How to Clean Felt

Co-authored by Amber Crain Reviewed by Claudia & Angelo Zimmermann

Last Updated: December 6, 2024 References

Felt, which is made of wool, is a very durable fabric when it’s dry. However, felt becomes very vulnerable when wet and it needs special care during cleaning to avoid being damaged. Whether your felt is dirty with dry debris or you’re working with spillage and staining, specific measures need to be taken to ensure the longevity and safety of the fabric during the cleaning process.

Method 1

Method 1 of 3:

Cleaning Minor Surface Issues

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1
Allow spillage to dry before cleaning. Whether the issue is food crumbs, dirt, mud or any other non-staining spillage, it must be allowed to dry before proceeding.^{[1]
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Research source} If you attempt to clean the item before the spillage has dried, the substance will likely get ground into the fibers of the felt, making clean up far more difficult.
- Doing this could also result in ruining your felt item completely.
- If you suspect that the spillage will cause a stain, immediately skip to the spot cleaning and hand washing methods.
- Stains must be addressed promptly for successful removal from felt.
2
Remove loose debris. Once the spillage is dry, shake off or brush away all loose debris from your felt item.^{[2]
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Research source} Take care not to accidentally mash any debris into the fiber of the felt.
- You can simply use your hand to brush debris away, especially if the issue is very minor.
- Use a soft bristled brush to gently brush away any stubborn debris.
- Also try flicking the felt item from the back (if possible) to get off stubborn debris.
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3
Inspect the item closely. Everything, especially food particles, needs to be removed from the item. Allowing food particles to remain in the fibers of felt can lead to deep set staining, as well as pest or sanitation issues.
- If additional debris is found upon closer examination, gently use the soft bristled brush again.
4
Wipe the surface gently with a baby wipe. This will clean any remaining debris from your item. Be very careful when wiping and avoid any aggressive scrubbing, since this can damage the surface of your felt.
- The wipe won’t cause a lot of wetness to begin with, but still allow the moisture to air-dry before using or wearing your felt item.^{[3]
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- Do not air-dry in direct sunlight because this can damage the fabric.
5
Use masking tape to remove any stubborn lint or hair. Persistent lint and hair can be eliminated by patting the sticky side of masking tape over the surface of the felt, then quickly pulling it off.
- You will see the lint and hair transferred from the felt onto the tape.^{[4]
  X
  Research source} Repeat if necessary.

Method 2

Method 2 of 3:

Treating Stains With Spot Cleaning

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1
Dab a tiny amount of very gentle soap (Ivory, Dawn) directly on the stain. Be sure you dab the soap on without rubbing at the fabric. Spot cleaning small and relatively minor stains this way is preferable to immersing your felt item in water, since the dyed color in felt can run easily.^{[5]
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- Try to get started with the spot cleaning process as soon as possible after the stain occurs.
2
Dampen a soft, clean cloth with cool water and dab at the stain until clean.^{[6]
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Research source} Take care not to rub the fabric or agitate it in any way. If the stain is being stubborn, add another dab of soap on the remaining stain and dab again until it’s gone.
- For extra stubborn stains, you can use diluted white vinegar to clean the felt.
- Use one part vinegar and two parts water to get the proper dilution for this. Concentrated vinegar can bleach the colors out of your felt.
- Repeat the same process of dabbing at the stain with your vinegar/water solution. The vinegar not only removes stains but can also destroy any bad odors.
Once free of soap, re-soak it with cool water. Try to use approximately the same water temperature throughout the entire process.
4
Dab at the spot again using the wet rag. This will force clean water through the stained area, rinsing any remaining soap from the felt. You may find it easier to use two wet rags to rinse the soap from the felt.
- Using a flat surface, put one rag on each side of the felt and press down over the cleaned area, forcing clean water through.
- Rinse out the rag and repeat the process, if necessary.
5
Use a clean, dry towel to soak up any excess moisture. Simply press down on the spot a few times until the towel has soaked up the excess water. Allow the item to air-dry in a cool place.^{[7]
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- Do not air-dry felt in direct sunlight, because this is damaging to the fabric.

Method 3

Method 3 of 3:

Removing Harsher Stains

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1
Brush away any loose debris while the felt is still dry.^{[8]
X
Research source} If the spillage isn’t completely liquid, brush away what you can of any loose debris with a soft bristled brush before moving on.
- Take care not to brush with too much pressure, or the debris will get embedded in the fiber of the felt.
Gently dab at the stain, taking care not to rub any of the liquid around or into the surface of the felt. Blot until there is no visible liquid left, just the stain.
Do not use warm or hot water because this will cause dyed color to run and bleed. Make sure there is enough water in the basin to submerge your item.
4
Add a small amount of gentle soap to the water. Use as little soap as possible and make sure you are using something very gentle, such as Ivory or Dawn. Baby shampoo or wool wash (soap created specifically to clean wool felt) will also work well.
- If you are working with a dirty piece of felt that has a bad odor, cut up a couple of lemons and squeeze their juice into the water.
- Lemon will help to disinfect and remove odors from the fabric.^{[9]
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5
Submerge the felt and gently wash the stained area. Do not use aggressive scrubbing motions, since these will damage your felt. Repeatedly squeezing and pushing on the felt under the soapy water will wash the stain away.^{[10]
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- Once clean, drain the soapy water from the sink.
6
Rinse the soap from the felt using cool water from the tap. Make sure to rinse it carefully until all of the soap is completely removed from the felt. Try to do the rinsing as quickly as possible. The less time you have to submit your felt to water, the better.
- Once rinsed, shut off the tap and gently squeeze the item one time to remove excess water.
7
Place the wet felt on a clean, dry towel. Use another dry towel to press down on the felt, so that both towels are soaking up moisture from the item. Repeat until the felt is damp rather than wet.
- Do not rub the felt. At this stage it is particularly vulnerable, and rubbing it can damage the fabric and cause it to pill.
- You made need to use additional dry towels to get the job done, depending on how large the felt item is.
8
Lay the felt out flat and allow to air-dry in a cool place.^{[11]
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Research source} Hanging the item from a drying rack is also acceptable. Make sure the fabric is completely dry before using or wearing your felt item.
- Do not let the felt air-dry in direct sunlight, as this can be damaging to the fabric.
- If all else fails, take your fabric to a dry cleaner to be cleaned by a professional.

Community Q&A

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Question

How do you clean a felt hat?

Community Answer

It depends on how dirty the hat is and what kind of grime you're dealing with. In most cases, you would use method 1 - remove the loose debris, brush the hat with a soft bristled brush (or hat brush), wipe with a baby wipe and remove lint with masking tape. If you are dealing with a hat that has major stains, it's recommended that you have it cleaned professionally. Trying to treat major stains on a felt hat can result in your hat losing its proper shape and/or ruining the felt.

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Question

I have a Dr. Seuss Cat-In-The-Hat felt hat that I would like to wash. Since I can't lay it flat, can I use starch to help hold a firmer shape?

Community Answer

That should work. However, my research suggests that the success depends on the particular felt being starched. If you don't want to gamble on the outcome, try spot cleaning or having it professionally cleaned.

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Can I wash 2 yards of fabric in my washing machine?

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Yes, as long as it is not silk. Read the specific instructions on how you should dry the fabric.

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Tips

Do not put felt in your dryer or use a hair dryer to dry the fabric. Always air-dry felt in a cool, dry location that is away from direct sunlight.

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Never leave felt articles in the heat, since felt is prone to shrinkage. This includes your car on a hot day.

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Avoid handling felt items excessively. Some felt items, like hats, can be damaged from absorbing body oils.

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Tips from our Readers

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Steer clear of bleach and strong detergents as they can alter the color and texture of the felt.
Use a lint roller to pick up dust and lint without damaging the fabric .

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