Cleaning Felt Clothing

Cleaning felt can be a fairly frustrating experience for most people. We all have our favorite hats, skirts, letterman jackets or some such item that we would like to have cleaned, but we don't want to go through the time and expense of running to the cleaners. By utilizing these simple steps you can handle your own cleaning needs and increase the longevity of your beloved potential heirlooms for future generations.

Most experts agree that you cannot wash felt since the material gets damaged in a variety of ways by the washing process. Apparently this is due to the nature of felt being a pressed and fused cloth as opposed to a woven cloth. But this does not mean that you cannot utilize your dryer at home for your own dry cleaning purposes.

The first option for cleaning your own felt materials may cost you a little bit of money, but the results are generally consistent with those provided by the professionals. With the advent of home dry cleaning kits from companies such as Dial, Clorox, Proctor & Gamble and others, you can follow the manufacturers' care label that says "dry clean only." The average cost associated with these home dry cleaning kits will run you between $9 and $10. When using a home dry cleaning kit, ensure that you follow the directions provided on the kits themselves for best results.

The other option you are presented with requires a little work on your part. This method requires you to employ a small-pored sponge, a soft lint-free cloth, or soft fine-bristled brush along the lines of a baby's hairbrush. Also needed in this approach is a standard teakettle and water. After gathering these tools, and the materials needing cleaning, go to your kitchen. Start the water in the teakettle boiling. Once it is steaming, hold the item that needs to be cleaned over the steam with one hand. With your other hand, while the steam is playing over the area that needs to be cleaned, take your brush or other tool and gently brush the area that is dirty. This, of course, is a little more time consuming since you are only able to clean a small portion of the item at once.

Both choices offered here have unique advantages and difficulties. Regardless of which alternative you finally employ the results are exactly what you are looking for.