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How To Clean Felt: Best No-Shrink Ways To Remove Dust & Stains in 2023

Wondering how to clean felt? Here’s the quick version:

To remove dust, use a soft-bristled brush or wrap adhesive tape around your finger and tap the felt, so the dust sticks to.

To clean stains off your felt fabric, spot clean using a wet wipe, sponge, or gentle detergent.

I know you might be nervous about getting your felt wet since it’s prone to shrinking. Trust me, I was just the same when I first started sewing in my good ol’ middle school days. I’ll share with you what I’ve learned about cleaning felt through the years!

Whether you’re looking to learn how to clean a felt cowboy hat or how to clean a pool table felt, get to know the right techniques to use in this ultimate felt cleaning guide!

How To Clean Felt: No-Shrink Ways To Remove Dust & Stains

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How To Clean Dust Off Felt

If you’re wondering how to remove pet hair from felt (and other things like dust and food crumbs), these are the methods I recommend.

They’re suitable for all types of felt so whether you’re looking into how to clean wool felt or craft felt, they’re okay either way!

Use A Soft-Bristled Brush To Clean Felt

Use a lint roller or a soft-bristled brush (like a toothbrush or baby hairbrush) to gently brush away dust and hair from felt. Here’s a quick guide on using this cleaning method:

Step 1: Use the brush to gently scrape dust and hair off the fabric. Be careful not to press the dust or hair into the fibers of the fabric.

Step 2: If any felt fibers start to come loose, tidy them up with embroidery scissors, tweezers or a lint shaver.

Use Adhesive Tape To Clean Felt

Using adhesive tape is a handy trick for removing stubborn dust and hairs that have got stuck on your felt.

If you have a bigger felt item to clean, use packing tape instead.

Here’s how to do it:

Step 1: Cut a piece of adhesive tape (or packing tape).

Step 2: Wrap it around your index finger (or fingers), sticky side facing out.

Step 3: Tap your adhesive-covered finger on the felt to trap dust and hair and remove it from the felt. Repeat where necessary – this is best for smaller felt projects or fiddly pieces of felt

Or you can grab the piece of adhesive or packing tape between the fingers of your two hands and tap the tape along the felt – this works great for larger felt projects or felt sheets.

Use White Bread!

Yes, it sounds weird, but don’t knock it ’til you’ve tried it – then let me know how it goes!

Step 1: Grab a fresh piece of fluffy white bread (not hard or stale).

Step 2: Lay the felt out on a flat surface (don’t stretch or pull at it).

Step 3: Tap the piece of bread carefully on the felt to trap and remove dust. Repeat as necessary.

How To Get Minor Stains Out Of Felt

Let’s say you’ve spilled something on your felt and it’s left a light stain. You don’t have to wash the entire piece of felt, you just have to know how to spot-clean it.

These methods can be used for all types of felt, but you’ll use them more with wool felt.

Why? Wool felt is pretty water-resistant, which in turn, makes it quite stain-resistant, especially to liquids as they don’t soak in straight away.

You must act fast, before the liquid soaks in. If you get the liquid off immediately, you might not even see any stains left behind.

To get the liquid off the felt, soak it up (gently) by dabbing it with a towel, paper towel or kleenex.

If the fabric does end up stained, use these basic methods to spot-clean the fabric:

Use A Wet Wipe To Spot Clean Felt

Step 1: Gently dab (or if needed gently rub) the stain carefully with a wet wipe or a soft, wet cloth

Step 2: With a dry towel, press down on the cleaned spots, to help absorb the moisture.

Step 3: Let air dry.

Step 4: Once dry, snip off any fuzz or stray fibers (or use a lint shaver) 

Gentle wet wipes work best for this. I like using baby wipes since they clean well without containing harsh chemicals.

Use A Sponge To Spot Clean Felt

Need to give the stains a little scrub? Use a soft sponge! Here’s how to do it:

Step 1: Soak the sponge in cool water. Avoid using warm or hot water, as it could shrink the fabric.

Step 2: Squeeze excess water out of the sponge and very gently scrub the stain. Don’t scrub too hard as it could damage the felt.

Step 3: Press down on the cleaned spots with a dry towel to help absorb the moisture.

Step 4: Let air dry.

How To Get Stubborn Stains Out Of Felt

For harsh stains like oil and coffee, you’ll need a very gentle detergent to properly clean the fabric.

As above, these methods can be used with all types of felt but remember craft felt isn’t as water-resistant as wool felt and tends to stain more easily.

Spot-Clean Stubborn Stains On Felt With Soap

Here’s how you can spot-clean harsh stains using a gentle detergent:

Step 1: Mix some mild detergent into cold water

Step 2: Dampen (don’t soak) a sponge or cloth with the soapy water, then very, very gently rub the stain. Avoid scrubbing too hard as you don’t want to damage the fabric.

Step 3: Get a new clean, lint-free cloth, dampen it will plain water and gently dab, wipe/rub the stain. Repeat as needed

Step 4: Press down on the fabric with a dry towel to soak up any excess water.

Step 5: Then air dry (out of direct sunlight).

How To Get Oil Out Of Felt

If the above method doesn’t work for you, try this:

Step 1: Cover the stain with a light layer of an absorbent powder, like salt or baking soda

Step 2: Let the felt sit undisturbed for an hour or so

Step 3: Shake off the powder

Step 4: Continue the above steps until you can get as much of the oil off the felt as possible

How To Wash Felt Fabric

You can wash felt by hand or using a washing machine. I recommend hand-washing whenever possible as it’s so much gentler on the fabric and threads.

If you need more than just spot clean, for example, wash your kids’ stuffed animals and toys, read on… But be warned, use this method sparingly and keep an eye on the washing process to make sure you don’t ruin the felt.

How To Clean Small Felt Items

Step 1: Get rid of any dust, using the dust removal techniques mentioned above

Step 2: Fill a tub with cool water (don’t add soap)

Step 3: Fully submerge the felt item in the water, then take it out

Step 4: Gently squeeze the felt to get rid of the water and hopefully any marks. Remember not to squeeze too hard and definitely don’t wring it out or twist it! Repeat as often as needed

Step 5: Gentry squeeze your felt item with a dry towel to remove as much moisture as you can

Step 6: Let air dry.

TIP: Only use this technique for smaller felt items. I.e. No cat caves, rugs, shoes, capes etc.

How To Hand Wash Flat Felt Sheets Or Shapes

Here’s how to hand wash flat felt sheets or shapes by hand:

Step 1: Prepare a cup of mild soapy water

Step 2: Rinse the felt sheet under cold running water

Step 3: Pour the soapy water onto the felt piece

Step 4: Very gently work the soapy water into the felt by rubbing it with your hands and fingers (be gentle!!)

Step 5: Run the felt under running water again, gently squeeze and rub the felt in your hands (key word being gentle!)

Step 6: Lay a clean, dry towel out on a clean surface

Step 7: Put the felt on the towel and then with a free piece of towel press firmly down on the felt as often as needed

Step 8: You can also dab the felt with a towel as well, until you get as much water out of it as possible

Step 9: Let air dry, out of direct sunlight.

How To Clean Felt Balls

Here are a few options for how you can clean felt balls:

• Dust them carefully to get dust and debris off
• Spot-clean the felt balls using the techniques described above – including the adhesive tape method

TIP: if the balls get deformed using one of the above methods, carefully and gently roll each ball in your hands to get it back to normal.

Is Felt Machine Washable

How do you wash felt in the washing machine? Well, if you can avoid it, that’s what I recommend, but if you really need to, then follow these steps:

Step 1: Pick a gentle cycle with cool water. Avoid a hot water wash.

Step 2: Add gentle detergent and start the cycle.

Step 3: Once done, remove from the machine and press the felt with a towel to soak up any excess moisture.

Step 4: Let air dry.

TIP: Don’t use the clothes dryer or other direct sources of heat like a hair dryer, as it’ll shrink the fabric.

How To Remove Odors From Felt

If you notice funky smells coming from your felt, here’s my favorite tip:

Use baking soda or vinegar to get rid of the odor. Use 1 part white vinegar to 2 parts of water, or 2 tablespoons of baking soda to 1 cup of water.

Here’s what to do:

Step 1: Add baking soda or vinegar to a tub of cool water.

Step 2: Soak felt in the water for 5 to 10 minutes.

Step 3: Rinse in cool water.

Step 4: Press down on the fabric with a towel to soak up the moisture.

Step 5: Let air dry.

How To Remove Glue From Felt

If you have hardened glue on your felt fabric that you want to remove, you can try either of these methods:

• Freeze the fabric for 30 minutes: This makes it easier to peel the glue off the fabric.
• Use rubbing alcohol: Gently brush the glue with rubbing alcohol. This weakens the adhesive and you can peel the dried glue off the fabric.

How to Remove Chewing Gum from Felt

Ugh, chewing gum sticking to fabric is just the worst, isn’t it? But hey, it happens!

If you need to get gum off your felt fabric, try these out:

• Freeze the fabric for 30 minutes: Try to pick away as much of the hardened gum as you can.
• Soak in lemon juice for 10 minutes: This makes it easier to scrape the gum off the fabric (be careful though, as this could discolor your felt – try it on a scrap of felt first).

How To Clean Felt Products: Hats, Mats, & More

Cleaning felt items will look a little different depending on what they are. Some felt accessories like hats and shoes have very specific cleaning instructions.

Let’s take a look at some common items and how to wash them.

How to Clean Felt Toys

You can clean most felt toys by hand-washing them with a gentle detergent. You can machine-wash them if you need to, but I always recommend hand-washing because it’s gentler and makes the toys last longer.

Felt crafts that are stitched by hand or with a machine are washable. For felt projects that have been glued together, especially with tacky glue, do not wash them, as they won’t hold up against water.

Instead, use a brush or adhesive tape to remove dust or spot-clean stains with wet wipes.

How To Clean A Felt Hat

First things first – leave fur felt hats to the professional cleaners. 

For wool-felt hats, prevention is key. Keep your felt hat clean by dusting it with a hat brush (or a point brush) after each wear and store it in a hat box in between uses.

There are a couple of ways to clean your felt hats. The easiest and quickest way is with bits and pieces you probably already have lying around your home.

• Step 1: Pat packing tape all over the hat to remove debris, including lint. You can also drag the packing tape a long the bring
• Step 2: Use a hat brush or a clean paint brush to brush the hat to get rid of dust or dirt
• Step 3: Use a clean, damp cloth to clean off any remaining dirt
• Step 4: Air dry your hat out of the sun
• Step 5: if you used a wet cloth, once your hat is dry, brush the hat again to release the fibers that may have been “stuck down” due to the water

How To Remove Stubborn Stains From your Felt Hat: Advanced Techniques

There’s a more in depth way to clean your felt hat with a steamer, but remember to be careful as steam = heat and moisture which can change the shape of the felt, so only try this method if your hat is really dirty or if you’re confident with a steamer.

How To Clean Your Felt Hat With A Steamer

• Step 1: Brush or sponge off anything you can (hairs, dust etc)
• Step 2: Use a steamer on the hat’s brim and crown (this loosens up the wool and “reactivates” the binding process)
• Step 3: Use a sponge to remove any dirt or lint that’s been trapped
• Step 4: Remember to clean the underside of the hat – just a quick wipe will do!

Clean Your Felt Hat With Sandpaper!

Cleaning your hat with sandpaper is definitly a “try this at your own risk” option! Only use this as a last resort if you have difficult stains that won’t come out any other way.

WARNING! Be gentle as you can, as you could rub off a layer of the hat which will get rid of the stain but will leave a strange mark on your hat!

For this technique: Rub your felt hat very gently with the sandpaper to remove the stain. (Watch the video below from minute 1:10 for a visual demonstration).

This option works well for surface level oil stains or dirt that you can’t brush off with a hat brush or paint brush.

Felt Hat Cleaning Tips

• If you spill something on your hat, wipe it off immediately to avoid staining.
• For stains, spot-clean with gentle soap, and let air dry.
• Avoid soaking your hat in water as it can distort the hat shape. I wouldn’t use a washing machine to wash it either for the same reason.

How To Clean Felt Shoes

If your felt shoes get muddy or marked, let them dry first. Then once dry, use a shoe brush to gently flick the dried mud off.

If you can’t get a mark off with dry brushing, then it’s time to spot-clean. Dip a clean cloth in cool soapy water, and dab the stain. Gently dab and, only if necessary, rub the stain until it’s gone.

How To Clean Felt Placemats

How to wash felt placemats? We’ve all spilled food and drinks on placemats. Cleaning them depends on what’s been spilled.

For dry food, use a soft-bristled brush to gently flick the crumbs off the mat. For drinks and wet foods, you’ll most likely need to spot-clean with detergent.

For stubborn oily stains, try the powder method mentioned above and if that doesn’t work try cleaning with white vinegar. It’ll help remove any unpleasant odors too.

Can you wash felt coasters? Absolutely! Just follow the same steps outlined above.

How To Clean Felt On A Pool Table

Use a pool table brush to remove dust, hair, and other fine things from the surface. Never vacuum a pool table. It’ll mess up the pool table felt and could even wrinkle the playing surface.

For light stains, press a slightly damp cloth onto the surface. Gently blot the stain until it’s removed. Don’t rub the stain, as it can warp the fabric. Let air dry.

For more stubborn stains, blot with a soapy cloth. Use a gentle detergent, as harsh chemicals could discolor the playing surface.

Once the stain is removed, blot with a clean cloth to remove the soap. Let air dry.

How to Clean Vintage Felt Items

Vintage felt can be delicate so be extra careful if you need to clean it.

Start with prevention.  Store vintage felt items away from food, pets, and little ones to keep them as clean as possible.  Store them somewhere cool and dark in an airtight container (make sure it’s fully dry before doing this).

If your vintage piece of felt does end up lightly stained, try to spot-clean dry first (with adhesive tape or a gentle brush).

If that doesn’t work, then I’d try with wet wipes, and as a last resort water and a gentle detergent.

For more serious and harsh stains, send them to a professional cleaner, as you wouldn’t want to risk damaging such precious items.

Felt Cleaning Mistakes to Avoid

These are the biggest no-no’s when it comes to cleaning felt:

• Never use heat with felt. Heat could shrink felt so avoid washing with warm or hot water.
• Never use a dryer (clothes or hair) to dry felt. When air drying, avoid placing it in direct sunlight.
• Don’t agitate the fabric. When you’re scrubbing stains off felt, you might feel tempted to rub the fabric hard. Avoid doing this, as it’ll make the fabric fuzz. It can warp the shape of the fabric too.
• Avoid harsh detergents. Using a gentle detergent is the best way to go. Harsh chemicals can discolor the fabric.
• Never twist or wring felt out. It will distort the felt’s shape.
• Don’t use duct tape. It may leave glue on the felt that can’t be removed.

How To Store Felt Products Properly

The best way to keep felt products clean and stain-free is to store them properly.

• Keep felt items in a cool, dry place. You can use silica gel sachets to keep moisture out.

• For expensive or vintage items, I’d also try to keep them away from food, pets, and little kids (wherever applicable).

• For felt hats, store them upside down, ideally in a hatbox. Otherwise, the brim will flatten over time and will affect the shape of the hat.

• Keep your felt items away from any moisture or dampness – so don’t leave felt in the bathroom or on the ground in a storage unit for example.

• Don’t let the bugs get to your felt. Carpet beetles and moths can cause havoc with your wool felt items, so try to keep them in airtight containers or breathable cotton bags.

How To Clean Felt FAQs

Can Felt Be Washed And Dried?

Yes, felt can be washed and dried. Use cool water to wash felt. Add a gentle detergent if you need it. Let it air dry after washing. Never put felt into a dryer as heat will shrink the fabric.

Is Felt Easy To Clean?

Felt is easy to clean as long as you know the right way to do it. The tricky thing with felt is that it’s prone to shrinking so avoid warm water, the dryer, and direct sunlight. When spot-cleaning felt, don’t rub the fabric too hard. Otherwise, it’ll fuzz.

What Can I Use To Clean Felt?

You can use a soft-bristled brush, a sponge, or a gentle soap to clean felt. For tough stains and odors, try baking soda or white vinegar. Be careful not to rub against felt too hard, as it can fuzz. Synthetic felt might also tear.

Can You Soak Felt In Water?

Yes, you can soak felt in water. Usually soaking it for a few minutes can make it easier to get stains out. The less time the better so as to make it easier to dry the felt.

Can You Wash Felt In The Washing Machine?

Yes, you can wash felt in the washing machine. Choose a gentle cycle and use a mild detergent. That being said, I would not recommend it. I prefer hand-washing felt, as it’s gentler on the fabric and helps to make it last longer.

How Do You Wash Felt Without Shrinking It?

To wash felt without shrinking it, avoid heat. Wash felt fabric in cool water only, never warm or hot water. Avoid using the dryer. Instead, let the fabric air dry. When you’re air drying, keep it away from direct sunlight.

Can You Use Dish Soap On Felt?

Yes, you can use dish soap on felt. Gentle soaps work best with felt as they get stains out and they’re not as likely to damage or discolor the fabric.

Can You Clean Felt With Vinegar?

Yes, you can clean felt with vinegar. This is especially useful for getting tough stains out of it. Vinegar can help to neutralize odors too!

How Do You Remove Oil Stains From Felt?

Use a powder, like baking soda, to remove oil stains from felt. Dust the felt with the powder and let it sit for an hour or so. Shake the powder off and repeat as necessary until you’ve got as much oil out as possible.

Can You Wash Felt In Hot Water?

No, you can’t wash felt in hot water. Felt is prone to shrinking when exposed to heat, so you shouldn’t wash felt with warm or hot water. Always use cool water when cleaning felt.

Can You Dry Clean Felt?

Yes, you can dry clean felt. This usually applies to felt accessories like hats. For dust and light stains, you can clean felt items at home by dusting with a brush or spot-cleaning with soap.

Can You Clean A Felt Table?

Yes, you can clean a felt table. Use a pool table brush to remove dust. For light stains, blot with a damp cloth or use a bit of gentle soap. Avoid using a vacuum cleaner as it can cause the playing surface to wrinkle.

How Do You Refresh Felt Without Washing?

To refresh felt without washing, use a soft-bristled brush to remove any dust and hair. This gives the felt a clean look without having to wash it. For stubborn dust and hair, use adhesive tape to trap the dust.

Do You Need To Wash Felt Before Sewing?

No, you don’t need to wash felt before sewing. Although it’s best practice to wash most fabrics before washing, to pre-shrink it, this doesn’t apply to felt. As long as you know the right way to clean felt crafts, you don’t have to pre-wash them.

How To Clean Felt: Wrap Up

I hope you’ve found this guide on how to clean felt useful!

I know it might make you feel nervous to clean felt items since they can be delicate and could shrink. Just remember: skip the heat!

Avoid using water on felt if possible, just use the right brush, adhesive tape or powder, depending on issue and the item.

If you must use water, ALWAYS use cold water when working with felt, and ONLY let it air dry – NEVER use a dryer.

Also make sure you store your felt properly to keep it as clean as possible to start with.

Want to know how to add pretty details to your felt crafts? Check out my guide on embroidering felt!

How To Clean Felt: Related Posts

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• How To Draw On Felt (Freehand Tracing, Stencils & More)
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• Wool Vs Felt: The Difference Between Boiled Wool And Wool Felt