Cleaning beer soaked Linen Wrap

T

The_JV

'AZB_Combat Certified'
So I did a search on the forum already and there were several threads regarding the cleaning of linen wraps. However they all seemed to be focused on a build up of dirt/grime. Unfortunately my wrap seems to have been exposed to some liquid. I imagine at some point during a league night. Must have been near the tail end because I don't recall it being wet.

Is there a method I could use to salvage my otherwise beautifully done linen wrap from what I can assume was the absorbtion of either beer/soda..?

It is entirely black in colour so I'm unconcerned about staining.

Thanks in advance
 
I’d be equally concerned as to how much moisture was absorbed into the handle beneath the linen. If the wrap was moist long enough for you to find it the next day especially.
 
I’d dampen the wrap using hot wet towels and rub the wrap in a circular motion, literally twisting the towel
around the linen strands. Then towel dry the same way. Repeat the process and see how much discoloration
comes off with the 2nd attempt. Use a light color towel, preferably white. A 3rd attempt might be needed if
there’s indication the substance that soaked in is still being removed. Very brisk towel drying is needed. The
fiber in the strands will become raised and this is where aggressive glass burnishing of the wrap is necessary.

Use a heavy round glass object. I use a beer stein mug. Press down hard and briskly rub the wrap rotating it.
Start in small sections and gradually extend the length of your strokes after your burnished the entire wrap.
The more you burnish the wrap with pressing hard and fast rubbing action, the smoother your wrap will become.
Don’t let the wrap get really wet or too soaked because it will take longer for the burnishing to work. I do this to
all my Cortland Linen wraps that practically speaking are irreplaceable. And my cues’ wraps always turn out great
 
For something like this, I'd send it to Proficient, who offers a clean and repressing service. It sucks to have to send it out, but I don't think you'd be able to get it sufficiently clean without having to repress the linen. And at that point, maybe just have them rewrap it. I think the clean and repress service is aimed at people with Cortland wraps.
 
Dry it as much as possible, then let it dry, the damage is done. If it stays sticky, use a damp towel and let fully dry. Repeat until you are happy.

In the future, if you find your wrap wet, I'd cut off the wrap immediately, you just aren't going to dry it fast enough to avoid potential damage.
 
Sorry, I'll add some clarity. My Exceed uses 'Irish linen' for the wrap.

The wrap isn't wet or damp for that matter. It wasn't submerged or anything to that effect. I didn't witness the situation but at worst the objective fluid ran down my cue along the wrap.

The Exceed wrap itself is very fine and burnished quite smooth. The raised texture after the fact is why I noticed it. I can see the 'stain' if you will, but only because I was looking for it.

I'll exhaust home brew efforts before shipping it out.
 
JusticeNJ said:
For something like this, I'd send it to Proficient, who offers a clean and repressing service. It sucks to have to send it out, but I don't think you'd be able to get it sufficiently clean without having to repress the linen. And at that point, maybe just have them rewrap it. I think the clean and repress service is aimed at people with Cortland wraps.
Click to expand...
They do brilliant work

That’s what I’d do
 
The_JV said:
I hear ya... unfortunately I'm looking at international shipping. ...and honestly I'd rather replace the wrap with duct tape then risk my Exceed in the mail...lol
Click to expand...
I wouldn’t ship international for that
 
The_JV said:
Sorry, I'll add some clarity. My Exceed uses 'Irish linen' for the wrap.

The wrap isn't wet or damp for that matter. It wasn't submerged or anything to that effect. I didn't witness the situation but at worst the objective fluid ran down my cue along the wrap.

The Exceed wrap itself is very fine and burnished quite smooth. The raised texture after the fact is why I noticed it. I can see the 'stain' if you will, but only because I was looking for it.

I'll exhaust home brew efforts before shipping it out.
Click to expand...
I would follow the instructions here from some of the guys to see if it works for you- if it does not, personally I would not do the send out for a clean and re press- for just about the same money have it rewrapped, Proficient, Muellers etc.

Why chance sending it out- postage both ways and it comes back not as you expected, Wrap clean and press services are targeted towards grime built up on the wrap from use as a pool cue- they are not 100% targeted on a stained wrap from an unknown source - no one can guarantee outside source stain removal- so if you send it out - get it rewrapped and specify what type of wrap you desire - otherwise it may very well become a double whammy for you and much more costly in the long run.

Any cue repair guy can send you photos after a cleaning and say" how does it look?" - but photos are not always precise on wraps when a wrap already has specs of another color imbedded in the wrap itself. This is from 30+ years experience with having cues repaired in every fashion.
 
The_JV said:
So I did a search on the forum already and there were several threads regarding the cleaning of linen wraps. However they all seemed to be focused on a build up of dirt/grime. Unfortunately my wrap seems to have been exposed to some liquid. I imagine at some point during a league night. Must have been near the tail end because I don't recall it being wet.

Is there a method I could use to salvage my otherwise beautifully done linen wrap from what I can assume was the absorbtion of either beer/soda..?

It is entirely black in colour so I'm unconcerned about staining.

Thanks in advance
Click to expand...
You can eliminate discoloration with a wide tip black marker. Wrap may look better than new.
 
The_JV said:
Sorry, I'll add some clarity. My Exceed uses 'Irish linen' for the wrap.

The wrap isn't wet or damp for that matter. It wasn't submerged or anything to that effect. I didn't witness the situation but at worst the objective fluid ran down my cue along the wrap.

The Exceed wrap itself is very fine and burnished quite smooth. The raised texture after the fact is why I noticed it. I can see the 'stain' if you will, but only because I was looking for it.

I'll exhaust home brew efforts before shipping it out.
Click to expand...
Glad it’s not on the severe side. Good luck with your results!!
 
Bavafongoul said:
I’d dampen the wrap using hot wet towels and rub the wrap in a circular motion, literally twisting the towel
around the linen strands. Then towel dry the same way. Repeat the process and see how much discoloration
comes off with the 2nd attempt. Use a light color towel, preferably white. A 3rd attempt might be needed if
there’s indication the substance that soaked in is still being removed. Very brisk towel drying is needed. The
fiber in the strands will become raised and this is where aggressive glass burnishing of the wrap is necessary.

Use a heavy round glass object. I use a beer stein mug. Press down hard and briskly rub the wrap rotating it.
Start in small sections and gradually extend the length of your strokes after your burnished the entire wrap.
The more you burnish the wrap with pressing hard and fast rubbing action, the smoother your wrap will become.
Don’t let the wrap get really wet or too soaked because it will take longer for the burnishing to work. I do this to
all my Cortland Linen wraps that practically speaking are irreplaceable. And my cues’ wraps always turn out great
Click to expand...
Winner winner... 🐔🍽️

Just to close the loop on this one.

Last night I used a very damp/warm paper towel and wiped down the linen with a firm grip while twisting it. I then quickly repeated the process with dry paper towel. The damp towel picked up what I would equate to dye from the linen. Guess I should have taken a picture, sry. The dry towel picked up nearly no colour what so ever.

I then used a 'baby wipe' to repeat the process. My logic was the initial 'nearly wet' paper towel treatment would liquify whatever was trapped in the linen. The dry towel would pull off the excess before soaking down to the handle. The baby wipes were meant to be the cleaning tool.

With a very firm grip and twisting down, the baby wipes picked up nearly no colour. Quick wipe dry with paper towel once again.

The linen is now an uniform colour. I'm going to say that in my particular case. The grip was never "soaked" as the thread title states, but merely picked up some discolouration as a drink ran down the cue. I would have expected some of that 'old beer smell' in the damp towel, but there was none.

The linen did raise somewhat, but not enough for me to batt an eye at. It feels fine so I'm not going to bother attempting to brunish it. I credit the quality of the Exceed linen installation.

Thanks all
 
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You could also look into cue makers in your area to do a cleaning/pressing or wrap replacement. Not sure where you are located but "ask a cue maker" could point you to a capable local.
 
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