Regular cleaning is essential if you want your pool table to look great. This will keep your pool table in great shape and make it much more fun to play on. The best way to achieve this is with a brush.
You can find brushes designed specifically for cleaning felt pool tables at your local billiards supply store. These brushes are gentle on felt and can remove dust and lint. If you don’t have the funds to buy a special brush, you can use your regular household one. But be careful! Too many hard strokes can cause damage.
Steam cleaners are another option for cleaning your pool table's surface. While steamers can remove stains from felt, they can also set them. You can also use equal parts water and white vinegar to remove stains. You should let the stain dry completely before you start to work with it.
Pool table felt is not as strong as regular felt, so you should be careful not to damage it. Most players will clean their tables at most once a week. For serious players, it is recommended to clean your tables more often.
Next, clean the pockets after you have removed the stains. Before you start working with felt, it is a good idea vacuum the rails and pockets. For cleaning them, you'll need a damp or soft cloth as well as a vacuum crevice device.
A soft, lintless cloth should be used to clean up any spillages. Avoid using paper towels. They can trap fibers that may be left on felt.
Spray-on solutions are also available. They will work better to remove stains. You can find these products at your local hardware store, or online. These products can be substituted for those sold at your local billiard supply store.
Once you've applied the cleaning solution to the felt, wipe it down with a clean, damp cloth. Be careful not to rub the stains. Light strokes are best to ensure that the felt doesn’t get stretched.
You'll want to give the felt on your pool table a few minutes to air out. During this time, you should avoid drinking near the table, smoking, or placing ash trays on the rails. You also don't want to leave chalk marks.
After you have cleaned the table you can place the cues on the cue rack. The cues shouldn't be kept in temperatures too high or near moisture sources that could lead to rot.
You will also need to clean the balls. This is a fairly common procedure, but it's important to be careful. Many home-based cleaners are designed to remove grime. This can cause felt damage. The felt can be protected by using a special cleaner.