How NOT to clean your cloth

[JC]

I think that the cloth will give way before it buckles the slate. I was not joking either about trying it. I am thinking about getting the cloth wet, soaking up the excess moisture with the wet/dry vac and then blow drying it to see if it tightens up. I plan to recover the table anyway in the coming month so I have nothing to lose. If the slate buckles then I will have the table come out and put new slate on.

But I seriously doubt that this will happen, guess I won't know until I try.

I was joking about buckling the slate. If your seams are sealed with bondo I would try this. Wax or fixall type of stuff will probably create seam issues. Let us know if you try this and what happens John. I've been curious about this for a while now but haven't had the opportunity to try it.

JC

 

[jnf]

I have always vacuumed then washed my cloth every six months or so. It keeps the cloth very clean and tight and extends the life of the cloth. Don't soak the cloth. Dilute some Woolite in water in a spray bottle and moderately spray the cloth. Then lightly brush the cloth with a soft brush and then wipe lightly with wet soft towels. Then let it dry and vacuum again using a soft brush attachment. Works like a charm. I learned this when working at a room in Bloomington, Indiana that had the very best and cleanest tables you could find.

 

[JB Cases]

I was joking about buckling the slate. If your seams are sealed with bondo I would try this. Wax or fixall type of stuff will probably create seam issues. Let us know if you try this and what happens John. I've been curious about this for a while now but haven't had the opportunity to try it.

JC

I will do it. I thought that maybe there might be some small chance of buckling, I have seen warped slate and don't know how it got that way.

 

[rexus31]

You can also use some Brakleen on a terry cloth towel. Just make sure the towel isn't dripping wet. It will clean the cloth and it dries very quickly. It is very similar to the chemicals used in dry cleaning, which would have been an option for your old cloth.