But, a big part of upkeep that gets overlooked is cleaning your wheelchair. Believe it or not, your power chair needs to be cleaned regularly. Keeping your power chair clean can help extend the life of the chair and its components. And, it also keeps it looking nice and presentable. Especially if you’re taking it outdoors. Here are a few important tips and tricks so you can learn how to clean your wheelchair.
IMPORTANT NOTE – Please make sure your electric wheelchair/power chair is OFF before any cleaning takes place. It may be best to turn off the chair and fully remove the battery prior to cleaning to avoid potential electric shock, unintended movement of the chair, and damage to the electrical components of the chair.
The Chair Itself – Cushions, Backrest, and Armrests
Similar to the seat cushions of your car or couch, your seat cushion and backrest should be cleaned regularly. This can prevent odor and will keep the cushion fresh and clean. It also can prevent dirt and bacteria from building up that can slowly eat away at the material. And, even wear down the fabric faster. Some cushions have a removable cover that you can throw into your washing machine.
For models that don’t allow that, you’ll have to wipe it or scrub it clean with a damp cloth or per the care instructions that came with your power chair. Some power chairs that use rubber or vinyl seats must be cleaned using a damp cloth. Since the cushions are not machine washable, it is usually best to spray the cushion with some sort of scented fabric spray that fights off odors. And keeps the cushion smelling good. With that said, it is not recommended to spray a scented fabric spray on vinyl and rubber seats as the ingredients may cause damage to the material. The armrests are usually able to be wiped clean using a damp cloth.
Wheels
Keeping the wheels clean is simple. Since the wheels on power chairs can get wet, you can clean them with warm water and light detergent. Like light dish soap, like Dawn. You can also clean the wheels with wipes that you would use to clean the surfaces in your car’s interior. With that said, be mindful of the ingredients in the cleaning products you use as some ingredients may be too harsh for certain materials. Some people prefer to wipe down their wheels with a damp cloth and nothing more.
You can scrub the thread of the wheels with a soft or medium bristle brush. Like a household cleaning brush, a toothbrush, or even a paintbrush depending on how stiff the bristles are. Since wheels for power chairs are either flat-free rubber or pneumatic air-filled tires, we do not recommend using anything with metal bristles. Using metal bristles on solid rubber tires can cause scratches and damage to the wheels. Using metal bristles on pneumatic tires can puncture the wheel, which will cause it to go flat. If you plan to drive your chair right after cleaning your wheelchair wheels, we highly recommend ensuring the wheels are dry to prevent any sort of slipping. Use extreme caution when washing the wheels that are attached to the motor as the motor cannot get wet. We’ll talk more about motors later.
Frame
The frame of power chairs is easy to clean considering they are usually made of some kind of metal. Power chair frames are usually made of aluminum or magnesium or another type of metal. You should be able to simply wipe the frame clean with a damp cloth if it gets dirty. It is also recommended to dry the frame using a dry towel or cloth after cleaning it to prevent any discoloration. Or, in some cases, rust. Similar to the rest of the chair, try to avoid using any harsh chemicals when cleaning your wheelchair frame, as harsh chemicals can strip the finish off of the frame. If there is anything stuck to the frame that needs to be scrubbed off, such as mud, it is recommended to use a soft-bristled brush with light dish soap and warm water. Again, do not use any sort of metal bristles or strong harsh cleaners to scrub the frame as it will result in damage.
Controls / Joystick and Motor
Joysticks are easy to clean. You can usually just wipe them down. However, joysticks and the control panels are usually made with or covered in a soft rubber material that can be damaged by harsh chemicals. Joysticks and control panels should never be washed in water. This is because of the electrical components of the power chair. Therefore, it should never get soaked or submerged. The charging port, which is sometimes located on the joystick, will be damaged if it gets wet. And, this will prevent the chair from charging with that port. Keep all water away from the charging port or keep the rubber cover on it. If the charging port needs to be cleaned, compressed air is the best thing to use.
The motor is one of the most important parts of any electric wheelchair or power chair. Because of this, it should be cleaned with extreme caution. Make sure no part of the motor gets wet. Otherwise, the chair will no longer work. Use extreme caution when you clean the wheels attached to the motors. Ensure no water gets in them. The easiest and best way to clean any debris from the inside of the motor is to spray it with compressed air. If there is too much debris within the motor to properly clean it, it is recommended that you contact the manufacturer or company from which you purchased your power chair for further guidance.
Cleaning your EasyGo
EasyGo power chairs are among the easiest power chairs to clean. The joystick is removable and you can wipe it clean with a damp cloth. The charging port located at the bottom of the joystick has a rubber cap that you can use when the chair is not charging. Especially when you are cleaning the joystick. If there is any debris in the charging port, use compressed air to clean it out. The frame of the EasyGo power chair can be wiped clean using a damp cloth and should be wiped dry to avoid water stains or discoloration. Wheels should be wiped clean or scrubbed using a small cleaning brush with warm water and light dish soap. If the rear wheels require scrubbing with water and soap, ensure the motor does not get wet or cover the motors to prevent any water from getting in. EasyGo power chairs also have a removable seat and backrest cover that are machine washable. The cover for the seat cushion can be removed from the cushion and is also machine washable. Because of this, EasyGo power chairs are very simple to keep clean and in good shape!
Conclusion
Electric wheelchairs are a big investment so you want to ensure you get the most out of your purchase. Keeping your wheelchair clean is just as important as all other maintenance. It will help extend the life of your chair and its components and will keep your chair looking good. It will also help with the performance of your chair. We hope these tips help you clean your wheelchair. Thank you for choosing EasyGo Mobility.
