Phyllis Wangui

How to clean a pool table felt A pool table is a worthy long-term investment. Replacement of a damaged pool table felt cost a fortune. It also requires calling in an expert to help with the fixing and this comes with a cost. A pool table felt It is your pride of joy and its where you hold your social events. You might have friends come over for a party and invite them over to the pool to play a game. Spills might happen but before you grab a piece of cloth to wipe, there are set of procedures you need to follow. In addition your pool table requires everyday maintenance.A nicely maintained pool table will last long and could also genuinely earn you good bucks. Being the most sensitive part of the pool table and one that wears out first. It can honestly prevent your recreation of a game of billiards. You can’t play your quality game on a dirty felt that is not up to the mission. Cleaning a pool table felt requires paying attention to detail. You can clean it yourself or can source authorized pool cleaners externally. Before you start cleaning your pool table felt, it’s important to have proper tools. Also, identify the stains. Stains need to be dealt with typically different. For easier to clean, you can use some water and vinegar but for the stubborn, you can use some detergents. Below is a list of items needed to clean the felt: Pool table brush comes with the pool table. It’s specifically meant for cleaning the felt. It has smooth bristles which are mild. Should you not have a pool brush, you can order one from your local store or online stores. Vacuum cleaner. Soft damp cloth Soft dry cloth Dust brush A detergent ( recommended chalk off detergent) Rail brush Cleaning procedure Using the vacuum cleaner clean all the small pieces of dirt on top of the felt. You can use a hand held vacuum or a standard vacuum with a hose attachment. Vacuum carefully under the bumpers using a narrow nozzle attachment where dirt and dust are likely to accumulate. After you are done with vacuuming, use the pool table brush to clean the small pieces left over towards the pockets at the end. Starting in the Centre, brush the dirt outwards towards the edge of the table for easier collection. Brush with straight strokes, don’t use circular motions, Circular motions will only remove the dirt but end up damaging the felt. Use light strokes. Now vacuum the entire table using a wide rectangular attachment and run it from one end of the table to the other in long strips. Again don’t run in circles. Use light pressure. The vacuum should not have much sucking power to prevent pulling at the fibers of the felt and cause problems. If the vacuum is strong don’t put it directly onto the felt to reduce some of the force. Work on the rails. For small pieces of dirt that collects at the rail, use a rail brush. Brush the rails of your pool table using a clean pool broom. Make sure you are using short quick strokes to avoid damaging the felts. At the minimum this step should be done once a week thou it’s advisable to do it immediatelly after playing a game. If there are any spills use a white towel on the spill immediately this happens to prevent the spill from soaking the felt. Gently dab at the spot with the damp towel without applying much pressure on the spot. Never scrub at the spot because this will mess up the felt. After blotting the stain, dab with a dry towel to help dry fast and allow time to dry If the stain is stubborn, use put some vinegar or lemon in water and dab the stain. If this does not remove the stain, then use a cleaning detergent specifically for pool table. Don’t use carpet cleaner detergents as this can damage the felt. People often chalk their cure over the top of the table, but the grittiness of the chalk can slowly wear away the felt. Should there be chalk marks then use a detergent specifically meant for cleaning the marks. Also always make sure your guests don’t place beer or drinks bottles on top of the felt. You can prevent there by having shelves near the pool area where they can place their drinks. Always have rules in place, gently tell the pool users not to chalk over the table. While not in use, always cover the pool table. Buy yourself a pool table cover, or a clean sheet or blanket. Keep away debris and other items off the pool table. This way will ensure that your pool table felt damage is minimized. Helpful mentions: Don’t clean with an abrasive brush. This will cause damage to the pool table felt. Use a specified detergent for cleaning carpets. This can be purchase online or form yoy local stores. Don’t clean in circular motions. This will damage the pool table felt as explained above. Never use heat, warm water or a blow dryer when cleaning a pool table felt. Heat normally causes the stain to set in and becomes stubborn. You can use steamers form maintenance but always make sure there are no stains. In extreme circumstances you can have the no beer policy thou this might spoil the fun and might not go well with the guests, a glass of water can be an alternative. Water will highly unlikely damage the felt. In conclusion should you feel you are not confident enough to clean a pool table felt, simply don’t take the risk. You might end up second guessing and probably damage you pool table. Always seek out for a professional. Let your guests adhere to the rules of not placing debris, chalks or beer bottles on the pool table felt and this will go a long way in preserving your investment.