How to Clean and Maintain a Gaming Chair

VALK gaming chairs are built to handle years of heavy use. With quality materials and basic maintenance, your chair will keep its looks and performance for a lot longer.

Here are the two parts: routine cleaning, which takes five minutes a month, and mechanical tune ups, done twice a year, which is what prevents creaking, looseness and breakdowns.

1. PU leather: quick, risk free cleaning

PU or PVC leather cleans up in under five minutes. Fill half a glass with warm water, add a splash of mild soap and lightly dampen a microfiber cloth. Wipe gently, no scrubbing, and dry right away with another clean cloth.

Important: if your chair has microperforated leather, wring the cloth out well so water doesn't get into the pores. Let the chair air out away from direct sun and it's ready for your next session.

2. Fabric: vacuum, treat and let dry

Fabric picks up dust and crumbs more easily. Vacuum with a brush attachment every two to three weeks.

If something spills on it, act right away: blot with paper towel or a microfiber cloth, no rubbing, then follow up with a cloth lightly dampened with mild soap. The sooner you act, the less trace it leaves.

For a fresh stain, sweat or a soda splash, press with a damp cloth without dragging it across the fabric. Older stains come out with a warm water and mild soap solution applied in gentle circles. A homemade trick that works: sprinkle baking soda over the damp area, let it sit for five minutes, then remove the excess with another clean cloth. Then let it air dry, no hair dryer, no strong sun.

Avoid bleach, solvents and all purpose cleaners: they damage the fibers and can leave a ring. Don't use direct steam either.

Every three months it's worth going a step further: an upholstery specific foam cleaner, following the manufacturer's instructions, brings fabric back to looking like new. Afterward, always air dry it in a ventilated spot, never with a hair dryer or heat source.

If you have pets, a lint roller or a rubber glove picks up hair better than a vacuum alone. And for odors, the same baking soda trick works: sprinkle it on, let it sit for 15 to 20 minutes, then vacuum.

3. How often

4. Wheels: behind 90% of the noise

If you hear creaking as you move, it's almost always dirt in the axle. Run a damp cloth over each wheel, spin it, and cut away any trapped hair or fibers with tweezers or a fine utility knife. Once the bearing is clean, a bit of soft grease brings back smooth spinning.

Once a year, it's worth going further and cleaning the inside. Most wheels pop off with a firm pull, so you can remove them, clear the dirt from the axle with tweezers or a cotton swab, wipe it with a lightly dampened cloth and apply a drop of light grease before putting them back on. That's where the stuff you can't see builds up.

5. Screws: 5 minutes that extend the chair's life

With daily use, the screws in the base and backrest gradually loosen. Twice a year, go over every attachment point with the Allen key that came in the box. You'll gain sturdiness and stop looseness from eventually damaging the mechanism.

Two details that make a difference:

• Order: base first, then the sides of the seat, and the backrest last.
• Torque: firm but don't force it. Once the screw stops turning, another half turn is usually enough.

6. Lubricating the mechanisms

Over time, the metal joints lose the thin layer of factory grease and start to squeak. You'll need WD-40 or spray lithium grease, and a cloth to wipe off any excess.

• Mechanism, under the seat. Spray lightly on the axles and the spring joint.
• Backrest recline mechanism. Apply to the hinge and move the backrest back and forth so it works its way in.
• Gas lift piston. Raise the chair to its maximum height and spray the exposed part. Wipe off the excess so it doesn't attract dust.

General tip: less is more, a thin coat is all you need.

7. Piston and tilt tension

If the chair sinks on its own, or the tilt feels too loose or too stiff, it's time to recalibrate.

Height. Try several positions and check that the piston holds steady with your weight on it. If it's losing gas and gradually giving way, it can't be fixed and needs replacing.

Tilt tension. The knob under the seat controls how stiff it is. Turn it clockwise for more tension, counterclockwise for less. As a reference, if the backrest drops suddenly when you lean back, you need more tension.

8. Spare parts and extra adjustments

If a part reaches the end of its life (piston, wheels, cushions), you don't need a new chair. Our spare parts section has original components and class 4 pistons, the highest rated on the market, in different lengths so you can match the chair's height to your desk.

9. Take care of the upholstery to avoid cracking

On PU leather, lack of maintenance and humidity eventually crack the material. It's the most common long term issue and it's easy to prevent: it's explained in how to avoid cracking in PU leather.

With this routine, your VALK will stay quiet, stable and gliding smoothly for years. If you have any questions, reach out through the Help Center and we'll help you out.

FAQ

Why is my gaming chair making noise when I move?

It's almost always the wheels or the mechanism asking for a clean. A squeak while turning usually comes from the wheel axle, while a creak when reclining or rocking means the mechanism needs a drop of lubricant.

Start with the wheels, they cause 90% of the noise, and if it continues, move on to the mechanism under the seat.

What lubricant should I use on a gaming chair's mechanisms?

WD-40 or spray lithium grease, applied in a thin coat on the axles, the recline hinge and the gas piston. More isn't better, it just attracts more dust.

Always wipe off the excess with a cloth after applying.

How do I know if my chair's gas piston is worn out?

If the chair sinks on its own with your weight on it, or gradually gives way instead of holding the height you set, the piston is losing gas and can't be fixed. It needs replacing.

You'll find class 4 replacement pistons, the highest rated on the market, in different lengths, in our spare parts section.

How do I adjust the tilt tension on my gaming chair?

Using the adjustment knob under the seat: clockwise for more tension, counterclockwise for less. If the backrest drops suddenly when you recline, you need more tension.

What do I do if something spills on the fabric?

Act fast. Blot with paper towel or a microfiber cloth, no rubbing, then wipe with a cloth lightly dampened with mild soap. The longer the liquid sits, the harder it is to avoid a mark.

Avoid bleach, solvents and all purpose cleaners, and don't use a hair dryer or heat source to speed up drying: it dries out the fibers and can set the stain instead of removing it.

Do you need to remove the wheels to clean them?

Not for routine maintenance: a damp cloth around the axle is usually enough. Once a year, though, it's worth removing them (most pop off with a firm pull) to clear out the dirt that builds up inside, the kind a cloth on the outside can't reach.

If what you need isn't cleaning but replacing them, you'll find the full guide in replacement wheels for gaming chairs.