Regular brushing of the fabric is essential. This is a major factor in maintaining a good table performance and appearance, as well as making the cloth last significantly longer. Brushing removes dust and chalk particles from the cloth and re-establishes the nap direction.

It is also recommended to occasionally dry iron the cloth in the direction of the nap after brushing, as it helps the cloth to play faster. The cloth should only be ironed after first making sure that it is clean and has been well-brushed, so that the fibres are laid in the direction of the nap. If not, any marks that haven’t been removed through brushing will be set in when the cloth is ironed.

Ultra-violet light will cause colour to fade as the cloth ages, so it is advised that tables are kept out of natural daylight and direct sunlight. Ideally, use a table cover to protect the cloth when not in play to preserve the brightness of the cloth colour.

These are white marks which sometimes appear on the cloth. Fibrillation is a natural characteristic of wool, which occurs when the fibre’s outer scales are broken down, causing the inner fibre to reflect white light. This is an optical illusion making it look as though the fabric has been marked – if you dampen the white marks they usually return to their original colour. Brushing and damp blocking the fabric to remove chalk dust will also help to get rid of them.

Cue marks are small spots that appear when a player’s cue tip shaves off the nap surface. This is usually when a player has struck a ball below mid-centre to achieve a back spin shot. A careless player could even end up ripping the cloth. These marks are most noticeable on newer cloth, but gradually become less prominent as the cloth wears.