Cleaning a chair with removable covers means identifying the upholstery, reading its instructions and making the product safe before you start. A removable cover does not mean that any kind of washing is allowed: the fabric, the underlying cover and faux leather may require different treatments. On a powered chair, the controls and connections must also be protected. The final rule is just as important: parts are refitted and used again only when they are completely dry, without speeding up the result with methods that are not permitted.
In brief
Cleaning starts from the label and the instructions for the upholstery chosen. Before removing the covers, the person needs to be settled in another suitable seat and the chair made safe, taking the lithium battery into account as well. The controls and connections must not get wet. Covers are refitted only when they are completely dry, without forcing them or using unapproved methods to restore their shape.
The five checks before you start
A spilt cup or a cover that needs washing can make you want to act straight away with whatever product you have at home. First, though, it is worth clarifying five points: material, part affected, instructions, power supply and an alternative seat for the person.
Identify whether you are dealing with fabric, faux leather or an underlying cover. Check how far the dirt has got, without lifting the chair or opening up technical parts. Find the instructions for the material and check that the method is also permitted for the part involved.
Then prepare the product according to the manual, with the person already settled elsewhere when the job involves removing covers or accessing components. Plan time for drying: starting a full clean when the chair is needed immediately afterwards can create a problem for the care routine.
These checks do not turn a small cleaning job into a complicated operation. They help you avoid confusing a surface stain with liquid that has soaked through, or a washable cover with a component that must stay protected.
Label and instructions: they decide the cleaning method
GINETEX explains that care symbols indicate the maximum treatments permitted for the textile. Washing, bleaching, drying, ironing and professional care are separate instructions. Do not read only the temperature and ignore the rest of the sequence. [2]
Sollevita is available in Raggio di Sole or Mons fabrics or with faux leather upholstery. Do not assume that the same recipe applies to all of them. The material code and the instructions supplied make it possible to identify the correct treatment for the configuration you own. [1]
A test on a hidden spot may make sense if the instructions provide for it, but it does not authorise a product that is prohibited or has not been checked. The absence of immediately visible damage does not prove that the treatment is compatible with the colour, finish, seams and internal parts.
If the label is missing or illegible, send the Sollevita Team the references for the chair and the upholstery. It is better to clarify the method beforehand than to try to correct shrinkage or a ring mark afterwards.
Making a powered chair safe, battery included
Before cleaning or removing the covers, move the chair into the position indicated in the instructions and cut off the power according to the prescribed procedure. With the lithium battery, the motors can be powered even when the chair is not plugged in at the mains, so the battery must also be dealt with as indicated, without opening it or touching the wiring. [1]
Keep the handset and connections away from wet cloths and cleaning products. Do not spray liquids directly onto the chair and do not push tools into the linkage areas. A part that is accessible to the technician is not automatically an area for you to clean yourself.
If liquid has got near sockets or electrical components, do not touch wet connections and do not switch the chair back on “to see if it works”. Stop what you are doing and request technical support; any isolation of the power supply must be carried out only in safe conditions. Do not dry an electrical component by opening it or heating it. [3]
Surface dirt and stains: two different jobs
For routine care, use only the method provided for the material: this may be gentle dust removal with compatible accessories or a permitted surface treatment. Do not follow a rigid schedule that is the same for every household; what matters is how the chair is used, how dirty it gets and the instructions.
If a liquid is only on the fabric surface, follow the instructions to absorb it without spreading it or rubbing hard. Avoid soaking the area to “dissolve everything”. Do not mix cleaning products and do not apply solvents, bleaches or other products that are not permitted.
Make a note of what was spilt and what you have already used. If a ring mark appears, the material changes appearance or you do not know how far the liquid has reached, stop and describe the situation. Adding products one after another makes it harder to understand the source of the problem.
The underlying cover should not be considered a waterproof barrier just because there is a second layer. A stain that goes through the cover requires an assessment of the part affected, not simply a more intensive wash.
Removing the covers: identify the pieces before separating them
On Sollevita, the covers are fully double removable: both the outer cover and the underlying cover can be removed. The modular construction and the removable elements make access easier, but the order of removal and the permitted operations must follow the chair’s instructions. [1]
Before you start, a photograph of the correctly fitted element can help you recognise its orientation and seams. Keep the identified pieces separate and avoid removing everything at once when you do not know how to tell them apart. Do not pull a cover over fastenings or obstacles.
The guide on the difference between removable and double removable covers explains which properties belong to the construction. Here the practical point is to follow the treatment for each individual part: access to the second cover does not make the padding washable.
For heavy modules or operations you do not understand, ask the Sollevita Team for guidance. There is no need to dismantle the backrest, sides and mechanism to carry out cleaning that only concerns an accessible surface.
Washing, drying and refitting without forcing
Choose the wash settings according to the label and the instructions for the cover: temperature, spin and drying depend on the material. If professional care is required, also hand over the information about the upholstery.
Afterwards, follow the permitted drying method. Before refitting, all the parts involved must be completely dry. It is not enough for the outer side to no longer look wet; the seams, folds and any underlying cover that has been treated must also be taken into account.
Do not use the chair as a support to stretch a damp cover. Do not use heat or force to recover a size that seems to have changed. If the fabric does not go back into position, photograph the problem and ask for support before putting strain on seams or zips.
After refitting, check that no flap of fabric gets in the way of the movements and that the fastenings are closed as described in the instructions. Reconnect the power and check the product only when the work has been completed safely. Unusual behaviour means you should stop using the chair, not repeat the test.
Faux leather: not a material you can clean with any product
With faux leather, cleaning normally concerns the surface, following the specific instructions. Do not automatically apply the cycle intended for a fabric cover and do not immerse a piece of upholstery just because it is removable.
Also check the compatibility of creams, oils or products used during personal care. Being easy to clean does not mean being resistant to every substance. The term faux leather does not, on its own, indicate a permitted disinfectant treatment, nor that the whole chair is waterproof.
If the chair is in a care facility, compare the required protocol with the instructions for the material. A facility’s hygiene requirement does not authorise the use of an incompatible product on the chair. Ask the facility’s contact person and the Sollevita Team for clarification, without improvising dilutions.
The table for choosing the next step
This table sets out typical situations at home; it does not replace labels or the manual. Use it to avoid treating every problem with the same cleaning product.
| Situation | Sensible step | When to stop |
|---|---|---|
| Surface dust | Routine method permitted for the upholstery | Difficult access or risk of reaching the mechanisms |
| Liquid on the outer fabric only | Absorb and treat according to the material’s instructions | Ring marks, changes or unclear how far it has soaked in |
| Dirt on the underlying cover | Identify the part and its instructions | Missing instructions or padding affected |
| Stain on faux leather | Surface method specifically permitted | Finish changing or incompatible product |
| Liquid near electrical parts | Stop and contact customer support | Do not switch back on or touch wet connections |
| Cover that does not go back into position | Check the orientation and ask for support | Do not stretch, heat or force it closed |
The job of whoever does the cleaning is to describe the problem and respect the limits of the treatment. A stubborn stain does not necessarily call for more aggressive cleaning; it may be better to deal with the cover alone.
When the chair is an essential place to sit
For a person who receives daily care, the time needed to remove the covers and let them dry must be coordinated with the other places where they can sit or rest. Do not leave the organisational problem until the washing is finished, and do not put the person back on materials that are still damp because there is no alternative.
Having a spare cover can help you plan maintenance, but its availability must be checked for your configuration. Keep codes, labels and useful photographs together in a single folder. The availability of components does not mean that every replacement is immediate or can be carried out by anyone.
The Sollevita support and video call service can clarify instructions, the identification of parts and whether a technician needs to step in. Do not ask a family member to open motors or control units to complete a household cleaning job.
FAQ
Common questions
How do you clean a chair with removable covers without damaging it?
Identify the material, follow the instructions, make the product safe and treat only the parts that are permitted. Avoid liquids near the electrical components. Before refitting, check that everything is completely dry and do not force fastenings or fabrics.
Can I wash all the covers at 30 degrees?
No. There is no universal temperature for every cover. Read the label for the part and the instructions provided: washing, drying and professional care may differ. A similar trade name is not enough to choose the cycle. [2]
Is it enough to unplug the chair before cleaning?
Not if the chair remains powered by the battery. Follow the prescribed procedure for the lithium battery as well, without opening it or changing the connections. If you do not know how to isolate the power supply correctly, ask for guidance before you start.
Can I refit the cover while it is still damp so that it stretches better?
No. The parts must be completely dry. Refitting a damp cover is not a way to recover its shape or size. If the cover does not sit correctly, stop and check the orientation and procedure with the Sollevita Team.
Can I use steam or a household sanitiser?
Only if expressly permitted by the material’s instructions and compatible with the product. Do not infer this from the fact that the covers are removable or that the upholstery is faux leather. Without authorisation, do not apply it, especially near padding, connections and electrical parts.
What should I send if a stain will not come out?
Send the chair reference, the material, the part involved and a photograph, saying what was spilt and the products already used. Do not open components to document the problem better. The Sollevita Team will be able to advise on the next step or a targeted replacement.
Sources and references
[1] Sollevita — upholstery, double removable covers, battery power supply and product construction.
[3] La Castellana — Important warnings: electrical safety and use of the chair.
The next step: have the instructions ready before maintenance
Keep the label and the upholstery references together with the manual. If a cleaning job or removing the covers is not clear, go over Sollevita’s construction and upholstery with the Sollevita Team before proceeding: correct care starts with identifying the part.
