How Often Should I Tighten My Chair Screws?

Just like your car requires regular oil changes to keep it working its best, your office chair needs to have its screws tightened regularly to keep it in tip-top condition and safe to use. But how often? The simple answer is once every 6 months. Because this small but important bit of maintenance can be tough to remember, we’ve put together a guide to help you stay on top of it so that you can get the most out of your office chair.

Keep a Wrench Handy

Your office chair likely came with an Allen wrench that you used to attach the base to the rest of the chair when you first received it. Do not throw this tool away! Instead, tape it to the bottom of your chair. This way, you will know exactly where the wrench is when it’s time to tighten your screws. If your chair was delivered pre-assembled or you inherited a chair from another coworker who did not save the wrench, then a basic Phillips head screwdriver will work for most chairs.

Tighten Your Chair Screws Soon After Assembly

After your chair has been assembled, use it for about a week. Then go back and tighten the screws again. Many chairs will settle during this time, so giving a follow-up check will ensure everything is as sturdy and safe as possible.

Turn Your Screws When You Turn Your Clocks

Remembering when to tighten your screws can be tough since it isn't exactly the first thing on our minds. An easy way to remember this maintenance is to coordinate your chair screw tightening with daylight saving time. Whenever it’s time to spring your clocks forward or fall back, take a minute to tighten your office chair screws using the wrench underneath the seat.

Tighten Big and Tall Chairs More Often

Because big and tall chairs experience more strain than the average task chair, you should tighten them every 3 months to ensure maximum stability. Give your big and tall chair screws a turn once per quarter to keep them in the best condition possible.

Keep Your Guests Safe and Comfortable

It’s important to tighten the screws on the chairs and tables in your waiting room every 6 months. Not only should this be done for your guests’ safety, but it will also present your business in a more professional light since visitors may frown upon wobbly furniture.

Furniture Maintenance

How to Hide and Organize Computer Cords

Love your computer but hate your computer cord clutter? Cables and wires can ruin the look of your workspace, especially if you’re using a lot of electronics. If you’re the type of person who prefers a crisp, clean look in the office, then check out the different forms of wire management that are available to you.

Desktop Grommet Holes

Many desks come equipped with built-in grommet holes—a hole cut out near the edge of the desk. Grommet holes typically come with a cap to maintain a clean look while covering up the mess. Simply slip your wires through the hole and plug them into the wall or built-in desk power strip for a seamless look. This is the most common type of wire management system, so be sure to carefully read the product description of the desk you are considering to determine whether it comes with any grommet holes.

Wire Management Troughs

Some desks and tables come with built-in wire management troughs. These long, narrow containers are typically affixed to the front of the unit, often built into the modesty panel, and they consist of a protruding shelf with a lip that holds your cords in place and up off the floor. Although these are less common than desktop grommet holes, they are certainly effective. They’re an ideal option for use in areas with ever-changing users, such as classrooms and training rooms where laptops are used frequently.

Alternative Wire Management Systems

Some desks come with more unique wire management systems that you may prefer to grommet or trough options. Some designs take it to the next level of office cleanliness by feeding those cords through the leg of the desk. This way, you aren’t just left with a mess of wires hanging out from underneath your work surface. Rather, the cords come out the bottom of the leg and then connect to the nearest outlet, leaving a clean, fresh look unscathed by industrial cording.

DIY Solutions

Already have an office desk and don’t want to splurge on a new one? Don’t worry—there’s hope for you yet. While you can attempt to drill your own grommet hole into the top of your desk, we only recommend doing this if you are already a skilled handyperson or know someone who is.

Alternatively, you can keep cords more organized by attaching cord management racks or a wire bin to the underside of your desk. Simply run cords through the bin to keep them up off the ground and out of sight. You can also achieve this by attaching binder clips to the bottom of your desk and running cords through those.

Don’t like any of these ideas? If you can’t beat ‘em, join ‘em, and if you can’t cover your cords, make them look great! By covering your electrical cords with Washi tape or affixing them to the wall in artistic designs, you can create cords you will actually want to look at.

Collection Spotlight: NBF Signature Series Tabella Collection

Our exclusive NBF Signature Series Tabella collection brings together a variety of desks and tables suitable for any office or conference space. Whether you're looking for a conference table to fit your new conference room, an adjustable height desk for your health-conscious office or simply a collaborative standing height table in your open plan space, the Tabella collection is on-hand to make your decision a little easier.

NBF's Partnership with CF Stinson

When outfitting a healthcare facility with new furniture, the safety of the space needs to be at the forefront of the designer's mind. Seating needs to be easy and safe to clean above all, and often times this focus on patient health forces other considerations such as aesthetics out of the picture. But should you sacrifice good looks in your healthcare facility? Studies show that the aesthetics of a space have a lot to do with the wellbeing of patients and guests in your medical facility and can drastically affect his or her mental state of being during their stay. That's why NBF has partnered with textile maker CF Stinson to offer healthcare customers safe furniture options with an attractive look. Here are some of the benefits of choosing healthcare furniture in a CF Stinson upholstery.

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