Cloth cleaning

What is your favourite cloth cleaning method ?

  • Brushing

    Votes: 14 29.2%

  • Vacuum cleaner

    Votes: 32 66.7%

  • Sprays or liquid cleaners

    Votes: 8 16.7%
  • Total voters
    48
S

skjacobpool

Registered
Hey guys,

I try to clean my table before every practice session so I can play on the best my table has to offer, just wondering, has anyone of you ever tried to iron a Simonis cloth ? I did it yesterday along with using a vacuum cleaner ( I didn´t polish the balls though ) and it worked out perfectly, my cloth was playing much better in comparison with only using the vacuum cleaner ( I dislike the fluid table cleaners or sprays ). I just don´t know if it´s good for the cloth to iron it frequently. Any opinions on this ?
 
After I vacuum I use a damp hand towel on the cloth. Super clean an looks like brand new cloth.
 
I clean my table once a week with a damp terry cloth towel. Sometimes I iron it to get the usual divots to lie down for a few days. You can’t iron if you have wax in the cracks.

I vacuum with a dirt devil about every day before playing and usually use a table brush to get off excess chalk during play when this is needed.

I have found that it more important to use a terrycloth towel to touch up the balls before playing. This restores the Aramith shine and makes the whole day better. At times we have humidity issues here and or the balls might be cold in my pool room which isn’t heated until I use it. Wiping / polishing the balls with a towel makes everything play better and it seems to be the more important issue.

I have a homemade mechanical ball polisher and clean the balls about once a week to restore the Aramith shine. The whole system works great for me.

I have been using this or a similar system for about ten years and find that the cloth lasts longer, plays better and looks new until I need to replace it because of those tiny rips that can't be avoided.

BTW I bought 12 cans of table cleaner and found that, for me, it seems to slow the cloth over time so I don't use it. I give a can to friends or leave one at a local bar where they never clean the tables. Some people like the stuff -- I don't.
 
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Thanks, that is a good idea. I have used microfiber other places and have read about them. They seems to wash out easier than terry cloth but then someone said that they are abrasive and I did not wan to abraid the cloth.

Do you know if they wear down the cloth? If they do not they are a better solution than terrycloth becasue it is easy to wash out the chalk.

I buy a dozen terrycloths at Home Depot and figure it is just the cost of owning a table. The chalk does not wash out of the terrycloth even with the washing machine so I just use as rags in the shop after using once.
 
I would never iron my cloth (Simonis 860) because wax was used at the slate joints.

After experimenting extensively for several years, my favorite maintenance method is:

1.) Clean balls in a large Korean-made ball cleaning machine (I know that I can't mention manufacurer) with a creamy cleaner/polisher fluid (also can't name) sold at most online billiard suppliers. They look brand new each time and are squeaky clean.

2.) I vacuum the Simonis with a vacuum cleaner that is larger that a dustbuter-type, but still small enough to hold by a handle. I use a small attachment that has a short bristle, of the type that is used on rugs/floors in a larger version.

3.) But, the BEST thing I have found is to stop brushing the table (it just moves the chalk/dirt around) and wipe it with a damp hand towel or dish towel of standard terry cloth fabric. I use white or beige color, and the amount of chalk that you pick up is staggering. You can see what you are usually leaving down there. Actually, I wipe before I vacuum...as I have seen how much burden this takes off the vacuum. This will extend the life of your vacuum cleaning machine, since it only picks up the chalk remaing after wiping. The towels can be washed and re-used. I also DON"T use special towels from billiard sites. I find that thicker terry towels also "brush" the nap in a chosen direction while cleaning. I do this every time and vacuum less regularly or as needed. The table looks great.
 
cityboy said:
I would never iron my cloth (Simonis 860) because wax was used at the slate joints.
Click to expand...

I am not sure if I get it right, you got a 3-piece slate and wax was used there ? Is there any possibility of wax used if I have a 1-piece slate ?

Thanks.

BTW - I use the official Aramith ball cleaner and works perfect for me ( of course I clean it with a microfiber towel ) but hot water with a dish liquid cleaner ( I know it is not the appriopiate English word, sorry for that :shrug: ) also does the cleaning well.
 
JoeW said:
Thanks, that is a good idea. I have used microfiber other places and have read about them. They seems to wash out easier than terry cloth but then someone said that they are abrasive and I did not wan to abraid the cloth.

Do you know if they wear down the cloth? If they do not they are a better solution than terrycloth becasue it is easy to wash out the chalk.

I buy a dozen terrycloths at Home Depot and figure it is just the cost of owning a table. The chalk does not wash out of the terrycloth even with the washing machine so I just use as rags in the shop after using once.
Click to expand...

yea dartman gave me that bit o advice about the microfiber and it does work great, it even grabs the fuzz. On new cloth it greatly reduced the time it normally takes to keep the balls from skidding. Go to walmart they got packs of 5 for around 5 dollars in the automotive section
 
JoeW said:
Thanks, that is a good idea. I have used microfiber other places and have read about them. They seems to wash out easier than terry cloth but then someone said that they are abrasive and I did not wan to abraid the cloth.

Do you know if they wear down the cloth? If they do not they are a better solution than terrycloth becasue it is easy to wash out the chalk.

I buy a dozen terrycloths at Home Depot and figure it is just the cost of owning a table. The chalk does not wash out of the terrycloth even with the washing machine so I just use as rags in the shop after using once.
Click to expand...

Microfiber feels a little rough until you get it wet and wrung out then it should feel smooth.
If a table is maintained regularly, which I believe you do, then a light vacuum (dustbuster) or swipe with
an X1 sucks up the chalk dust and a light wipedown with microfiber gets rid of the chalk marks.
As Greyghost mentioned you can get them at walmart.

BTW - JimS has an X1 so maybe he can comment on it.
 
Glad to: I've used it just a few times now but it seems to work very well. I'm happy and I think it will diminish the need for brushing, vacumning and wet wipeing.
 
I typically vacuum ,then brush,,Ive been meaning to try the ironing technique,Ill give that a spin tonight....
 
you should do all 3, one isnt better than the other, all 3 is the only correct way to clean a table. Sprays are a gaff, water on a rag is just perfect, terry cloth thats been washed a few times is what I like.

I wipe my cloth(surface ofthe table) down with a slightly damp rag after every 5-6 hours of play, the rag turns real bright blue. then I brush it to stand up the fuzz, if you dont your banks will go long with the nap flattened down from the damp rag). this is just a daily thing sometimes 2 times if we play long sessions.

After about every 20 hours(around 4 days at my house) I vaccum the playing surface, its amazing how much chalk can accumlate under the cloth if you dont vaccum. by properly doing all 3 your cloth will be tip top for a long time, good house men back in the day did this to all the tables every day in a pool room, I used to help them out sometimes.



the only risk is if you use a wet rag and the cloth gets to wet it can streach out, so I only make it damp enough to lift off the chalk off the top of the wool fibres(you should not see any water on the cloth at all-if you do your rag is too wet), then brush the cloth to stand up the wool fibres, because the damp cloth lays then down. this should be done every 5 hours.

If your going to use a vaccum wipe the cloth with a damp rag first, then use a suction only vaccum with a brush on it, you can skip brushing on vaccum days. because the vaccum has a brush on it.

this is for non directional worsted cloth, if the cloth is different then this isnt the plan
 
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skjacobpool said:
Hey guys,

I try to clean my table before every practice session so I can play on the best my table has to offer, just wondering, has anyone of you ever tried to iron a Simonis cloth ? I did it yesterday along with using a vacuum cleaner ( I didn´t polish the balls though ) and it worked out perfectly, my cloth was playing much better in comparison with only using the vacuum cleaner ( I dislike the fluid table cleaners or sprays ). I just don´t know if it´s good for the cloth to iron it frequently. Any opinions on this ?
Click to expand...


you are suppost to iron down snooker cloth, NOT Simonis, only directional cloth.
 
JoeW said:
I have been using this or a similar system for about ten years and find that the cloth lasts longer, plays better and looks new until I need to replace it because of those tiny rips that can't be avoided.
Click to expand...

A touch of glue on the end of a toothpick, when you first notice a very small rip or hole, will help to keep them from getting any bigger.
 
Thanks Ralph. As simple as that solution seems I had not thought to use it. Have you found that one type of glue is better than another?
 
Right now I vacuum then wipe with a pamp cloth. I might try it in opposite order next time. I will never Iron my cloth. The only way I might consider it is over the racking area to remove dents in the cloth.
 
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