How to clean office chair wheels

Office chairs have elements that can slide on the floor in order to facilitate their movement. These parts have wheels of varying size and structure. The wheels are usually one of two different types:

1. Fixed axle wheels, that is, those that can only rotate on a vertical plane but cannot change direction.
2. Rotating wheels: those that can also rotate on a vertical axis (usually 360 degrees), present in most (but not all) office chairs.

Some types of chairs have a pair of fixed axle wheels and a pair of rotating wheels. This is done to allow some freedom of movement and direction to the moving chairs (for example in some types of large chairs/armchairs).

What you’ll need 

• Dry Anti-friction PTFE Lubricant
• Sandpaper
• Screwdriver
• Soap
• Putty knife
• Vacuum

Step 1: Remove the rotating wheels

In most cases the wheels have a vertical pin inserted into a hole provided on the chair, but some rotating wheels are fixed to the chair with a normal plate with screws. Before attempting to clean the wheels, you must remove them from the base of the chair. Typically the entire base can be unscrewed, so you can remove the wheels using a screwdriver or other similar tool. Once the wheels have been removed, they can be cleaned.

Step 2: Remove debris

Scrape any debris from the office chair wheels with a putty knife, inserting it through the slots and under the wheel cover. This allows most debris to be removed, which prevents the wheel from rolling freely. Be careful not to use too much force and create marks on plastic wheels, which will prevent them from turning properly. Use a vacuum cleaner to remove any hair that has gotten caught in the wheels.

Step 3 : Wash the wheels

After removing all the dirt from the wheels, wash them with warm soapy water (to further facilitate dissolving any dirt). Leave the wheels of the office chairs immersed in water for about 10 minutes and then remove them and brush them until they are clean. Rinse the wheels with plenty of water and let them dry.

Step 4: Lubrication 

If after general cleaning and washing you note that the wheels’ surfaces are scratched and uneven, you can lightly sand them with rather fine sandpaper (No. 240-280) to adjust and standardise them, making their contact with the floor more regular and continuous. Then lubricate the rotation axis by applying a few drops of WD-40 Specialist Dry Anti-Friction PTFE Lubricant, which leaves a dry film without attracting dust, dirt and grease. This lubricant does not drip and there’s no risk of wetting the floor.

Step 5 : Re-attach the wheels

Once the wheels are dry, you can put them back in place by inserting the pin into its seat with some force. Sometimes you may have to screw the base in correctly and firmly to avoid problems when using the chair. Clean rotating wheels at least every six months, unless you notice that they are especially dirty. Once the wheels have been cleaned, you’ll notice a huge improvement in the way the chair slides. Taking care of the rotating wheels will make the chair last for a long time.

The end result

After being cleaned, the rotating wheels of office chairs are smoother, quieter and easier to use on a daily basis. For best results you should keep an eye on the wheels and clean them about every six months. If some wheels are irreversibly damaged, they can easily be replaced by going to a hardware store or buying new ones from an online store.

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