Keeping your pool table in good condition is important if you want to ensure that it lasts a long time.
Your pool table should be cleaned properly to avoid damage. Using the wrong procedure can cause damage to it in the long run.
Many people iron their pool table felt to keep it in impeccable condition.
But, is it safe? Read on to get the answer in this article!
Is It Safe to Iron a Pool Felt?
A Pool table felt is a versatile fabric that is used in many products, including jewelry. The material is made using a special technique that involves pressure, heat, and matting to compress the fibers.
A pool felt should be ironed using low settings. You may damage the felt if the iron is too hot – above 148 degrees C (300 degrees F). An iron that is specially made for pool tables can ensure the right temperature for safely ironing the fabric.
Prior to ironing the felt, you need to clean the iron surface to ensure that there is no dirt or stains. The fabric can get damaged if there are stains on the surface of the iron.
The stains can get absorbed by the felt that may negatively affect the ball movement on the surface. To avoid damage to the pool table felt, you should remove them using the tips mentioned in the next section.
How to Take Proper Care of Your Pool Table Felt
Taking care of your pool felt is important to ensure a smooth playing surface.
Proper care and cleaning of the table felt can also extend the life of the fabric. Let’s take a look at some tips for taking proper care of your pool table felt.
Brush the Table
Brushing a pool table felt is recommended to clear dirt and other debris from it. Make sure to use a nylon bristle brush for cleaning the felt.
You should use an appropriate size brush for cleaning your pool table. A nine-inch brush is suitable for small pool tables, while a larger twelve-inch brush is suitable for cleaning larger tables.
Start brushing the table from the head of the table that has the name-plate. You need to brush in one direction from the head to the foot of the table to avoid any damage to the pool cloth.
Brushing the pool felt in only one direction may result in less stress on the felt. Avoid placing too much pressure when brushing as it can damage the felt.
You should use as much pressure when brushing as is required to lightly brush off the dirt from the surface.
Selecting the right brush for cleaning is important. Lint brushes are recommended as they don’t pull on the felt significantly. The brush can also reach hard-to-reach places easily, allowing you to thoroughly clean the pool table.
Vacuum the Felt
Vacuuming your pool table felt will help remove dust, pet dander, and chalk that cannot be easily removed with brushing.
Similar to brushing the felt, you should vacuum the surface in one direction. A brush with soft hairs should be attached to the nozzle of the vacuum cleaner.
Avoid using a vacuum cleaner with rotating bristles or a straight suction. This is important to avoid stretching and pulling the felt.
You should vacuum the felt every few weeks or whenever there is a buildup of dirt and debris on the cloth.
Remove Tough Stains
Use a damp cloth is recommended for removing tough stains or stab marks from the felt. You can also use a hoover to clean the fabric and remove dust and caulk that cannot be removed with a brush.
Small-sized vacuum cleaners are best for removing dirt and dust. You should consider using the device on a low setting to prevent damaging the felt.
Move the vacuum in a long, straight movement and avoid circular movements as it can damage the felt.
Ironing the Felt
You should iron the table felt after removing dirt and stains from the surface. Iron the table felt carefully to avoid damage to the surface.
Always use a professional iron tool to smooth out the surface. You can use a domestic iron but it should be kept at a low-temperature setting, and without steam.
Iron the table felt in a uniform manner. This is important to avoid any damage to the surface of the ball. You should take your time and slowly iron the pool table felt.
Ironing the surface using the recommended setting will help smoothen the surface and positively affect the movement of the pool balls.
You should also take care that the iron does not touch the cushion of the pool table. Iron can burn the rubber cushion upon contact. Additionally, do not iron the surface for too long as it can reduce the shine of the felt.
Sprinkling water before ironing the felt can damage the surface.
Turn off the steam if using a traditional iron. Also, the iron should be in a wool setting to avoid damage to the surface.
Try the iron in a newspaper before ironing. If the newspaper gets burned, the same will happen to the felt.
Some Tips to Extend the Life of the Pool Table Felt
Taking certain measures can extend the life of your pool table felt.
Brush Frequently to Prevent Pilling
Pilling refers to the appearance of fuzz balls on the pool table cloth. This usually happens nylon with or blended wool fabrics. Piling negatively affects the ball movement on the table. You can avoid piling by brushing the table frequently.
Generally, pilling does not happen with a table cloth made of worsted wool since it features a tighter weave with no short strands.
The cloth fabric is also easier to clean as compared to a pool table cloth made of nylon of blended wool.
Keep the Pool Table Covered
Make sure to keep the pool table covered to reduce the accumulation of dust and dirt. Consider using a nylon or plastic cloth on the table. This will prevent dust and other debris from accumulating on the surface.
For maximum protection, you can use a Naugahyde cover.
The cover will not only protect the surface but also the rails of the pool table. This is highly recommended for the pool table in the house with pets.
The cover will prevent pets from scratching the surface of the pool.
Place the Table Away from Sunlight
Another important piece of advice to extend the life of the pool felt is to avoid placing the pool table directly in direct sunlight (in case you decide to place the pool table outside).
The sun’s ultraviolet light can damage the pool surface, resulting in color fading over time. You should keep the curtains over the windows when playing pool during the day.
Apply Conditioning Product to Table Pockets
Pool table pockets are generally made from leather. The pockets can crack and dry out over time similar to any other products made of leather.
To extend the life of the pool table pocket, you should apply a conditioning product to the external pocket, including the backseat.
When applying the conditioner, you should take care that it doesn’t come into contact with the pool table felt. The conditioner should be applied every six months or more frequently in areas with dryer climates.
Reduce White Spots on the Table Cloth
White spots on the table cloth generally occur due to miss-cueing.
In case a player strikes the ball too low, the cue sick can slip damaging the pool cloth. Miss-cueing the ball removes fibers due to friction and burns the cloth. The burn marks appear as white spots on the pool table cloth.
A pool table cloth with high wool content like Simonis and Brunswick can reduce the appearance of white marks.
Moreover, pool balls made of phenolic resins, such as Aramith pool balls are more resistant to wear and tear at high temperatures as compared to the cheaper polyester balls.
Summing it Up
A pool table felt can be ironed to smooth out the crease. But you need to take special care when ironing and cleaning the felt. Make sure that the iron is not too hot to avoid damage to the felt.
You can use a specialized pool table iron that has the right temperature setting for the pool table felt.
Clean the table properly before ironing out the surface. Dust and caulk on the surface should be cleaned and stains removed before ironing the surface of the table.
If the surface is not cleaned properly prior to ironing, it can damage the surface.
Other articles you may like:
- Why Are Pool Tables Green (or Blue in some cases)?
- What Size Is a Bar Pool Table?
- How to Tell If Pool Table Is Slate?
- Can You Stand On a Pool Table (or Billiard Table)?
