Last Updated: 01.05.26
Stairlifts can provide a vital mobility aid in houses, helping you move around your home safely and independently. Still, these mechanical products must remain in good condition so they continue to function as required.
As with any piece of equipment with moving parts, especially motorised ones, keeping them well-maintained is key to ensuring they remain in proper working order and don’t become noisy, stiff, or unreliable over time.
Knowing how to maintain your stairlift can be hard if you’ve got no prior mechanical or maintenance experience. However, once you know a few simple things to follow, it’s actually quite straightforward and most people can manage it without much trouble.
Here are some top tips for keeping your stairlift in good working order. And remember always to perform these tasks when the stairlift chair is at the bottom of the stairs and powered off, for safety and peace of mind.
Always Read The Manual
Before attempting any maintenance or cleaning of your stairlift, make sure you read the manual provided with it. This will usually give specific maintenance instructions and a clear list of tasks you should and shouldn’t carry out.
It’s not just paperwork; it’s specific to your model.
Clean It Regularly
Cleaning your stairlift is absolutely vital from a maintenance perspective and many would say from a hygiene perspective as well. To keep it in good working order, a regular dusting is very important, as build-ups can lead to stiffness or reduced smoothness over time.
You can use a slightly damp cloth on the seat and the rail to remove any dust or light dirt. Ideally, do this once a week if you can. It doesn’t take long and it helps prevent small issues from turning into bigger ones later.
Lubrication
Periodically lubricating the track of a stairlift is very important. Always do this after you have cleaned it, ensuring no dust or debris is left behind, as mixing the two can cause build-up. It usually only needs lubrication every 2–3 months at most.
It’s important to apply only a very small amount of lubricant to the track and not apply any at all to the chain. Too much can actually make things worse, leading to slipping or uneven movement.
The idea of lubricating the track is to keep it running smoothly, not to make it slippery.
Lubricating your stairlift can be quite fiddly, so if you’re older or struggle with your hands, it’s probably a good idea to ask a friend or relative to help you with this—no need to struggle through it.
Regular Servicing
Whether you buy your stairlift new or second-hand, you will almost certainly be offered a service plan for it. It’s highly recommended that you take this out and arrange annual checks at the very least. It’s one of those things that removes worry in the background.
This means that a professional, experienced engineer will visit you every 12 months to inspect the equipment and carry out maintenance tasks, ensuring everything remains in full working order and spotting small issues before they become costly problems.
Avoid Solvents & Bleach
Whatever you do, you should never use solvents, bleach or other strong household cleaning products on your stairlift. Stick to a damp cloth at most; this is enough to remove dust, dirt and general build-up without damaging surfaces.
Using bleach or solvents can damage the equipment and may even void your warranty, leaving you with an unsafe and expensive problem on your hands. It’s just not worth the risk.
If In Doubt, Speak To An Expert
If you cannot perform maintenance tasks yourself, or if you have any doubts whatsoever about what you are trying to do (or should be doing), then it’s best to speak to a professional about your stairlift.
These are important pieces of equipment that support your safety and mobility, so it’s better to ask than to guess and risk damaging something.
Our Professional Maintenance & Servicing
Our team has a wealth of experience in cleaning, maintaining and servicing stairlifts. If you would like us to service yours, or if you have a question you would like answered, why not contact us today? We will be only too happy to help.
You can call us directly on 0151 525 3610 or complete our quick enquiry form here and one of our friendly team members will be more than happy to call you back at a time that’s convenient for you.