How to Keep Salon Chairs in Tip-Top Condition

• 18 April 2023

Your salon chairs or barbershop chairs are one of the most expensive items in your salon or barbershop. Keeping them clean and well-maintained will add years to their lifespan.

On top of that keeping all areas, furniture and fittings in your salon clean will add to your customers' positive experiences.

No salon owner wants to be spending out on new furniture due to lack of proper care and maintenance or losing customers because they (quite understandably) don't want to sit on a dirty-looking, stained, improperly working or sticky chair.

However, hairdressing chairs and barber chairs can be difficult to clean and hairspray residue can easily and quickly dry and build up causing unsightly marks and stickiness. Furthermore, the mechanics of your chair the recliners and hydraulics require regular maintenance to stop them from squeaking, sticking or being otherwise difficult to operate.

But don't worry!

This guide will help you to keep your salon chairs in tip-top condition for longer.

Importance of Good Seat Hygiene

Although it is common practice to properly clean and disinfect the other tools of the trade; scissors, clippers, combs etc. salon chairs are often neglected leading to staining and loss of mobility in the hydraulics and recliners as well as being a risk of microbe and germ transference.

This is why both cleaning and disinfecting are vital.

Clean and Disinfect

The material your chair is made from will change the cleaning methods and products you use.

For vinyl and upholstery, use a sponge and warm soapy water to wipe down and then use a sponge and plain warm water. For vinyl, this should be followed by a lint-free cloth to dry. This should be done daily, between customers where possible but at the end of every day at the least.

It is recommended that harsh soaps, alcohol-based disinfectants and abrasive cleaners are not used on your salon chairs. These are likely to damage the chairs potentially causing cracks and splits which are not only unsightly but will harbour germs.

Instead, some specific salon chair disinfectants and cleaners on the market will disinfect and protect your salon chairs. Or Blue Light UV disinfectants are another excellent choice.

What to Look Out For

Leather

Leather should not be cleaned with soap and water like with vinyl or upholstered chairs. Instead, use a specific leather cleaner and follow the manufacturer's guidelines.

Hydraulic and Recline Sections of the Chair

• Don't leave the headrest off the chair for any substantial period of time as dust, dirt and hairs will go down into the hole/s and prevent the mechanism inside from working smoothly.
• Oil the hydraulic mechanisms regularly.
• Keep the bolts grime and rust-free by cleaning and drying them regularly and tightening them at the same time or when required.
• To remove air from the hydraulics pump it up all the way and let it down several times and then a final time with someone in it. Repeat until the juddering, which is the sign of air in the system, stops.

Invisible hairs

Using a small hoover and/or a can of compressed air make sure you remove all those tiny invisible hairs. They can cause havoc in the mechanics of your salon chairs.

Is It Too Late For Your Chairs?

No matter how well you look after your salon chairs there will come a time when they need replacing. When that time comes we are there for you!

Our extensive range of the best barbershop and salon chairs can be viewed in person at our showroom or online here.

If you've got any questions then contact us to ask our team, we've been in the business for over 30 years so we're sure to be able to give you excellent advice.