Luckily cleaning and maintaining your pool table isn’t hard or expensive to do. If you have a few bucks to spare and about 15 minutes a week, you can keep your pool table clean with little effort. In this article were going to show you how clean a pool table step by step. Keep reading to learn how to do it!
Preventative Measures
Preventative Measures
The best way to keep your pool table clean is to minimize the potential for mess. Here are a few things you can do to reduce the amount of time you’ll have to spend cleaning your pool table.
Ways Not To Clean
Never use a vacuum with a beater bar, household cleaners, or excessive water on your pool table felt. All three will damage or shrink the cloth.
Ways Not To Clean
A sudden mess, like a spilled drink, can cause a pool table owner to switch into crisis mode, with quick and sudden reactions that sometimes may do more harm than good. Imagine the frustration of tending to a situation with the life of your pool-table hanging in the balance, only to find you’ve caused further damage.
Proper vacuuming of the felt will be discussed in the following section, but you should NEVER use a full-size, carpet vacuum on your felt. This tool will tug at the felt and cause it to stretch and develop wrinkles. Wrinkles will obviously impede the functionality of the felt, but even without wrinkles, the stretching of the felt can cause inconsistencies in the texture by causing some parts to be thinner than others, severely affecting the billiard balls’ movement and making playing a relaxing game of pool a frustrating experience instead. Keep it tight; keep it right.
Cleaning the Felt
Cleaning the Felt
While full-size vacuums are to certainly be avoided, small hand-vacuums are amazing tools for daily dusting maintenance. Once you’ve brushed the surface and loosened the dust from the fiber, use a small hand-vac to go over the surface, without dragging it along the felt. Try your best to keep the vacuum right above the felt and try to avoid much contact. Do not apply pressure to the felt; forcing embedded debris up through the felt can damage the felt over time. Keep the vacuum moving. Holding it over one area in an attempt to “get it all up” risks heat damage.
Spills
Spills
Even with the most careful of circumstances, pool tables are always under threat from beverage spills. As with most messes, a timely response will substantially reduce potential damage; liquid can soak through the felt and soak into the wood below.
Stains
Stains
While timely response is best, we do not live in a perfect world and sometimes spills can occur without our knowledge, leaving stains. Stains should be treated with the same care ass pills, blotting, not scrubbing, the target area.
Cleaning the Rails
Be sure to let the area air-dry after using a dry micro-fiber towel to absorb as much liquid as you can without scrubbing the area. Remember to avoid using light or heat based drying practices. Continue blotting the area with your vinegar and water mixture as many times as necessary to remove the stain. Tough stains may require several attempts but resorting to other methods risks permanently damage.
Cleaning the Rails
Cleaning the Pockets
Cleaning the Pockets
The best way to remove dust from the pockets is with the hose extension from a vacuum or a shop-vac. Dust and debris that have accumulated in the pockets can get on the billiard balls and transfer dirt and grime to the felt during game play.
In Conclusion
Wiping the pockets down with a lightly dampened microfiber cloth is a great way to keep the pockets clean as well. If your table has leather pockets, it is recommended that you use an oil-based product bi-annually to keep them from hardening.
In Conclusion
You can extend the life of your table and avoid costly repairs by keeping your beautiful, expensive billiards table maintained and clean. Whether using your pool table for personal enjoyment or to entertain guests, a well-maintained pool table will improve your experience and allow the game to function without frustrating or annoying interruption. Long live your table!
Worth checking out: If you’re shopping for a solid home table, take a look at the Barrington Billiards 7.5ft Table on Amazon.
FAQ
What tool should I use to clean pool table felt?
Use a small hand-vacuum or soft brush to remove dust. Never use a full-size carpet vacuum, which stretches and wrinkles the felt. Keep the vacuum above the felt and avoid applying pressure.
How do I remove a spill from a pool table?
Blot the spill immediately with a microfiber cloth. Don’t scrub. If needed, use a mixture of water and white vinegar, continuing to blot until the stain is gone.
Can I use household cleaners like Windex on my pool table?
No, avoid household cleaners. Stick to blotting with water, vinegar solutions, or specialized felt cleaners. Harsh chemicals can damage the felt permanently.
How often should I clean my pool table?
Brush the felt lightly after every few games. Do a more thorough cleaning weekly if you play regularly. Clean the rails and pockets as needed when you notice dust or debris.
What’s the best way to prevent pool table damage?
Use coasters for drinks, avoid eating near the table, keep it covered when not in use, and brush the felt gently after play. Regular maintenance prevents costly repairs.
Related Articles
For more on this topic, check out pool table felt guide, best felt color, how long felt lasts, refelting costs, and ironing pool table felt.
Check out our top-rated gear picks — selected and reviewed by billiards enthusiasts.