Any OCD cleaners out there?

YoungBlueEyes

I’ve bought a table and 4 chairs and I’m in the garden now cleaning them. This is one of the chairs - 

Any ideas how I can get the seat part clean? I’ve brushed it off and hoovered it but I’d like it clean clean if possible. 

They’ve all come from a charity shop furniture warehouse type place so god knows what’s in there 

CliveOfIndia

What is the seat made of?  You might have some success with a stiff nylon scrubbing brush and some soapy water - brush with the grain, as it were.  If it's stained, you could try a solution of ordinary biological laundry powder as well.  Not sure how successful it would be if the material has got a stain sort of soaked into it, but it may be worth a try.

flo22

I'd be getting the steam cleaner on that

YoungBlueEyes

I thought the seat was straw or similar but on closer inspection it’s twists of something. 

A steamer is a good idea, I might have to go buy one. 

I can’t even work out how to get the seat off cos then I could give it a good bashing or go over it with my hairdryer. This is the bottom - 

CliveOfIndia

YoungBlueEyes said:

I thought the seat was straw or similar but on closer inspection it’s twists of something.

Not sure, I think it's kind of hemp or something similar.  No idea what the proper name is, but I've seen it used quite a lot on chairs.

YoungBlueEyes said:

I can’t even work out how to get the seat off cos then I could give it a good bashing or go over it with my hairdryer. This is the bottom - 

Odds on if you undo those 4 screws it'll come off.  They don't look like they're holding the frame together or anything, I reckon they're just screwed into the edge of the seat frame itself. 

CliveOfIndia

CliveOfIndia said:

YoungBlueEyes said:

I thought the seat was straw or similar but on closer inspection it’s twists of something.

Not sure, I think it's kind of hemp or something similar.  No idea what the proper name is, but I've seen it used quite a lot on chairs.

So being the OCD kind of person I am, I did a bit of Googling.  It seems to be "rush" :

https://www.roger-dennis.com/types-of-rush.html

https://www.seatweavingsupplies.co.uk/rush materials price list.htm

I knew there had to be a proper name for it

YoungBlueEyes

Ahh as in rush matting  

I’ll read your links in a min after I’ve found himself’s drill. 

YoungBlueEyes

Now that I know what it’s called, and having read your links Clive, I also found this - 

https://housecleanify.com/how-to-clean-rush-chair-seats/

I maybe don’t need it to come off now actually… 

YoungBlueEyes

Raining here now so I've come in. 

I've been over it again with a clean dry toothbrush closely followed by my hoover, and it's made a good difference. I've done it without dismantling it because the screw heads that you can see are frame ones. The seat has it's own ones but you can only see a bit of the shaft of them, the heads are all the way into the seat.

Tomorrow I'll try a bit of water+white vinegar on the toothbrush, if the weather permits.

Thanks all  

Section62

YoungBlueEyes said:

Now that I know what it’s called, and having read your links Clive, I also found this - 

https://housecleanify.com/how-to-clean-rush-chair-seats/

I maybe don’t need it to come off now actually… 

Yes, 'rush' (although it may be another type of plant made to look like rush)

Be careful not to get it too wet, and make sure you dry them thoroughly.  If you don't the 'rush' will start rotting/going mouldy and stink.  Usually the seat pad is made up of multiple interwoven layers which aren't designed for easy drying.

twopenny

Looks like just a few stains and the rest is natural variation of colour.
Just dish soap and warm water is suggested for that.
A certain washing powder beginning with Pee mixed with hot/warm water and left a while in sunlight before hosing gently off and drying somewher warm and shadey should bring up the natural colour.