A good desk mat gets used every day, so it'll pick up dust, crumbs and the occasional coffee spill. Regular light cleaning keeps it looking good and helps it last. Here's how to care for felt and vegan leather mats.
Everyday care for felt desk mats
- Once a week: run a lint roller or soft clothes brush over the surface to lift dust, crumbs and loose fibres.
- For a deeper clean: use a vacuum cleaner with a soft brush attachment on a low setting.
- Keep it flat: use the mat flat on your desk. Wolvende felt mats have a non-curl, anti-crease construction, built to keep them lying flat.
How to deal with spills on felt
- Act quickly. Felt is absorbent, so the sooner you deal with a spill, the better.
- Blot, don't rub. Press a clean, dry cloth or kitchen towel onto the spill to soak up as much liquid as possible. Rubbing pushes it deeper into the fibres.
- Spot clean. Dampen a cloth with cold water and a small amount of mild soap, and dab the area gently.
- Rinse. Dab again with a cloth dampened with plain cold water to lift any soap.
- Dry flat. Leave the mat to air dry flat, away from radiators and direct heat.
What not to do with felt
- Don't machine wash or tumble dry the mat. It can damage the rubber base and distort the felt.
- Don't iron it.
- Don't use bleach or harsh cleaning products.
Caring for vegan leather desk mats
Vegan leather is the easier of the two to keep clean.
- Day to day: wipe the surface with a soft, slightly damp cloth.
- For marks: add a little mild soap to the cloth, wipe gently, then dry with a soft, clean cloth.
- Avoid: solvents, bleach, alcohol-based cleaners and abrasive pads, which can damage the finish.
- Sunlight: keep the mat out of prolonged direct sunlight to help prevent fading.
The distressed, aged-effect finish on our vegan leather mats is part of the design, so light signs of use only add to the character.
Which is easier to look after?
If you often eat or drink at your desk, vegan leather is the lower-maintenance choice. If comfort matters more, felt is softer, and a quick weekly lint roll keeps it looking fresh. Read our full felt vs vegan leather comparison.