Felt fabric is believed to be amongst the oldest forms of fabric in existence. It’s unique in its construction, texture, and its numerous uses — ranging from clothing such as hats, coats, and boots, to crafting materials and, yes, even rug pads.
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But what is felt really? We're glad you asked.
Felt is a fabric made from natural or synthetic fibers that are interlocked or matted together. It’s mostly made from wool but it can also be made from synthetic fibers, such as acrylic and rayon (think yarn fibers).
In general, you’ve got three main categories of felt: natural fiber, synthetic fiber, and combined.
Natural fiber felt can come from cotton, animal fur, or wool. To create combined felt — you guessed it — you combine the natural with synthetic such as acrylic, nylon, or polyester.
However, felt is a bit more unique than you might think. Unlike most fabrics that are woven or knitted together, felt is made from a process that combines heat, moisture, and pressure to form an interlocked, durable fabric.
We don’t have much consensus on the origins of felt fabric — it’s THAT old. Most likely it originated in Asia several thousand years ago, where they used it to make tents and clothing.
Regardless of where felt came from, one thing is clear: felt has withstood the test of time. Basically, it was damn good back then, and it’s still damn good now.
Felt is made by applying heat, moisture, and pressure to fibers to interlock them into a durable fabric. The general method of making felt has remained unchanged over the years, but some differences do exist.
Here’s how people get it done these days (with wool). This is a kind of long process, so buckle in.
For combined felt, the natural and synthetic fibers go into big open cylinders that have steel nails inside to help with combining the different fibers.
Afterward, they are carded and the rest of the process is similar to what we outlined for wool felting.
As we mentioned, there are three main types of felt: natural, synthetic, and combined.
But! There’s also different types within that too. Let’s dive into a few of those here.
Alright, this is probably the type of felt you know the best. The felt you’d find in a kid’s project or what you’d find at Michael’s.
These are synthetic felt fibers that use interlocking acrylic. Why is this the OG crafting felt? A few reasons.
First, they’re stiffer than natural fiber felt, yet easier to cut. Two, they’re cheaper than other types of felt. And three, they can take on different pigments really well so you can dye them all different types of fun colors.
Made from recycled plastics, these are similar to acrylic felts (made by interlocking plastics), but more eco-friendly (surprise surprise). This type of felt also makes excellent craft material because it's stiff, coarse, and waterproof.
Eco-friendly felts can be made from recycled felt, yarn fibers, or leftover carpet fibers. Considering the “eco-friendly” in the name, it makes sense that this felt doesn’t use any chemicals, glues, or adhesives so they’re non-toxic — great for kiddos.
The Eco-Plush rug pad is one such example of this. (So I mean, we’re not biased or anything, but it’s basically the best kind of felt fabric. ????)
This material is made from mixing wool with synthetic fibers, such as acrylic. The two most common ratios that exist for this combination are:
These are good for crafts, but you’ll also see this felt in accessories like pillows or plush toys because they have a firm yet soft texture.
100% wool felt is made by interlocking wool fibers together to create a fabric that doesn’t wear down easily. (That whole process we explained earlier.)
Under a microscope, the surface of wool appears to have scales. The felting process interlocks these scales, creating a durable, water-resistant material. This would be the type of felt that people used way back when for clothing, especially in rainy climates like England and Scotland (think kilts).
It’s non-flammable, too — wool singes and the flames simply go out. This makes it ideal for lining fire-fighter uniforms because while it’s non-flammable, it’s also lightweight so it doesn’t slow the firefighters down or impede their movement.
Felt, unlike most other fabrics, is not woven or knit, meaning it doesn’t have warp and weft threads (the vertical and horizontal threads in weaving). This means that it doesn’t easily fray at the edges, and also makes it easy to cut and work with (since cutting it will not destroy the integrity of the entire fabric).
Felt is also durable because many layers are interlocked in its construction. It’s water-resistant and non-toxic.
What’s so good about felt? Everything.
Okay not everything, but felt does have a lot of benefits. Specifically, it’s durable, warm, lightweight, protective, insulating, and soundproofing. Let’s dig into those a bit more.
Due to the interlocking process used in manufacturing, felt is strong and durable. Seriously, felt can take a beating and be just fine.
In terms of rug pads, this makes your pads durable and long-lasting.
The fibers in felt are lightweight, but you’ve got a TON of them all interlocked together so they’re also warm. Interlocking creates the lightweight quality of the fabric, as it’s compressed through pressure being applied when matting the fibers.
Keep in mind, because of the density, felt isn’t going to be your ultra-lightweight performance clothing. But unless you’re clocking crazy miles, you probably wouldn’t notice the weight so for the amount of warmth it provides it’s pretty damn good.
Plus, when used in rug pads, that weight and density can actually be nice — it can help keep the pad flat and adds more cushion to your rug. However, since the pad is still fairly low profile (the whole density thing) the felt is unlikely to raise your area rug too high up, so the rugs aren’t a tripping hazard.
Felt is used for lining clothing such as boots and coats for the winter season because it’s warm, lightweight, and water-resistant. That doesn’t mean waterproof, it’s just that wool fibers naturally have some water resistance, especially when tightly woven together like with felt (have you seen where sheep live?? They need some water resistance).
Because it’s water-resistant, felt is also good for rug pads. Any liquid will take a moment before starting to soak in. And even then the recycled felt we use is pretty great at absorbing liquid too. This gives you time to clean any spills before they can damage your floors.
Plus, since the felt is only water-resistant and not non-porous waterproof, it means the material is also breathable. What’s the benefit to that? It means you’ll have airflow between the rug and floor. So, even if liquid were to get under the pad, it wouldn’t get trapped there—it could simply evaporate up through the pad.
Because many layers of felt layers are interlocked together during felting, the resulting fabric is excellent for insulation and soundproofing. They have premium cushioning and are able to absorb sound.
What is this quality good for? You guessed it—rug pads.
Especially in a multi-storied house or apartment complex, the extra soundproofing can be a massive benefit to keep the peace between neighbors.
(P.S. The Eco-Plush rug pads we carry have excellent soundproofing. ????)
Nothing’s perfect and felt certainly isn’t an exception here. We want to make sure you really know felt — the good, and the bad.
Even though felt is a strong, durable material, it can be destroyed by moths. The whole natural thing? Moths are a big fan of that too, unfortunately. Specific species of moths actually feed on animal fibers like wool, so your wool clothing is an all-you-can eat buffet to them.
(Note: our rug pads use recycled synthetic felt, so you shouldn’t have to worry about the whole moth issue if you’re thinking of getting a felt rug pad.)
Felt is not a grippy fabric. This is great for socks when you want to go sliding around on wood floors.
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Not so great when your small area rugs go slipping out from under you (or under your dog). For this reason, some manufacturers use adhesives to ensure that rug pads stick to the floor (which in itself can be damaging to the floor).
Instead, we design our non slip rug pads to grip the floor by adding rubber backing.
The Contour-Lock and Superior-Lock rug pads both use felt with a natural rubber backing.
The manufacturing process of felt can often make the surface a bit coarse and rough, so it can be a bit scratchy on the skin (especially synthetic felt). It’s still a soft enough surface that it won’t scratch floors or even be that uncomfortable on the skin, it’s just not going to compare to something like fleece or alpaca wool when it comes to softness.
Still have questions? We’ve got you covered. Check out these other commonly asked questions about felt that we’ve answered here for you.
Melton is similar to felt and is often mistaken for it.
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Melton is a woven fabric, but the finishing of melton makes it shrink and appear matted like felt.
Felt can be bought by the yard or in pre-cut felt sheets. Michael’s or similar crafting stores are good places to buy felt. Most crafting or fabric store should carry some felt.
(Though keep in mind, this is just felt, not made for anything specific — if you want something specific for say, rug pads, we’ve got you covered with our 100% felt rug pad.)
Yes, felt can be washed. We recommend washing it by hand using cold water to avoid shrinking though.
Felt fabric is water-resistant — not fully waterproof. Think of it like a thick fuzzy jacket in the rain that isn’t necessarily a rain jacket; it’ll keep you dry for a while, but eventually you’ll get wet.
Yes, it’s a non-woven fabric made from interlocking fibers.
Yes, it’s a strong material. However, it’s not like steel metal-level strong — it’s still a fabric and if you push it too hard, those interlocking fibers can come apart.
100% wool felt has the best quality for water resistance, comfort, and durability — but it can also get eaten by moths.
No, they’re not the same. Felt is made from natural wool or synthetic fibers and is non-woven. Fleece, on the other hand, is woven and made entirely from plastic.
No, it is better to air dry it as putting it in dryers can misshape it and mess with the interlocking fibers.
Yes, it's fine to iron felt. No need to use steam for it either.
Dusty felt can be cleaned using a clothes brush to remove dust and lint. If it’s on your floor like a rug pad, you can also use a vacuum cleaner on a low setting.
Natural fiber felt does not naturally stick to felt unless glue or adhesive is applied. However, you will see those acrylic felt boards that do stick together — that’s because the fibers interlock with each other like a weaker version of velcro.
No, felt does not unravel — it’s non-woven, so there’s really nothing to unravel.
Yes, felt makes a good insulator because it’s matted and dense with all the fibers pushed together.
Flic Flac felt is a felt fabric that is ideal for art and crafts use. It is packaged in assorted colors and already cut into manageable craft squares.
Wool felt is more supple and softer to touch than acrylic felt. Acrylic felt is stiff and coarse.
It depends on the type. Wool felt is generally a sustainable material because it’s renewable and biodegradable. It doesn't cause unnecessary environmental pollution and it’s economically sustainable.
Recycled fiber felt is also fairly sustainable since it uses recycled materials and can be re-recycled. On the other hand, brand new acrylic fiber felt can push the envelope on the whole sustainable thing since it uses polyesters and plastics. It can still be recycled and doesn’t have to use harsh or toxic chemicals, so it’s certainly not the worst.
If you’ve realized that felt doesn’t suit your fancy when it comes to rug pads, that’s totally fine! We have other rug pad materials too.
The Anchor Grip uses felt and EVA while the Eco Plush rug pads use 100% felt. The RugPro, Contour-Lock, and Superior-Lock pads use a combination of felt and rubber.
The Anchor Grip pad is a felt and EVA rug pad made in the United States. It has great grip and doesn’t stick to your floors, discolor them, or dry them — making it an ideal rug pad material for vinyl and luxury vinyl plank flooring.
Natural rubber is a naturally occurring polymer that comes from the rubber tree.
It’s an ideal material to use in rug pads because it grips floors, ensuring your rugs stay in place, without damaging the floor or your rug. Plus, it’s non-toxic and doesn’t have a strong smell.
We use natural rubber in our non-slip rug pads, such as Nature’s Grip and Super-Lock Natural, for its gripping properties.
After paying attention to the exterior details of your vehicle, you should concentrate on the interior. Car interior material is one of the most used parts of a vehicle. Also, it’s the main section that contributes to elegance and comfort while driving. Ideally, car seat material keeps things classy behind the wheel and thus improves your riding experience.
When it comes to car seat material, your lifestyle and aesthetic preference highly influence your seat choice. For example, if you’re an outdoor person who mainly engages in muddy or dusty activities, you’d want a durable car seat material that’s easy to clean. On the other hand, if you spend most of your time in your car, you’ll more likely concentrate on the comfort the car interior material brings and the aesthetics.
Additionally, budget heavily influences your decision on a car seat material. While a specific material may be visually appealing, it may not suit your budget or sustain your daily routine. Luckily, there is a wide range of car interior materials, so you can pick something with a similar visual appeal as your desired material but at a considerable price. Below are the most common car seat materials and the advantages and disadvantages of each :
It’s also known as Ultrasuede. It has the same visual appearance and feel as microsuede. However, the added advantage is that it’s flame retardant. Notably, it’s one of the least common types of car seat materials and is manufactured by a single producer in Italy.
In recent years, it has become increasingly popular in mid-range cars.
Pros
Cons
Leather is a highly popular car seat material that most car owners want in their vehicles. It has an elegant look and is highly durable, so it’s ideal for daily use. However, leather prices continue to surge, and it may not be an affordable car seat material for most people. Essentially, leather in most luxury cars is top-quality and usually hand-stitched, which increases the cost.
Even so, considering it’s one of the most stylish and functional car interior materials, it’s worth the money. Therefore, you’d want to use it for your car’s interior if you can afford it. Most importantly, note that leather can crack if exposed to high temperatures, particularly during hot weather. In that case, you should do regular conditioning to prevent it.
Pros
Cons
It’s also referred to as leatherette or faux leather. It’s made to look like leather through specific methods like embossing but doesn’t involve the use of animal products. It’s now prevalent even in luxury cars as most car owners opt for unique vegan options for leather seats.
Pros
Cons
It’s a microsuede car seat material made of polyester. It gives a vehicle a suede look and feel. Also, it’s one of the materials with the softest surfaces.
Pros
Cons
It’s the most common car seat material used in fabric upholstery. It may not provide the luxurious look and feel other materials give, but it is still elegant and offers driver comfort. The added advantage of nylon is that it’s sturdier and more resistant to dirt and stains than other fabric options.
Pros
Cons
Since you’re more likely to spend a lot of time in your car, from driving to work, going grocery shopping, or taking your kids to school, your car seat material must be constantly cleaned. Notably, there are specific cleaning methods, agents, and materials for every type of car upholstery. Here’s how to clean the different types:
Use a vacuum to take off loose dirt or dust from the seats. You can then mix a mild detergent with hot water, dip a sponge and scrub the fabric surfaces. Afterward, dip another sponge in cold water and scrub the detergent off the car seat surface. Your seats are adequately cleaned at this stage, and you can leave them to dry.
You can wipe vinyl seats with a clean damp cloth since it’s fairly waterproof. Ideally, you’re not limited to using a cleaner specifically designed for vinyl for stubborn stains.
Remove loose dirt or dust using a feather duster, then proceed to use a vacuum. Mix detergent with the cleaning water but ensure you don’t produce bubbles. Afterward, dip a clean cloth into the mixture, squeeze to remove excess water, and use it to wipe the car seats. You can then remove the detergent with another damp cloth.
Finally, wipe the wet faux leather surface with a fresh dry cloth. You can use a faux leather cleaning agent or a toothbrush for stubborn residue.
Using a wrung-out clean cloth, wash the seats with a microsuede-specific cleaning agent. However, if you can’t access one, use a low-PH soap like a baby wash. While at it, ensure you don’t wet the material, as polyester can get water stains. Also, you can opt for steam cleaning.
Use a clean cloth to first take off lingering dust, oils, and other dirt on the leather surface. Afterward, apply upholstery conditioner and rub it into the leather material. Such conditioners usually contain gentle stain removers and hydrating agents like neatsfoot oil to clean and protect your leather surfaces. Also, park your car in the shade to avoid exposing the conditioner to UV light.
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