The Nolmyyyyyra - shiny and new (to me)

The Find

I pulled this Ikea Nolmyra chair out of a trash pile, it was sitting right on top, so easy!  Upon examination it seemed like the only problem was cosmetic, the chair mesh seat had some spots on it.  But the frame was in perfect condition and everything else was structurally sound. Let the makeover begin!

Sad chair

The Fix (How to Clean an Ikea Nolmyra Chair)

After the initial customary wipedown with cleaning spray it was time to take the chair apart.  As long as you have a hex-wrench (aka Allen wrench) this is pretty quick.  The mesh seat is some sort of polyester, which I was hoping would help when it came time to clean it because it would be less absorbent than other materials.  The zipper pull was missing from the mesh cover, but some pliers did the trick.

Since I didn't know what had caused the large spot on the base, I assumed it was grease, maybe a spill during some patio dining? Who knows.  I laid the mesh on some cardboard and then piled baking soda over the spot.  I also wiped down the entire frame and chair base since everything was accessible and there had been some dusty bits hiding between the seat mesh and the frame.

Baking soda treatment

After letting the baking soda sit for about half an hour I put the seat mesh into the washing machine on hot, with hopes that the low absorbency of the polyester would work in my favor.

And it did! 

The seat mesh came out of the wash looking brand new. Even the cat approved after performing his customary inspection.

Chair cover, all fresh and clean

Conclusion

After re-stretching the mesh over the metal frame, and attaching the metal frame to the wooden legs, the chair was as good as new. Not a shadow of its former condition remained.  I was impressed with how lightweight and easy to move this Ikea Nolmyra chair was, for anyone who has to move frequently this would be an easy piece of furniture to own. 

Ready for a new life

Happy freestyling, if you can carry it home you can try to fix it!