal, a mild detergent or neutral cleaner can be added to the water." This is why the Capisco Puls is the one clinics and labs specify — the shell takes a wipe-down and keeps taking it.
Painted metal and aluminium
Painted metal: mild soap or a pH-neutral detergent in warm water, sponge or soft cloth. Aluminium wants a little more attention — "clean regularly to remove any build-up of dirt", and it "should be washed with clear water thoroughly and dried to prevent streaking." The drying step is the one people skip, and streaking on a polished base is entirely a drying problem.
Leather
Flokk's method is "wipe leather in a circular fashion with a cloth moistened with a very mild soap solution." Two warnings come with it: "avoid chemical cleaning agents with solving agents such as alcohol or benzene", and one that surprises almost everybody — "do not use microfiber cloths as they can damage the top finish." Microfibre is the default cloth in most offices. On a HÅG Tribute it is the wrong one.
Flokk also notes that "certain cosmetics and body care products contain solvents and oils which are not beneficial to the leather surface", which is the real explanation for wear appearing first on the arm tops and headrest.
Quick reference
| Surface | Routine | Do not |
|---|---|---|
| Aeron Pellicle mesh | Vacuum with an upholstery attachment; damp cloth and mild soapy water for water-based marks | Rotary brush head, hot water, over-wetting |
| Fabric upholstery | Gentle vacuum weekly; lukewarm water, neutral detergent sparingly, blot dry | Soaking; escalating past a neutral detergent |
| Moulded plastic shell | Cloth or sponge, warm water; mild detergent for heavier dirt | Abrasives |
| Painted metal | pH-neutral detergent in warm water, soft cloth | Solvents, abrasive cleaners |
| Aluminium base | Wash with clear water, then dry thoroughly | Leaving it wet — that is what streaks |
| Leather (Flokk) | Circular wipe, very mild soap solution | Alcohol, benzene, microfibre cloths |
| Leather arm pads (Herman Miller) | Vacuum or dust with a clean dry cloth; clean the whole surface at once | Spot cleaning, detergents, solvents, oils, polishes, ammonia |
The weekly habit that does most of the work
Both manufacturers put vacuuming first, and Flokk puts a number on it — weekly, gently. It is unglamorous and it is the single highest-value thing on this page, because most of what ages a chair is not a dramatic spill. It is dust and grit working into the textile and being ground in by the person sitting on it.
Two minutes with an upholstery attachment, once a week, on half power. On a floor of chairs, that is a line in the cleaning contract rather than a job for anyone in particular — and it is worth checking that the contract actually says it, because a general office clean usually does not include the seating.
Cleaning is part of keeping the cover
A manufacturer's warranty covers the chair being built properly. It is not damage insurance, and the simplest way to stay comfortably inside it is to use the agent the manufacturer names — which, as above, is usually warm water and a mild detergent.
Two places where this becomes a written requirement rather than good practice: ESD chairs, where cover is conditional on the castors and upholstery being cleaned regularly with a suitable agent, and 24/7 control-room seating, where a cleaning protocol is usually written into the contract before the chairs arrive. If you are specifying either, settle the permitted cleaning agents at order stage rather than after the first incident. Our warranty page sets out the terms for every brand we carry, and these warranties are in addition to your rights under the Australian Consumer Law.
When cleaning is not the answer
Some of what looks like a tired chair is a worn part, and no amount of cleaning fixes a part. The good news on the HÅG range is that the parts come off.
Castors are the most-moved component on any chair and the one that collects hair, grit and carpet fibre. Symptoms are a drag on one wheel or a chair that tracks sideways. HÅG Capisco 65 mm castors are $112.50 for a set of five, push-fit, no tools — currently limited, so ring first on 02 9640 0642.
Glides replace the castors with fixed feet where you would rather the chair stayed put. HÅG Capisco Glides are $99.00 for a set of five and in stock.
Gas lifts are the other common replacement, and a sinking chair is a gas lift rather than a fault in the rest of it. HÅG Capisco gas lifts start at $177.30 and we hold them in depth, though stock varies by colour.
Flokk guarantees delivery of spare parts for a minimum of ten years after a chair's production date. Our full HÅG spare parts guide covers what wears out and in roughly what order, and the whole parts range is here. If you are not sure whether you are looking at a cleaning job or a parts job, send us a photo.
The routine, in short
- Weekly: gentle vacuum, half power, upholstery attachment. Mesh and fabric both.
- As needed: soft cloth, warm water, a little mild detergent. Wrung out, not wet.
- Immediately: deal with spills while they are still on the surface. Blot with absorbent paper; do not soak.
- Never: solvents, abrasive kitchen cleaners, hot water on a stain, or a rotary brush head on suspension mesh.
- Leather: its own rules, on both brands. Dry cloth first, mild soap solution at most, no microfibre on Flokk leather and no detergent on Herman Miller leather.
- Twice a year: look at the castors and the gas lift rather than the upholstery. That is usually where the age is.
A chair that gets two minutes a week will outlast one that gets a deep clean once a year, and it will look better the whole time.
Frequently asked questions
What is the safest all-purpose cleaner for an office chair?
Warm water with a small amount of mild detergent, applied with a soft cloth wrung out well. Both Herman Miller and Flokk name that combination for frames, bases, painted metal and plastic. Leather is the exception on both brands and has its own instructions.
Can I use a general-purpose spray cleaner?
No. Herman Miller's instruction for the Aeron is explicit that you should not use solvents or abrasive kitchen cleaners, and Flokk's leather guidance warns against agents containing alcohol or benzene. Most supermarket sprays are one or the other.
How do I clean the mesh on a Herman Miller Aeron?
Vacuum it using an upholstery attachment. Herman Miller specifies not to brush the fabric or use a vacuum attachment with a rotary brush. For a water-based mark, use a water-based fabric cleaner or mild warm soapy water, and never hot water, because hot water sets the stain.
How often should office chairs be vacuumed?
Flokk recommends frequent vacuum cleaning, ideally every week, done gently at half power with a soft nozzle. The reason is that regular cleaning prevents dust and dirt from wearing down the textile, so the dirt itself is what causes the wear.
Can I use a microfibre cloth on a leather chair?
Not on Flokk leather. Flokk states that microfibre cloths can damage the top finish. Its method is to wipe the leather in a circular fashion with a cloth moistened with a very mild soap solution.
Why should I not spot clean a leather arm pad?
Herman Miller's instruction is to clean the entire surface rather than spot clean, because treating one area on leather tends to leave a visible difference between the cleaned patch and the rest of the pad.
What do I do about a stain that will not come out?
Stop escalating and get it looked at. Flokk's guidance is that if the spot does not disappear using water and a neutral detergent, contact a professional dry cleaner rather than trying stronger chemicals.
My chair sinks or drags. Is that a cleaning problem?
No, that is a parts problem. A chair that sinks needs a new gas lift, and a chair that drags or tracks sideways usually needs castors. Both are push-fit replacements on the HÅG range, and Flokk guarantees spare parts availability for a minimum of ten years after the chair's production date.
References
- Herman Miller, Aeron Chair Care and Maintenance (APAC/EMEA materials reference document)
- Flokk, Care and maintenance guide, flokk.com
- Flokk, Maintenance & Care Guide: Textiles
- Flokk published warranty and spare parts terms
- Prices and availability checked on chairdinkum.com.au, 21 September 2026
