Not All Felt Pads Stay Clean: How to Maintain and Extend Their Life

Why It is Important to Clean Your Furniture Felt Pads

Furniture felt pads are very  important in order to prevent your floors from getting scratched, decrease the level of noise and to keep your  furniture in place. But with time, these pads attract dust, dirt and pet hair, which is  not good for the pads and may even result in scratching the floor instead of preventing it. It is  therefore important that they are well taken good care of so that they can continue to serve the purpose for  which they were bought.

Some of the Dangers of Using Dirty or Worn Out Felt  Pads

If you do not take time to clean your felt pads, they can actually cause more damage  than help. Here are some problems that homeowners are most likely to encounter:

Dust and Debris  Accumulation – Small particles are trapped in the felt, which can cause scratches on the floor.

 Adhesion failure – Dirt and dust interfere with the stickiness of the adhesive which makes the felt to peel  off.

Inhomogeneous wear – The felt is worn in certain areas more than in others, thus offering inadequate protection.

Pet Hair – If you own a pet, then you understand that their fur can  stick to felt pads, thus decreasing their capability to cushion.

How to Clean Furniture Felt Pads
It is recommended to clean your felt pads regularly in order to preserve their performance and increase their  lifespan. Follow these simple steps:

1. Wipe Off Loose Debris and Hair
   A sticky tape  or a lint roller should be used to remove dust, pet hair and other loose material from the surface  of the felt pad.
   A soft-bristled brush (such as an unused toothbrush) can  be used to remove stubborn dirt from the cloth.
   2. Vacuum for Deep Cleaning
   The brush attachment  of your vacuum should be able to pull deeper particles that are trapped in the felt.
   Gently run  the vacuum cleaner over the felt pads, using a moderate amount of pressure.
   3. Spot Clean with  Soap and Water
   If your felt pads are very sticky or have some persistent dirt on them,  dampen a cloth with warm water and mild soap.
   Gently massage the felt pad in a circular motion  to remove dirt from the surface of the pad.
   It is advisable not to leave the felt soaked as  this may lead to the adhesion being reduced.
   Allow the pads to dry completely before putting them back  on the furniture.
   4. How to Improve Adhesive Strength
   If the adhesive glue is coming off  the furniture leg, it is recommended to wipe the leg with rubbing alcohol and then put on a new  pad.
   It is also possible to determine whether the felt pads can be washed and stuck again.
   
   

Preventative Maintenance Tips Preventive measures of your felt pads include routine examination and minor changes as follows:

Monthly examination – Check for signs of wear, soiling or separation.

Rotate pads – If  there is a possibility, the felt pads should be rearranged from time to time in order to avoid  excessive wearing of certain areas.

Choose high-quality felt – Higher quality felt pads are more resistant to dust  and will serve more than cheap ones.

Use castor cups for heavy furniture – Large pieces of furniture  are supported by felt-lined castor cups which are more long lasting.

When to Replace Felt  Pads
Felt pads, however, need to be changed from time to time despite the proper  care. Here are some signs that it’s time for new ones:
The felt is thin or has gaps.
The pads do not adhere to the surface well.
There are marks on the floor which were not  there before the pads were used.
The furniture produces noise when it is moved.

Cleaning and caring for  furniture felt pads can help to prevent your floors from getting scratched, decrease noise, and make sure that  your furniture is stable. If you want to get the most out of your felt pads, then follow  these simple steps. In case of doubt, it is better to replace them to preserve the protection as  much as possible. If you are looking for high quality and long lasting felt pads? Stop by our  store and check out our assortment of products that will help protect your floors!