Cleaning & Maintaining Wool Felt
Simple and natural tips to keep your felt cover or bag beautiful
Felt is one of the most durable and versatile materials... sturdy, warm, and naturally dirt-repellent. Yet, many people wonder how best to clean their felt cover or bag.
Good news: caring for wool felt is easier than you think.
Here you'll find practical and safe ways to clean, protect, and keep your felt product beautiful... for years to come.
Why good maintenance is important
Our covers are made of 100% Merino wool felt, a natural product containing lanolin (wool fat).
Lanolin protects the fibers from moisture and dirt, making felt naturally stain-resistant.
There are three things that can damage wool felt:
Moisture
Do not allow felt to become damp for extended periods of time or to lie in a wet area (such as a bathroom or basement).
Always allow it to air dry thoroughly after cleaning, out of direct sunlight.
Moths or other insects
Wool felt sometimes attracts moths. Therefore, store your felt cover or accessory in a dry place, preferably in a cotton bag or sealed box. A small sachet of lavender helps naturally repel moths.
Sunlight
Prolonged exposure to direct sunlight may lighten the color of the felt.
If you're not using your bag or case for a while, it's best to store it in a place away from bright light.
Removing stains
Most stains disappear with a simple spot cleaning :
-
Mix a small amount of natural soap (e.g. Marseille soap) with cold water .
-
Gently blot the stain with a soft cloth – do not rub.
-
Use clean water to remove the soap residue.
-
Squeeze out excess moisture with a towel.
-
Let it dry flat.
Do not use hot water: this can cause felt to shrink.
Stains such as grease can be treated with some talcum powder or white clay – let it absorb the grease and then gently brush it out.
Little fluff or wrinkles?
Small amounts of fluff or wrinkles may appear through use.
You can carefully remove lint with a fabric comb or scissors.
A fold or wrinkle can easily be removed with steam – hold a steam iron over the felt and smooth it out lightly.
Refresh & remove odor
To freshen up your felt product, you can lightly spray it with water containing a few drops of natural vinegar.
Let it air dry. This also removes minor odors.
Restore or repair
Is your felt product damaged or do you want to have a leather part replaced?
We also offer a repair service for Westerman Bags products.
Request a repair.
Summary: What to do and what not to do
✅ Use cold water and mild soap
✅ Pat or massage gently, do not wring
✅ Let it air dry
✅ Use steam to restore shape
🚫 No hot water or dryer
🚫 No bleach or harsh cleaners
🚫 Do not leave wet for long periods of time
Wool felt is a living material – it breathes, repairs and protects itself.
With a little care, your cover or bag will remain beautiful, strong and unique for years to come.
