Cinema seat cleaning

The seat stays in the row

Each cinema seat folds up and has an upholstered back and often a cup holder. It is bolted to the floor, so the work happens in the narrow space between rows. This affects access and ventilation, so the job differs from cleaning conference chairs, which can be moved.

Stains are hard to see on dark fabric, so take photos with the lights on in the hall.

• Seat: popcorn grease, sugar and drinks.
• Back: dirt from hair and hands, especially along the top edge.
• Gaps between seat and back: crumbs and hard dirt.
• Armrests and cup holders: often plastic, which is not upholstery.

Popcorn grease and sugary drinks

A grease stain soaks into the fabric, and solvent can damage the upholstery foam, so do not pour anything on the stain. A sugary drink leaves a sticky layer as it dries, and stains are hard to see in dark fabric.

If a drink has been spilt in a row, staff can blot it gently with a clean cloth before the next showing, without rubbing. Do not use hot water. Write down the seat number so that it can be looked at.

Why a photo of one row matters more than a list

Seats in one hall are usually the same, but their condition is not: the front rows are used less often, and the rows in the middle of the hall and near the entrance the most often. So photograph one row in the middle, one at the side and the worst seats. Then the specialist can assess the whole hall without looking at each seat, and you do not have to send a hundred photos.

The hall schedule

In a cinema a hall is usually free only outside showing times, and you know best when it can be closed. If the fabric is damp after the work, the hall is not yet ready for the audience. Drying depends on air humidity, temperature, ventilation, the fabric and the filling, and the seat foam may be thick.

So we do not promise a deadline for all halls at once. It is more realistic to plan one hall at a time or to divide the work by rows, leaving some rows unsold. Agree this with the specialist. The same goes for theatre and concert hall seats.

What to put in the form

• The number of halls and the number of seats in each.
• Photos: one row, a close-up of one seat, the worst spots, the label or manufacturer's description.
• When the hall is free and how many rows can be left unsold.
• Material: fabric, velour, faux leather.
• Whether the ventilation can be run and whether the hall can be aired.

What to expect after cleaning

On velour, pressure marks and differences in shade are a property of the fabric, and cleaning does not remove them. More: grease stain on a sofa.

How much cinema seat cleaning costs

The price list has no separate line for a cinema seat. The closest items are the office chair from €10 and the armchair from €20, but the specialist will give the final price from the photos, the number of seats and access. For larger volumes we agree the price before work starts, and we do not publish discount figures. The price depends on size, fabric, how dirty it is, smell and distance.

The minimum order is €45: if the total is lower, you pay €45. Travel is included in Riga and up to about 15 km outside Riga; further out it is from €10. The full price list is on the prices page.