When was the last time you cleaned the wheels of your office chair? Chances are, never. Gone are the days when your chair can glide effortlessly across the room, now you’re having a hard time moving to the other side of your table.

Don’t worry, it happens a lot because most people only pay attention to cleaning the seat and cushions but neglect to clean the most important thing that keeps the chair moving, the wheels.

Because it rolls around constantly on the floor, office chair wheels collect dust and dirt. Over time, debris clogs up the wheels. While it is simple to clean, stray hair is something hard to get rid of.

We understand the frustration that comes with stubborn hair, dust, and dirt. So in this post, we will show you how to remove hair from office chair wheels.

At Office Solution Pro, we are passionate about Ergonomics! Our readers support the page. If you click on a link, we may earn a small commission at no cost to you. We hope you love the products we recommend as much as we do!

Watch This First

If you want a quick and short guide on how to remove hair from office chair wheels, you can check out this video for removal without taking the casters apart. In this video, the wheels stay on and intact.

Remove the Casters for Easy Cleaning

The first thing you need to do is to take off the casters from the stem of the chair. Figuring out how to remove caster wheels is simple, as a lot of office chairs have removable caster wheels. If the wheels are removable, start by removing them from the base so they will be easier to clean.

You might need to unscrew the base and use a screwdriver to remove the wheels. Gently push it upwards and it will come right off. It can also be helpful to turn the chair upside down in order to remove the base and wheels. Some have wheels that are actually easy to remove and can be done with your hands.

If your chair has permanently fixed casters, you should turn the chair over and have the legs facing up. Once you have set your chair in a good position, we are ready to get down to business! Here are several ways you can use to get the hair out of your office chair wheels.

1. Start with Your Fingers

Using your fingers is an underrated way to remove hair from office chair wheels. Your fingers are the first tools of mankind. Start with your fingers to pick off anything stuck to or inside the wheels. You never know what you might find underneath.

If there are particular objects that are hard to remove — like chewing gum or something sticky — use a solid object, like a butter knife or the pointed curve of a bottle opener to dislodge it. Sticky objects are usually the culprit as to why hair gets stuck underneath the wheels.

2. Use Duct Tape

You can use tape to remove hair, including smaller pieces of debris. The tape will be able to lock onto the dirt and pull it away from the wheel.

Tear a section of the tape and place a small part of the sticky side between your index finger and your thumb. Gently place the tape on the hair and pull swiftly, similar to how you would wax the hair off your body. Repeat this process until you get it all off.

3. Use Tweezers/pliers

After removing a huge chunk of the hair, you might find some smaller pieces tangled up. A pair of tweezers is perfect for picking up the remaining pieces of hair, as they can reach deep into the nooks and crannies of the wheels. Pliers are good if you have big hands, and holding the tweezers is hard.

4. Use Fire/Heat

Another great way to remove hair from office chair wheels is to use a lighter and aim at the smaller strands of hair. Fire can reduce hair to ashes in a matter of seconds.

However, we would advise you to be careful not to burn the wheels as they are made of plastic. Avoid using huge flames like a blow torch, and use small bursts of flames to burn the hair. A heat gun would be the perfect example as it emits strong heat without producing flames.

It may be best to take your chair outside for this one! The smell of burning hair is a strong one!

5. Use Soap and Water

After removing all the hair, dirt, and debris from your wheels, it’s important to place them in soapy water and wash them thoroughly. Be sure to scrub each one until it’s squeaky clean, and then rinse and let dry.

6. Apply Lubricant and Re-attach the Wheels

It is important to dry the wheels immediately after cleaning them to prevent rust on the metal part of the caster. To allow fluid movement of all the moving parts, apply lubricant on the metal sections. You can also use lubricants that come with a long application tube to accurately get in between the wheels of your casters.

To avoid a greasy mess on your floor, you should avoid applying lubricant on the part of the wheels that touches the floor. Re-attach the clean wheels to the base of the chair after you have thoroughly cleaned, dried, and lubricated them.

After everything is installed properly, test your chair on your office floor (we recommend you clean your office floor as well), and your chair should glide smoothly across the room! However, if you have been using your office chair for quite some time, it’s a good idea to inspect the casters and the wheels…

Most ergonomic office chairs come with removable caster wheels. Some are single-wheeled, while some have double wheels.

How to Remove Casters from Office Chairs

Because the wheels of your office chair move around constantly, they are bound to wear down with time. After a few years, your chair might roll unevenly because of the old wheels.

While some people might opt to buy a brand-new ergonomic office chair, taking a few minutes to learn how to remove caster wheels and replace them with new ones can save you a lot of your hard-earned money.

Most office chairs have removable caster wheels and are usually secured without a fastener. You might need to unscrew the base and pry them loose with a screwdriver if the caster won’t budge. Follow these steps to remove chair casters:

1. Turn the chair upside down. Position the chair so that the wheels are up in the air. This will give you access to operate and get down to business!
2. Remove the caster by pulling. Some models require you to remove the caster by turning it clockwise while pulling. Casters with a screw will release once they are twisted and pulled hard enough.
3. Use a screwdriver as a pry bar if the casters won’t budge. This is usually the case when your caster wheels are simply too old and are full of rust.
4. Push the screwdriver between the chair and the caster. Find the widest flat-head screwdriver you can find to make sure that it fits between the small space. Use the screwdriver as a lever to gently push the caster free. If it doesn’t…
5. Use a pry bar and place them between the chair leg and the caster. Push down on the pry bar and pull out the caster wheel.

After removing the caster wheels, you can simply replace them with new ones. We recommend getting roller-blade caster wheels as they are very smooth and suitable for any flooring materials.

Choosing and Buying Replacements

• It’s important to note what kind of caster’s stem it is and the size of the stem. The stem is the metal part that connects the caster to the chair. The most convenient option is to buy universal caster wheels that would fit most office chairs. But if you are looking for a specific model, you need to measure the stem with a ruler.
• Measure the wheel. Figure out the exact measurement of the wheel by using a ruler. Most casters come with between 2 – 2.5-inch wheels.
• Choosing between single-wheel or double-wheel casters. While double-wheel casters tend to be more durable, it has more opportunity to break down as it has more parts. Single-wheel casters offer a modern look, providing you with a smooth and refined glide for your office chair.
• A set of the best quality chair wheels is super affordable. They are extremely durable and will last you a long while, made from premium-grade materials that ensure a smooth and quiet glide.

How to Install Casters with Stem

Figuring out how to install casters with stem is fairly simple. You either align the stem with the chair’s leg and pop the stem in place, or you screw in the casters with your hands until it no longer turns. The process is very similar to locking a door with a key.

Apply lubrication to the inside of the chair leg if the caster is hard to get in the hole. If your caster comes with a swivel plate, install it with a screwdriver (the one that you used to uninstall the old caster).

How to Maintain Caster Wheels

The great thing about caster wheels is that you get to move around while sitting down — smoothly gliding from one place to another — all from the comfort of your trusty, ergonomic office chair.

However, if you want to make sure that it stays the way it should be, you should always focus on proper maintenance. This will ensure that your caster wheels are performing with efficiency and maintaining their function.

To identify potential problems and avoid malfunctions, it’s imperative to regularly inspect the caster wheels. Getting rid of dirt and debris once in a while is crucial, as office chair wheels collect dust quickly because they roll on the floor constantly.

It’s important to replace the wheels immediately if the wheels are damaged. You would not want to risk an injury just because of a misplaced small bolt.

To increase mobility — while maintaining the longevity of the wheels — it’s important to lubricate the wheels every 6 months. Remember, to avoid a greasy mess, do not apply lubrication where the wheels touch the floor.

On top of all that, always remember to clean your office chair properly, as different materials call for different treatments. You wouldn’t want to damage your beloved office companion now, do you? As with every other hardware, proper maintenance is necessary to make sure the chair and the wheels continue to perform at their best.

The Simple, Hassle-free Solution

Because figuring out how to remove hair from office chair wheels can be a hassle, there are other options to clean your chair if you are not the kind of person who enjoys getting your hands dirty. If you have several chairs that need cleaning, you can call a cleaning service to clean up the entire office and do the work for you.

However, we would not advise you to get services from a cleaning agent if you plan to only clean one chair, as it can be quite expensive. If you are too busy or you simply think that this is too much work for you, then, by all means, hire a professional.

Final Takeaways

• The best way to keep your casters unclogged and free of debris is to regularly clean and maintain it often. A little bit of cleaning goes a long way. The general rule of thumb would be to clean your chairs once every two months.
• Removing and replacing the caster wheels of your office chair is a cheaper alternative than buying a new office chair.
• Choosing the right caster wheel replacement is very important. We recommend getting ones that can universally fit most chairs.
• Proper maintenance is key. Make sure to apply lubrication to ensure everything works smoothly. Lubricate your office chair wheels every 6 months.
• Check that everything is securely in place to avoid unwanted injury.
• If you are planning to buy a new office chair, we advise getting one with removable casters to make it easier for you to clean the wheels.

And there you have it — a simple yet comprehensive guide on how to remove hair from office chair wheels, along with how to remove casters. Nothing beats the feeling of having clean office chair caster wheels. They are smoother, quieter, and simply more reliable.

By using everyday, simple tools — equipped with the right know-how — You have the ability to restore your office chair to proper working order. If you follow the detailed instructions we have written for you, you’ll be gliding along your office floor with brand-new wheels in no time! 🙂