INTRODUCTION
Chicago Booth takes great care to deliver high performance products that will provide many years of beneficial use. All furniture is subject to normal wear and tear and may even be subject to intentional or unintentional abuse, all of which could cause a product to fail and result in property damage or personal injury. Therefore, it is very important to conduct regular care and maintenance checks at the point of use to minimize risk and ensure a safe operating environment for the public.
Our products are intended for use in commercial applications where it is good business practice, and usually a legal obligation, for an owner, a manager, or members of staff to maintain a safe and clean public space. This obligation includes the care and maintenance of the building, equipment, and furniture, which may be used by employees, and members of the public. Failure to perform regular care and maintenance will void any warranty.
If you notice anything wrong with the furniture you are using, or furniture available for use by the public or employees, you should immediately bring this to the attention of appropriate management, preferably in writing. The failure of any wear and tear item could result in product failure and damage to property, or injury to an employee or member of the public.
This guide is not intended to be a comprehensive maintenance or repair manual, nor is it intended to replace any organization’s specific checklist, code of practice, or any building code or legal obligation. This guide has been developed to provide some basic principles and advice that will be useful for anyone who is responsible in any way for the care, maintenance, and use of furniture in a public place.
This guide is not intended to replace professional care and maintenance procedures, or regular after sales maintenance and cleaning services provided by experienced professionals, which are all considered to be essential in maintaining high performance furniture in a public place.
Products which use an electrical power source should be installed and regularly checked for safe use by a qualified electrician. Most jurisdictions have codes for the specification, installation, and use of these products in a public space and the reader should seek professional advice in these matters.
GENERAL CLEANING TIPS
Wood Tops
Wood Tops can be cleaned with any non-abrasive cleaner such as Windex® or Formula 409®. A non-abrasive liquid cleaner such as a wax polish may also be used. As with any wood surface, water spills should be wiped off immediately. Do not use bleach or a bleach-water solution to clean the table top as this will damage the finish. Wood surfaces should not be subjected to extreme temperatures or moisture, and should not be exposed to bright sunlight.
Laminate Tops
Laminate Tops and can be cleaned with any non-abrasive cleaner such as Windex® or Formula 409® and a damp cloth. Remove stubborn stains with a damp paste of baking soda. Leave on for a minute, then blot away (do not scrub). Apply self-cleaning wax every three months. Additional cleaning information may be available from the particular vinyl manufacturer (which we can help you find if necessary).
Chairs
We recommend that chairs and stools be inspected on a regular basis for wear and tear. Wood Chairs can be cleaned with a liquid cleaner-wax polish combination. We recommend Old English® Dark Oil on dark woods and Lemon Oil® on all woods with a light finish. Water spills on the surface should be wiped off immediately. Do not use abrasive household solvents. To repair scratches, use a wax repair stick. Wood products should not be subjected to extreme temperatures or moisture.
Metal Finishes
Clean wrinkled powdercoat surfaces by wiping with a damp cloth. Brush the surface with a soft bristled dry brush to remove dirt. For smooth powdercoats, wipe with a damp cloth. Use soap and water for stubborn stains. Clean chrome with an automotive chrome cleaner to maintain a bright finish. Use a rust-inhibiting chrome spray paint to touch up any area of finish which has been damaged. Clean aluminum using a soft cloth with water or mild soap. If the finish is chipped, a touch up paint should be used to prevent further chipping and corrosion. Remove dirt from textured powder coat or hammer tone finishes by brushing with a soft bristle dry brush.
Vinyl Upholstery
Clean with a mild soap and water solution or a good grade automotive vinyl cleaner. Quickly remove any spills, as some stains may become permanent if allowed to set. Additional cleaning information may be available from the particular vinyl manufacturer (which we can help you find if necessary).
Fabric Upholstery
Gently clean with a mild soap and water solution. Test any other cleaning method on a small portion of the fabric before proceeding with the entire installation. Dirt and crumbs can be gently brushed or vacuumed off the surface of the fabric. Spills should be soaked up with an absorbent paper towel and wiped off immediately with a cloth before the spill dries in. Additional cleaning information may be available from the particular fabric manufacturer (which we can help you find if necessary).
HOW DO I ENSURE GOOD FURNITURE CARE & MAINTENANCE?
There are a few basic principles, which will help ensure excellent service from furniture designed for use in a commercial application:
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Check the furniture upon delivery at the point of use. Make sure that all of the parts have arrived in good condition and the product is assembled correctly. It is wise to obtain the assistance of a professional installation crew to help with this task and to conduct a post delivery check shortly after the furniture has been installed and placed in use. Immediately report any issues that are observed from these checks and remove from use any product that does not seem to work properly or meet the specification for that product.
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Establish a care and maintenance procedure, which has daily, weekly, monthly, quarterly, and annual check steps clearly documented for all members of staff who are responsible for regular cleaning and maintenance. The daily steps can be as simple as a visual check during daily cleaning. A small maintenance item that is attended to in a timely manner will prevent more significant damage or personal injury, which may result if the issue is ignored.
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Establish clear accountability and a sign off process, which documents the successful completion of the tasks assigned to management and staff, and records the activity, the date, and location where these tasks were completed.
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Maintain good quality, date stamped records, and checklists of all care, cleaning, and maintenance activity, as this helps to avoid missing an important step and may be vital in the event of a warranty claim or a product liability claim.
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Immediately remove from service any item which appears unserviceable or which may result in further damage to the item itself or other property
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Use only the recommended parts and equipment for repairs or maintenance.
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Ensure that the product is only used for the purpose intended and is not subject to abuse.
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Check that the furniture has been placed on a level, stable, and smooth floor surface. On many occasions, what appears to be a defect with the furniture is actually the result of good quality furniture being placed on a poor quality, uneven, or unstable floor surface. We offer adjustable glides to help level table bases in certain situations.
WHAT TYPES OF MAINTENANCE ISSUES SHOULD I MONITOR?
All products in a commercial application should be visually inspected daily and examined more closely every 30 days. Remember, the longer the product has been in service, the more likely it is to have some maintenance issue and there will be a need for more frequent checks. Here are some typical wear and tear items, although this is not meant to be an exhaustive list:
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Loose screws and component parts
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Missing hardware
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Damaged, missing, or worn glides or casters
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Torn, frayed, or excessively worn fabric
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Splintered wood
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Cracked / fatigued welds or joints
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Loose or wobbly joints, legs, or columns
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Cracked or chipped laminate and edges
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Instability or structural failure of parts or the whole product
STORAGE & MOVING TIPS
Most furniture is designed to be static and should not be moved without proper handling equipment and adequate numbers of experienced movers. Even furniture which is designed to be regularly moved requires careful handling to avoid damage. All furniture must be stored in temperature and humidity controlled environment or there is a serious risk of damage, which might range from wood products splintering in very dry, low humidity climates, fabric becoming moldy, and metal oxidizing in salty or high humidity climates. Some other important points worth noting are;
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Never slam the top and base together on flip top tables and do not drop, rack, or bounce on the top surfaces or edges of tables.
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Do not stand on furniture or rock backward on chairs.
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Stacking chairs should not be dropped, slammed, or dragged when being stacked, stored, or placed in use, this will damage glides, backs, seats and frames, and tear fabric.
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Freestanding booths must not be dragged across the floor; this will loosen the joints and cause instability.
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Do not drag tables across uneven or carpeted floors and do not move or reposition by pulling or lifting on the modesty panel.
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Tables over 30”x 60” long, or with wood edges, should be set up and stored by two (2) or more people.