Dinette Chairs

Most antique dinette chairs have a chrome frame and have been covered in vinyl, a new, space-age material in the 1950s when dinette chairs first became popular. They often come in primary colors, red or blue or yellow, evoking the diners from which they take their name and style. However, dinette chairs can be found in many funky colors fashionable at the time such as poodle-skirt pink and cut-grass green. If you’re lucky, you’ll be able to pick up dinette chairs with the sparkly vinyl.

Original dinette chairs in good condition are hard to come by. Vinyl is such a durable material that many people figured they didn’t need to take any special care of the chairs. And, not surprisingly, vinyl dinette chairs were subject to abuse by kids or outside use. If you find a dinette chair that appears to be in good condition, double check it. Vinyl can hide small cracks in the seams of the chairs and you’ll want to avoid discoloration. This could be a sign that the chair has been outside for a long period of time and sun damage is very difficult, if not impossible, to repair.

Once you’ve found good dinette chairs, you can continue to use them in your home. Remember, though, vinyl dinette chairs only seem indestructible. Dinette chairs, like all other furniture, need some care and maintenance, especially if they are older. The best thing to do for your chairs is to keep them out of sunlight. Do not position them in front of a window that gets strong sunlight. The light will cause the vinyl to dry and crack and it will cause the color to fade. If need be, cover the chairs with dining chair covers.

Vinyl dinette chairs need to be cleaned regularly. Ideally the chairs should be wiped down with a damp cloth after each use. Once a month, sponge them down with a mildly soapy detergent. Be sure to rinse the chairs as soap residue will dry the vinyl and accumulate dirt.  Every couple of months the chairs should get a deep cleaning and conditioning. Wash them with a mildly soapy detergent, but take care to clean the in the seams of the vinyl with a cotton swab; most cracks start in the seams. If the chair needs a deep scrubbing, use a medium-soft brush. To condition the vinyl, treat it with a vinyl conditioner made for automotive vinyl. Do not use wax or silicone based vinyl cleaners.

Vinyl dinette chairs from the 1950s and 1960s are pretty durable, and some of them are just plain pretty. If you find dinette chairs in the right condition and then maintain them properly, they’ll last long enough to become antiques just like those embroidered footstools and delicate tea tables.