How to clean and maintain your massage chair
You finally bought a massage chair. Congrats, you’ve officially reached peak adulthood.
But owning a massage chair also comes with responsibility. You can’t just sit in it, spill coffee on it, sweat into it for six months, and expect to be a good boy and not protest.
Massage chairs are machines, and like anything that serves your needs, they need love, cleaning, and basic maintenance.
But don’t worry, it’s not a choir. Keeping a massage chair clean and healthy isn’t rocket science.
This guide will show you exactly how to clean and maintain your massage chair so it stays hygienic, smooth, and working flawlessly for years.
Let’s get into it.
Why cleaning your massage chair actually matters.
If you’re thinking, “It’s just a chair, why does it need special cleaning?”
My friend… massage chairs are not regular chairs.
They have:
- Rollers that touch your back, legs, and neck
- Airbags that compress your arms and calves
- Vents, seams, and cracks where dust loves to party
- And electronics that really hate moisture
Skipping cleaning isn’t just unhygienic; it shortens the chair’s lifespan.
According to manufacturer data and industry reports:
- Regular cleaning can extend your chair’s life
- Proper maintenance reduces mechanical failure risk
So yes, this matters.
Let’s keep your high end relaxation machine alive.
How to clean your massage chair the right way: step-by-step
Daily/weekly cleaning: the basic routine
This is the “keep things from getting gross” step.
Do this once a week (or daily if you use the chair a lot):
- Wipe down the chair with a soft microfiber cloth
- Use warm water + a few drops of mild dish soap
- Avoid everything that sounds like a chemical weapon:
- Alcohol
- Bleach
- Harsh cleaners
- Random “multi-purpose sprays”
These cause damage to upholstery and destroy the coating, especially synthetic leather.
If your chair starts smelling suspiciously like a gym locker, you waited too long. Start now.
Vacuuming: the most skipped step (but super important)
Massage chairs have seams, crevices, and little cracks where dust, crumbs, pet hair, and your questionable life decisions hide. If you find old chips between the seat cushions, just pretend they were never yours.
Use a vacuum with a soft brush attachment to clean:
- The seat
- The backrest seams
- Under the footrest
- Crevice areas where dust settles
This prevents dirt from grinding into the upholstery and causing wear.
Spot cleaning for stains
Accidents happen! Coffee spills, kids exist, life gets messy!
For stains:
- Use a small amount of mild soap or upholstery cleaner
- Let it sit for a minute
- Wipe gently with a damp cloth
- Dry thoroughly (moisture + leather = disaster)
Avoid rubbing aggressively, as this damages the fabric.
Leather / synthetic leather care
Massage chairs love proper conditioning. Without it:
- Leather cracks
- Synthetic leather flakes
- The chair gets old-man skin
Use only manufacturer-approved conditioners.
No:
- Baby oil
- Coconut oil
- Olive oil
- “Natural DIY leather conditioner” (that’s a trap)
These destroy the material over time.
Removable covers (if your chair has them)
Some chairs have removable fabric covers for:
- Headrest
- Armrests
- Foot area
Wash them:
- In cold water
- Gentle detergent
- Air dry only
If your chair didn’t come with removable covers, consider buying protective ones, especially if multiple people use it.
Maintenance schedule and best practices
Cleaning the outside is great.
But the inside?
That’s where the magic and the mechanical chaos live.
Let’s keep that running smoothly.
Monthly deep cleaning
Do this every 1–2 months:
- Remove detachable parts
- Clean underneath the leg rest
- Check seams and corners
- Wipe high-contact zones:
- Headrest (some chairs like Raha have a specific headrest)
- Arm areas
- Foot rollers
- Calf zones
This is also a great time to inspect for damage.
If something looks broken, don’t pretend it’s “probably fine.”
Fix it before it becomes “definitely expensive.”
Mechanical maintenance
Your chair is basically a robot with a PhD in relaxation. Treat it like one.
Check monthly for:
- Screws
- Bolts
- Frame connections
- Any rattling or unusual noise
- Moving parts (lubricate only with manufacturer-approved products)
Lubrication prevents friction, which prevents wear, which prevents crying later.
Electrical safety
Before any cleaning:
- Unplug the chair
- Inspect power cables
- Check for loose wires
- Look for damaged insulation
If you see anything weird, sparks, exposed wires, or melting (yikes), call a professional.
Do not attempt DIY electrical repair unless you want a haircut from electricity.
Usage best practices
Massage chairs are amazing, but they’re machines. Overusing them can wear them out.
Manufacturer guidelines suggest:
- 15–20 minutes per session (read here about how long to sit on a massage chair)
- 2–3 times per day max (read here about how often to use massage chairs)
It’s more about your own health rather than chairs. Not because the chair can’t handle more, but because your body shouldn’t.
Hygiene and health considerations
Massage chairs touch your skin.
Your legs.
Your neck.
You’re back.
And sometimes your face rests on them.
So let’s keep things clean.
Sanitisation for shared use
If multiple people use the chair:
- Use washable covers
- Or disposable liners for:
- Headrest
- Arm area
- Foot rollers
Use furniture-safe antibacterial sprays, but never spray into vents or electronic components.
Allergen control
Dust mites, pollen, and pet hair all love upholstery.
Regular cleaning reduces:
- Skin irritation
- Sneezing
- Itching
- Respiratory issues
If you have allergies, clean more frequently. This, however, is not a big issue as people use massage chairs with cloth on, but it’s always better to be safe than sorry.
Why bother keeping things clean?
Because of regular maintenance:
- Extends the chair’s lifespan
- Reduces breakdown risk
- Keeps the massage smooth and effective
- Prevents bad odours
- Protects against bacteria buildup
Plus, nobody wants to relax in a chair that smells like sadness and old socks.
Take care of your chair or suffer the consequences
Maintaining your massage chair is like maintaining your sanity. Do it regularly, and life goes smoother. Forgetting about it? That’s how you end up with a creaky, dusty, sad-looking chair that’s begging for retirement.
But if you clean it weekly, give it a good, deep clean monthly, and treat it with the respect a multi-thousand-dollar machine deserves, your chair will last for years, keeping your back loose, your stress low, and your body functioning like a well-oiled machine.
Remember:
A massage chair is only as good as the care you give it.
Treat it right, and it’ll treat you right back in a single day.
Now go clean that chair, peace out.
