How to Clean a Pool Table Felt — Dos and Don’ts

Why Felt Care Matters

The cloth covering a pool table is one of its most performance-sensitive components. Chalk dust, ball residue, and debris accumulate with every game and gradually slow the cloth surface, create rough patches, and cause balls to deviate from their intended path. Regular cleaning extends the life of your cloth significantly — and a quality worsted cloth can last 5–10 years with proper maintenance.

Tools You Need

• A dedicated pool table brush (firm horsehair or nylon bristles, shaped to reach rails)
• A pool table vacuum with a soft brush head — or a handheld vacuum on the lowest suction setting
• Clean, dry microfibre cloths for spot cleaning
• A specialist cloth cleaner spray (optional, for stains)

Do not use a standard household vacuum with strong suction — it can pull up cloth fibres and cause pilling.

How to Brush Pool Table Felt

Brushing is the core routine task and should be done after every session:

1. Always brush in one direction — from the baulk end toward the top cushion (the same direction the cloth is laid). Brushing against the nap raises fibres and causes pilling.
2. Use long, steady strokes from one end of the table to the other. Do not scrub back and forth.
3. Brush the cushion rails separately with the narrower end of the brush, again in a consistent direction.
4. Collect the debris at the end of the table and remove it — do not push it off the side rails.

The whole process takes under two minutes and makes a measurable difference to ball roll over time.

Vacuuming the Cloth

Vacuuming removes finer chalk dust that brushing cannot lift. Use it monthly or whenever the cloth surface looks chalky despite brushing:

• Use the lowest suction setting your vacuum allows.
• Attach a soft brush head — bare nozzles catch on cloth fibres.
• Move in the same direction as brushing (baulk to top).
• Keep the head flat and moving — do not press down or pause in one spot.

Spot Cleaning Stains

Liquid spills are the number one cloth killer. Act immediately:

1. Blot — never rub. Use a clean dry cloth and press down firmly to absorb the liquid. Rubbing spreads the stain and drives it deeper into the fibres.
2. Work from the outside in to avoid spreading the stain boundary.
3. For stubborn marks, apply a small amount of specialist cloth cleaner to a damp (not wet) cloth and blot gently. Allow to air dry completely before playing.

Never apply any liquid directly to the cloth surface. Saturating the cloth can loosen the adhesive binding it to the slate and cause bubbling or separation.

What to Avoid

• Eating or drinking over the table — one spill can ruin a cloth entirely.
• Sitting on the rails or slate — the weight deforms the cushion rubber and can warp slate panels.
• Using household cleaning sprays (kitchen cleaner, glass cleaner) — these leave residues that affect ball roll and can bleach the cloth dye.
• Brushing against the nap — this cannot be overstated; it is the most common DIY mistake.

How Often to Clean

Brush after every session. Vacuum monthly. Deep clean with spot treatment only as needed. Combine with regular cleaning of your billiard balls — dirty balls are the primary source of chalk and oil transferred to the cloth surface. If your cloth has heavy wear, look through our buyer guides for replacement cloth recommendations and full table options. Our billiards equipment articles cover maintenance topics in full.