How To Clean Pool Table Felt (Chalk, Pet Hair & Stains)

For a more detailed step by step guide to help you clean pool table felt and get rid of stubborn stains, or frustrating marks simply keep reading or pick the type of stain removal for you from the table of content – happy cleaning. 

Cleaning Chalk off the Pool Table Felt

Pool table felt care is of the upmost importance and knowing how to get chalk off pool table felt is the main thing to learn. It’s recommended to remove pool chalk from the table felt by brushing it away, ensuring the brush is a professional pool table brush. 

I would recommend using one regularly. Cleaning pool table felt properly is something that can’t be underestimated, knowing how to use a pool table brush is a tool all pool table owners should have and use. 

The first lesson, on knowing how to clean pool table felt; is cleaning the chalk from it.

Grooming your table is an important step in looking after your table as chalk residue left on the table can harm the baize and affect your game.

Important to find the cloth nap when using a pool table brush:

If you are using a woolen cloth, you will have a nap, which is the direction it is weaved. If you have a worsted cloth then your wont have a nap.

To find the nap of your woolen cloth, simply feel the table cloth

• If its smooth then that’s the direction to brush.
• If there is a little spikey resistance then that’s against the nap and don’t brush that direction
• Always check all the rails and playing surface to find the naps directions and brush with the nap – never against it. The playing surface is usually brushed from top to bottom, but always check. 
• Brushing with the nap will cause it less stress on the cloth. 

how to clean chalk off pool table felt

We will walk you through, step-by-step how to remove and clean chalk from your pool table felt using a pool table pool brush (Amazon link) or if you wanted a deeper then you could try cloth using a professional cleaner (Amazon link). 

What you will need:

How to clean chalk off pool table felt using a table brush

1. If you have a woolen cloth, identify the direction of the nap on the playing surface and all the rails (directions on how to find the nap above).
2. Brush the whole of the playing surface of the table, towards the nap, usually from top to bottom. Brush all of the playing surface towards the other side of the table.
3. Now identify the nap direction of the top rail then brush towards the nap, not against the nap. Brush all the chalk from the top of the rail into the pocket.
4. Using the longer bristles on the end of the brush, brush the underside of the rail cushion, again going with the nap, and brush all the chalk into the pocket.
5. Repeat the process for all rail cushions, top and bottom making sure to identify the nap on all rails – brush chalk into the pockets.
6. Finished

• How to clean a pool table brush? – Away from the table you can tap and shake off any excess chalk from the brush. 

There is another simple way that won’t just evacuate chalk but also clean pool table felt, too. That is to use a spray on professional baize cleaner and then wipe off using a microfiber cloth.

This is a great and quick way to clean your table but for even better results you can first use the brush then use the Davide Hodges Quick Clean Pool Table Felt Cleaner Spray to get the best results when cleaning the chalk and other dust and dirt from your cloth.

How to clean chalk off pool table felt using a professional cleaner

1. Raise your hand a few feet above the table and spray the whole of the table using the professional cleaner – just a very quick thin layer (whole spraying process about 5-6 seconds) 
2. Take your microfiber cloth and remove the cleaner from the table and rails. You will be able to see some chalk and dust and dirt on the cloth as you remove the cleaner.
3. Remove all the cleaner and you’re set

Remove Pet Hair from the pool table felt

If you have a pool table and have pets knowing how to clean pool table cloth from pet hair is something you’ll need to learn sooner or later.

Some people may think that removing pet hair from pool table felt is a difficult task, but it doesn’t have to be! There are a few simple steps you can take to make sure your pool table felt is free of pet hair.

Anyone who has cats or dogs will know that their fur gets everywhere, including on your pool table cloth.

I have some easy steps to follow so you will know how to get dog hair off pool table cloth easily and effectively. 

How to get dog hair off pool table

What you will need:

Using a lint roller can be an easy fix to remove pet hair but if used a lot it can harm the felt. the secont guide on how to remove pet hair offpool table is a great way that doesnt ruine your table at all.

How to get dog hair off pool table

1. Roll the lint roller over the table cloth, be sure to roll over the rails, too.
2. You can also continue using the lint roller over the rest of the table frame to get rid of any pet fur there

How to remove pet hair off pool table

1. Put a pair of kitchen gloves.
2. Stand over the pool table and rub your hands together, the static will attract the pet hair to the gloves.
3. Repeat till the whole pool table is pet hair free.

Clearing Stains off the Felt

With regards to drinking, eating and playing a round of pool simultaneously, stains will surely occur. That’s why is always recommended to keep any food or drink away from your table and remember to wash your hands before playing.

A beverage sitting on the table rails dribbles on the felt, or a someone carelessly dropping a gooey tidbit chip on the table that leaves a brilliant orange spot on your non-orange pool table.

The requirement of a delicate cleaning is needed here. A mixture of water and vinegar is a good home remedy to clean with as it refrains from harming the baize.

How to clean pool table felt stains

What you will need:

how to clean stains off pool table felt

1. Blot the spilled substance up at the earliest opportunity with a microfiber cloth. Keep blotting with cold water using a fresh area of the cloth. Blot until you’ve evacuated the stain to the extent of possibility. On the off chance that the spill is a food item, for example, salsa, collect as much as you can while cleaning from the outside of the spill toward the middle.
2. Wash a microfiber cloth in cold water, then rinse it out. Spot the stained region with the cloth without scouring the stain, as this may harm the felt. Wash the cloth once more – you can use new cloths if you have them.
3. Add a couple of caps full of white vinegar to a cup’s worth of cold tap water and mix the mixture together.  Spot the stained region with the vinegar mixture.
4. Wash the cloth out in mixture and spot the affected region again until the stain evaporates.
5. Enable the felt to dry totally before utilizing the pool table.
6. If it’s still there once the felt dries, spot it again with a vinegar and water mixture, then allow it to dry totally.

Stubborn stains may be harder to remove. You can keep trying this method or even a professional cleaner (Amazon link) as listed above but there may be a chance that the stain to too stubborn and wont be removed. If that’s the case then you can eater forget about it or consider getting a new pool table cloth.

Remove Grease off the felt

Removing grease from pool table felt can be difficult but one of the best ways is to apply baking soda onto the stain. Attempt with caution, grease is very stubborn to remove. 

How to clean pool grease out of billiard felt

What you will need:

How to clean pool grease out of billiard felt

1. Place the powder of cornstarch or baking soda on the spots of grease.
2. Allow it to sit in the powder for about 15 minutes.
3. After that, cautiously using a vac (not with a standard vacuum) on a low setting as not to harm or stretch the felt; clean residue. 

Remove Bad Smells – such as smoke from the felt

The smell of smoke can be hard to expel when things can’t be washed. In these cases, it might take additional time to remove. Look over the rundown below to discover an alternative that works for you.

Letting your felt air out might be the best option here but there are other ways you can also try to remove any lingering bad smells from your pool table felt.

How to remove bad smells from billiard felt

What you will need:

How to remove bad smells from billiard felt (Part 1)

1. When things can’t be washed or laundered, now  and again the best way to evacuate the smell is to let them air out.
2. Open a window. If possible. but consider the moisture levels, don’t want the table getting too much moisture, especially if its an MDF bed.

How to remove bad smells from billiard felt (Part 2)

1. You could try spraying Febreze fabric refresher onto it.

How to clean Simonis pool table felt

Simonis is a popular cloth for pool tables. So many people ask how to clean simonis pool table felt?

If you do have simonis felt or most other pool table cloths, you can use the Simonis X-1 pool table cleaning tool (Amazon link) It works by creating static so chalk and other dust and dirt adheres to the tool. 

Its shape and design means it can glide over the surface of the table and fit under the cushion rails where a lot of the chalk will gather.

How to clean Simonis pool table felt

1. Hold onto the cork handle and glide the tool over the felt.
2. Cover the whole of the table and top of the rails and under the cushion.
3. Continue until all the chalk and dust is removed 

• To clean the Simonis X-1 cleaning tool, you can simply use a vacuum cleaner extension tool to gently suck the chalk off the pad. 
• You can also tap the excess chalk off the tool if needed.

Removing beer stains out of pool table felt

Most of us love a cold beer while shooting some pool! Unfortunately accidents do happen but they seem to happen more often after a few beers. 

Spilling beer on a pool table cloth can cause will consern. IF not cleaned the right way it may make things even worse.

Following these steps will help ensure the quality of the table cloth and remove the wet strains of the beer. 

How to get beer stains out of pool table felt

What you will need:

How to get beer stains out of pool table felt

1. If the beer stains have not dried, use some kitchen towels to dab the excess beer first.
2. Next, mix a few caps of white vinegar in some warm water.
3. Using a microfiber cloth or kitchen towel, dab the mixture on the beer stain – Important to dab gentle and not rub the stain.
4. Repeat this process until satisfied you have covered and dabbed the whole stain.
5. Allow pool table felt to dry and come back to inspect. If the stain still is there, repeat the process. 

• You could also try Suzo Happ Pool Table Cloth Felt Cleaner (Amazon link)to clean more stubborn stains out of your cloth

Additional Cleaning

Clean the balls

At the point, when you might be routinely looking after on your pool table, you should take a couple of moments to clean the pool balls.

Cleaning them with a fabric dampen down with warm water will be sufficient for fast cleaning.

Once in a while, give them an increasingly thorough wash. The availability of special products that will evacuate oils and different kinds of dirt that can’t be cleaned away by water.  

Clean the wooden structure

Realizing how to clean a pool table is significant and not hard to learn. The wooden supporting structure can be kept up like some other bit of fine furnishings. Any unmistakable soil or spills ought to be cleared off promptly with a clean, scarcely clammy fabric.

Occasionally, polish the wood (Amazon link) with a citrus-based finish to help clean and protect the wooden rails and legs. Obviously this won’t need doing all the time, but it’s worth doing every now and again to keep your table in its best order. 

Clean the pockets

Table pockets in a pool or snooker table are quite often produced using leather. The ones that are not are commonly business style plastic drop pockets that require no upkeep other than an occasional wipe down with a damp cloth. 

Leather ones, on the other hand, may require some attention. You can use a leather cleaner to clean against oils and grime left from the balls and from greasy hands when being touched. 

Ways to prevent felt from harm

There are a number of ways to help prevent hard coming to your prized possession.

• Firstly, take care of your pool table. it’s expensive and hold considerable value – so look after it.
• Avoid eating and drink at the table.
• Avoid having the table in direct sunlight.
• Invest in a good pool table protective cover.
• Chalk away from the table.
• Clean your pool balls and give occasional table cleaning such as brushing down the baize

Follow these pointers and your table will be better off for it.

Can you vacuum the felt on a pool table

The short answer is yes, you can vacuum the felt on a pool table to clean it of dust and chalk. However, there are a few things you should keep in mind when doing so.

First and foremost, make sure that the vacuum you’re using is low-powered. If you use a high-powered vacuum, you run the risk of sucking up and stretching the felt and damaging it.

Second, use a soft brush attachment when vacuuming. This will help to remove any dust or debris without causing any damage to the felt.

Lastly, never use any type of chemical cleaner on pool table felt. Chemicals can damage the felt, and may even cause the colors to fade.

If you follow these simple tips, you can clean your pool table felt without causing any damage. Vacuuming is a safe and easy way to keep your table looking its best.

What is the best pool table felt cleaner

David Hodges quick clean is also environmentally friendly, making it a great choice for those who care about the planet.

David Hodges quick clean is easy to use. Simply spray it on the cloth and let it sit for a few minutes. The dirt, chalk and dust will lift right off, and your table will be looking clean and new again. It will also take care of some lighter stains on your felt – pretty awesome stuff!

How to brush pool table felt

When brushing your pool table felt, it’s important to use a soft brush. This will help to remove any dust or debris without causing any damage to the felt.

You should also make sure that you brush in the direction of the nap of the cloth. This will ensure that all of the dirt and debris is removed, and that the felt is properly cleaned.

If you brush the table in the wrong direction, you may end up pushing the dirt and debris further into the felt, which will make it harder to clean later on.

Knowing how to clean pool table felt includes Brushing it regularly.  It’s a quick and easy way to keep it looking clean and new.

Conclusion

On the off chance that you appreciate playing pool, you will need to play on a surface that performs well. Realizing how to clean pool table felt, the wooden casing, and the balls will empower you to set your own norms for tidiness and quality.

Now, as you have come across ways to clean the felt, be it a stain,  residue, dust pr even pet hair, You can now surely clean the felt without damaging it. This will give your pool table a new life over and over again as you clean it. 

I hope, this guide has helped you and provided the complete information that you might have been looking for.