Felt is a great fabric to work with for crafting and for decoration. As versatile as it is when used properly, when you need to wash felt that’s become stained or soiled, your options are few. Here are the pros and cons of the two primary methods for washing felt.

No matter what technique you use to clean felt, be sure that any water used is cold. Felt is highly susceptible to shrinkage in warm water.

Washed by hand

Hand washing is by far the safer way to clean felt because you can control the process. Soak in cold water and add a mild detergent. Add a little lemon juice to the soaking solution to remove stains and give off a pleasant smell. After soaking for a few minutes, massage the fabric with your fingers. After you’ve kneaded it for a few minutes, wring it out gently and place it on a clean towel.

Brush with the brush

If the stain is particularly deep, you may need to use a soft bristle brush to remove it after soaking the felt mentioned above. Also, if you have any stains, it’s a good idea to add a little lemon juice to the soaking solution. When using brushes, be sure to use them very gently. If you brush too hard, you pull up some felt. Felt is a very sensitive material and should be cleaned gently