For most office chair arm pads, the chair makers’ answer is plain: wash the surface with a soft cloth dampened with warm water and a mild detergent, wipe off the soap with clean water, and dry it with a soft cloth. Herman Miller, Steelcase and Haworth all give that as the normal method. What changes by material is what you must not use, and when a stronger cleaner is allowed.
Identify the arm pad material
Check the chair’s spec sheet or care card before reaching for anything stronger than soap and water. Arm pads usually fall into one of these groups:
- Molded plastic or nylon arm caps.
- Polyurethane (PU) pads, which are soft and slightly springy.
- Vinyl or faux leather wrapped over foam.
- Genuine leather.
Soft-touch or rubberized coatings are not covered separately in any of the chair-maker care guides cited below. The cautious approach is to clean them the way Haworth says to clean polyurethane: water and mild detergent only, with no heavy-duty cleaners.
If you can’t tell, treat the pad as the most delicate material it could be and test any cleaner on the underside first. Haworth recommends pre-testing every cleaning agent on a small, hidden area.
Cleaning by material
| Material | Normal cleaning | Stronger option allowed | Do not use |
|---|---|---|---|
| Plastic or nylon arm caps | Warm water with a mild detergent; soft-bristle brush for heavier dirt (Haworth) | Isopropyl alcohol on a damp cloth for ink, not for routine cleaning (Herman Miller SAYL and Celle) | Hard-bristle brushes, oil-based cleaners (Haworth); solvents, abrasive kitchen cleaners (Herman Miller) |
| Polyurethane | Lukewarm water and mild soap; don’t over-saturate (Steelcase) | An alcohol-based cleaner for stubborn stains and isopropyl alcohol for fresh ballpoint pen, then a water rinse (Steelcase) | Heavy-duty cleaners (Haworth); polishes, oils, solvents, abrasives, ammonia (Steelcase) |
| Vinyl or faux leather | Mild soap and water, rinse, wipe dry (Steelcase, Haworth) | A non-abrasive spray cleaner for difficult stains; 70% isopropyl alcohol for the hardest stains, then rinse with fresh water (Steelcase) | Solvent cleaners, which Haworth says strip plasticizers and cause cracking; ammonia, abrasives, polishes, oils |
| Genuine leather | Dust with a dry cloth; if soiled, wipe the whole pad with a mild soap lather and a little lukewarm water (Herman Miller) | Professional cleaning for stains that remain, and for specialty or sueded finishes (Herman Miller, Haworth) | Saddle soap, solvents, oils, polishes, abrasives, detergents, ammonia (Herman Miller); heat for drying |
Plastic, nylon and polyurethane
Herman Miller’s care guides for the Aeron, Embody and Celle give the same normal method for arms and arm pads: a soft cloth soaked in mild detergent and warm water, a thorough rinse, and drying with a soft cloth. They rule out solvents and abrasive kitchen cleaners. Haworth lists arm caps under “seating plastics” and adds that a soft-bristle brush is fine for heavier dirt, but a hard-bristle brush can damage the plastic’s surface.
Polyurethane is where the makers differ most. Haworth tells owners to use only its basic faux-leather steps (clean water, then a mild detergent solution, then a rinse) on PU, and warns that cleaners meant for heavier soiling can damage it. Steelcase allows an alcohol-based cleaner on its polyurethane for stubborn stains. Because the formulations differ, start with soap and water and use anything stronger only if your chair’s own care guide allows it.
Vinyl and faux leather
Haworth’s vinyl guidance stresses rinsing: any cleaning solution left on the vinyl can dry it out, crack it, or change its color. It also warns that solvent-based cleaners pull plasticizers out of vinyl and make it brittle.
Leather
Herman Miller’s leather arm pad instructions differ from the other materials in three ways:
- Clean the entire pad surface, not just the spot, so you don’t leave a patch.
- Let leather air dry. Never use a hair dryer or other heat source.
- Leave grease alone. Wipe butter, oil or grease with a dry cloth and let the rest dissipate into the leather rather than washing it.
Ink and other hard stains
Ink is the one case where the chair makers allow alcohol on arm pads. Herman Miller’s SAYL and Celle guides say to put isopropyl alcohol on a clean, damp cloth, start at the outside of the mark and work inward, and move to a clean section of the cloth as it picks up ink so the stain doesn’t spread. They note this is not a normal cleaning method. Steelcase gives similar advice for polyurethane and vinyl and adds that you should rinse the area with fresh water afterward. Steelcase also cautions that not all ink stains can be removed. Don’t use alcohol on genuine leather.
Disinfecting shared chairs
Arm caps are one of the few high-touch parts of a chair. Steelcase’s cleaning page notes that germs spread mainly through high-touch surfaces used by many people, like armcaps, and that if only one person uses the chair the risk is very low. For shared chairs, Steelcase lists specific non-bleach disinfecting wipes and sprays for its hard surfaces and says that damage from other products isn’t covered by its warranty. Check your chair maker’s approved list before you disinfect.
When cleaning won’t fix it
If a pad is already peeling, cracked or tacky, more cleaning won’t restore it. If the arm pad is a separate part on your chair, the maker may sell a replacement, so check its parts list first, or see armrest pad covers as a stopgap.
For the seat and back upholstery, which follow fabric cleaning codes instead, see how to clean desk chair fabric . For leather and faux leather beyond the arms, see leather vs. faux leather office chairs .
Sources
- Herman Miller Aeron Chair Care and Maintenance (arm pads, leather arm pads)
- Herman Miller SAYL Chair Care and Maintenance (arm pads, ink stains)
- Herman Miller Celle Chair Care and Maintenance (arm pads, ink stains, leather)
- Herman Miller Embody Chair Care and Maintenance (base, frame and arms)
- Steelcase Surface Materials Reference Manual, Care of Surface Materials (polyurethane, vinyl and leather upholstery)
- Steelcase: Cleaning Your Steelcase Products (armcaps, approved disinfectants)
- Haworth Care and Maintenance Standards, North America (vinyl, polyurethane, seating plastics including arm caps)
- Haworth International Care and Maintenance Standards (faux leather, polyurethanes, leather, pre-testing)
Sources checked October 3, 2026.
See Also
If you want to move from general advice into actual product choices, start with How to Clean Desk Chair Fabric without Damaging Fibers, What to Check Before Buying a Desk Chair for Petite Users, and Office Chair Alternatives Buying Guide.
For a wider picture after the basics, Brother HL-L2350DW vs. HP LaserJet Pro M15w: Which Printer Should You Buy? and Best Ergonomic Office Chairs of 2026 are the next places to read.