If you’re trying to figure out how to clean fabric dining chairs without wrecking the upholstery or losing your mind – you’re in the right spot. Between toddlers, pets, and regular mealtime chaos, our chairs were looking rough. But with a few affordable tools and one of my favorite stain removers, I brought them back to life. I’ll show you the full step-by-step process, including the one tool that made a massive difference
Table of Contents
- Why I Needed to Deep Clean Our Upholstered Dining Chairs
- Supplies for Cleaning Fabric Dining Chairs at Home
- Step 1: Spray Folex on the Dirty Chair Upholstery
- Step 2: Scrub Upholstery with a Drill Brush Attachment
- Step 3: Use the BISSELL Little Green to Rinse and Extract
- The Transformation: Before and After Cleaning the Dining Chairs
- Related Project: How to Seal a Wood Dining Table
- 📌 Save This Upholstery Cleaning Tutorial for Later
- FAQ: How to Clean Upholstered Dining Chairs
Why I Needed to Deep Clean Our Upholstered Dining Chairs
Our dining chairs were gross. Seriously disgusting! Between craft time, family dinners, spilled drinks, and little footprints, the fabric had seen better days. I love the look of upholstered dining chairs, but let’s be real – they don’t hide stains well and aren’t the best choice for my kids. It was well past time for a deep clean.
Supplies for Cleaning Fabric Dining Chairs at Home
These supplies are my go-to when it comes to deep cleaning upholstery.
Step 1: Spray Folex on the Dirty Chair Upholstery
My secret weapon when it comes to cleaning fabric dining chairs, or any other type of upholstery, is Folex! This stuff is liquid magic! I started by generously spraying each chair seat with Folex. This stuff works so good – it lifts stains almost instantly and doesn’t require rinsing (though I do anyway). Be generous, and spray down the entire seat. Let it sit for just a few minutes to break down the grime before scrubbing.
Step 2: Scrub Upholstery with a Drill Brush Attachment
Next, I attached a medium-stiff scrub brush to my drill and gently worked it over the entire surface of the seat to really clean these fabric dining chairs. It’s so satisfying. You can actually see the grime breaking up and lifting. These microfiber seats can handle the scrubbing, but depending on your fabric, you might have to go light-handed with this step, or skip the drill altogether and just scrub with a microfiber towel – you don’t want to fray the fabric. Use caution!
Step 3: Use the BISSELL Little Green to Rinse and Extract
After scrubbing, I used my BISSELL Little Green upholstery cleaner to rinse and extract. This step pulls all the cleaner and loosened dirt right out of the fabric. You’ll be amazed (and maybe a little horrified) at the color of the water afterward. If you don’t have a BISSELL, you can blot with clean towels – but honestly, if you’ve got kids or pets, this machine is a game-changer. We use it constantly – on rugs, in the car, on the couch… it’s always coming to the rescue.
The Transformation: Before and After Cleaning the Dining Chairs
The difference between the before and after here was wild. Chairs that looked like they were destined for the curb came out looking almost new. There are a couple of stubborn spots that didn’t come out, but overall, this process completely refreshed the fabric.
Related Project: How to Seal a Wood Dining Table
If you’re cleaning your chairs, don’t forget about your table! I recently shared How to Seal a Wood Dining Table to protect it from water rings, food spills, and daily wear. It’s a quick project that makes a huge difference in the life of your table.
📌 Save This Upholstery Cleaning Tutorial for Later
FAQ: How to Clean Upholstered Dining Chairs
The best way is to pre-treat stains with a cleaner like Folex, scrub with a drill brush or microfiber cloth, and extract moisture using an upholstery cleaner like the BISSELL Little Green.
Folex is safe for most upholstery, but always do a spot test first – especially on delicate or non-colorfast fabrics.
No, but it helps! You can scrub and blot manually with towels, but using a BISSELL or other upholstery cleaner gives better results with less effort.
For homes with kids or pets, aim to deep clean every 3-6 months – or sooner if spills happen often.
