Looking After Folding Tables and Chairs: A Storage and Maintenance Guide

Folding tables and chairs are built for repeat use, but only if they are looked after between bookings. Here is what actually extends their working life, with full detail in our Storage and Maintenance Guide.

Folding mechanisms

Check the folding legs lock fully flat and fully open every few uses, a mechanism that is not clicking into place properly is usually dirt or grit in the hinge rather than a fault. A dry wipe and a drop of light oil on the hinge pin sorts most of these.

Cleaning the finish

Our electroplated steel frames and faux leather seat pads are wipe-clean, a damp cloth after each event is enough for most finishes. Avoid soaking faux leather or leaving tables wet and stacked, moisture trapped between stacked surfaces is the most common cause of finish damage we see.

Stacking and storage

Store folded tables and chairs flat or upright on a trolley rather than leaning stacked against a wall, uneven weight distribution over time can warp folding legs. A chair trolley keeps stacks square and makes loading a van faster than carrying chairs individually.

Dry storage

Keep steel-framed furniture somewhere dry between bookings. Electroplating resists surface corrosion, but standing water or permanently damp storage will eventually get through any plating.

When to replace

A wobbly frame that does not tighten back up, or a folding mechanism that will not lock flat even after cleaning, is worth replacing rather than persisting with, it is a trip hazard at an event. See our tables and chairs ranges for direct replacements.