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 are gentle on the felt and will also 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.
A steamer can also be used to clean your pool table's surfaces. Although steamers are helpful in removing stain from the felt they can also be used to set them. You can also use equal parts water and white vinegar to remove stains. But you'll want to be sure to allow the stain to dry before playing on it.
Pool table felt is not as strong as regular felt, so you should be careful not to damage it. A typical recreational player should clean their tables no less than once a week. For more serious players, a cleaner schedule is advised.
Clean the pockets once you have removed the stains. Before you begin to work with the felt, it's a good idea for the pockets and rails to be vacuumed. A damp cloth, a soft fabric, and a vacuum tool are all you need to clean them.
Use a soft, lint-free towel to clean up any stains. Avoid using paper towels. These can trap fibers that could be left on your felt.
You can also buy a spray-on solution, which will do a much better job of removing stains. These products are either available in your local department store, or online. They can be used as a substitute for the products sold in your billiards supply store.
Once you've applied the cleaning solution to the felt, wipe it down with a clean, damp cloth. However, don't rub the stains. You should use light strokes to prevent the felt from stretching.
Give your felt time to dry. During this time, you should avoid drinking near the table, smoking, or placing ash trays on the rails. You don't want chalk marks to be left on the surface.
After cleaning the table, the cues can be stored in the cue rack/cue stand. These cues should not be kept in high temperatures or where they can become rotted by moisture.
The last step is to clean your balls. Although this is a common practice you need to be careful. Many home-based cleaners are designed to remove grime. This can cause felt damage. Protect the felt by using a specialized cleaner.