Have you bought your gaming chair and are wondering how to look after it properly? Depending on the material it’s made from, the care methods will vary slightly, but none of them are particularly complicated. In this article, we outline the basic guidelines that will help you enjoy your chair for a long time to come. Remember to be consistent – this will ensure your chair lasts longer and looks great even after many months of use.
Gaming chairs can, to put it simply, be divided into two basic categories based on the materials from which they are made. The first group consists of chairs made from PU-HD leather, also known as eco-leather. In the world of gaming furniture, this is one of the most important materials. It is much cheaper than natural leather, meaning the chair doesn’t have to cost several thousand zlotys, yet it offers many of the advantages of leather, with its appearance being the main one. The use of PU-HD leather gives the chair an elegant yet edgy look, fitting in perfectly with the aesthetic and atmosphere of computer games. Furthermore, its production does not involve the suffering of animals. The second group consists of fabric gaming chairs, which have become increasingly fashionable recently and are made using various types of fabric. At Huzaro, we use fabrics from the XTwill range, which guarantee high durability whilst remaining soft to the touch. The main advantage of such chairs is their superior heat dissipation.
Faux leather requires appropriate care products to maintain its suppleness and all its other properties. This material should only be cleaned using a soft cloth, water and, if necessary, soft soap. Do not use sponges or brushes, as their rough or stiff surfaces may damage the upholstery. The cloth used to clean the chair should be only slightly dampened with water – too much liquid can damage the leather, and water should not run off it. After cleaning, wipe the surfaces dry to ensure they do not remain damp. You can also use specialist cleaning products designed for HD PU leather, which are available on the market. However, before use, we recommend testing them on an inconspicuous area of the armchair to ensure they do not cause discolouration of the material. A PU HD leather armchair is best cleaned every one to two months – depending on how often it is used.
The second type of product is designed for upholding armchairs. These are intended to increase the material’s durability and improve its appearance (by adding a shine). As with cleaning products, we also recommend testing these products first on an inconspicuous area. However, they are well worth using, as they extend the life of the material. Maintenance using these products should always be carried out after the surface has been cleaned – whether with a soapy cloth or a specialist cleaner. We usually apply the maintenance product to a soft cloth and then, using gentle circular movements, to the surface of the furniture; we then leave the armchair to dry for around 4–6 hours. However, these general guidelines may vary slightly depending on the product, so you should always read the manufacturer’s instructions before use. When choosing a care product, it’s worth opting for a higher-end option – the cheapest ones don’t guarantee the desired result, and the apparent saving will soon come back to haunt you.
Looking after your armchair involves not only cleaning and maintaining it regularly, but also avoiding anything that might damage it. An armchair made of HD PU leather must not be cleaned with strong detergents or solvents. You should also avoid using bleaches, removers and other corrosive agents, including those based on alcohol, paraffin or ammonia. Such substances can cause irreversible damage to the material. The gaming chair should also not be exposed to direct sunlight or placed near strong heat sources such as radiators. PU HD leather also does not cope well with high humidity, particularly direct contact with water.
Fans of fabric armchairs cite cosiness and a pleasant feel to the touch as among their advantages. And rightly so! However, such fabrics do require proper care to retain their qualities and stay clean. The main enemy of a fabric armchair is dust. With leather, removing it is a piece of cake, but with other fabrics the situation is a little trickier. However, we don’t need specialist equipment or even professional services for maintenance – all we need is a device that we all have at home. A vacuum cleaner with a furniture nozzle, or even a good-quality brush, will allow you to remove dust from the armchair. It’s important to pay attention to all the crevices around the seat and backrest – it’s easy to overlook these areas, and they accumulate dust from the air. If there are no visible stains on the armchair, you can finish the cleaning at this stage. However, if you do come across such a stain, the problem should be solved with a damp cloth and a mild washing-up liquid or washing powder. You can try to remove stubborn greasy stains using home remedies: water mixed with citric acid, or ammonia (useful for velour). It is important to remove any stains regularly, as this will become increasingly difficult over time.
The care instructions for a fabric armchair will be very similar to those for furniture made from HD PU leather. Avoid using ‘harsh chemicals’ and do not expose the furniture to direct sunlight or place it near strong heat sources.
Just as important as the condition of the upholstery is the condition of the chair’s mechanism itself. If, during use, the seat starts to make any unwanted noises (squeaking, etc.), it is worth using non-drying lubricants, which should resolve the problem and improve the mechanism’s operation. The seat’s actuator is coated with a light lubricant as standard. It is worth checking from time to time whether this has been completely worn away; if so, apply an additional, thin layer of good-quality all-purpose grease.
