Industrial wool felt color taupe pet bed

How to clean a wool felt pet bed

Reading time: 6 minutes

A wool felt pet bed is not cared for in the same way as a padded cushion or a bed covered in synthetic fabric. And that is actually one of the advantages of this material: it does not need to be washed frequently to stay clean and pleasant to use.

Wool naturally manages moisture, tends to retain fewer odors, and has a surface that can easily be refreshed with light maintenance. In most cases, simply removing hair and dust, treating small stains locally, and reserving deep cleaning for when it is truly needed is enough.

For the MATT™ Basket, we recommend a very simple routine: vacuuming, a lint roller, or a cashmere brush for regular care, cold water and mild soap for small stains, and professional dry cleaning for a complete cleaning.

Why doesn’t wool need to be washed as often?

Wool naturally has several properties that make it particularly well suited to an object used every day by a pet.

It is breathable and able to manage some of the moisture present in its environment. Rather than simply allowing moisture to remain on the surface, the fiber can absorb some of it as vapor and release it again as conditions change.

The way wool manages moisture also helps explain why it tends to stay fresher for longer between cleanings and retain fewer odors than many synthetic materials.

Wool is sometimes described as naturally “antibacterial.” We prefer to be more precise: wool is not a disinfecting material, but its structure and the way it manages moisture and odors generally mean that it does not require frequent full washing.

That does not mean, of course, that a pet bed never needs to be cleaned. Hair, dust, and everyday dirt are simply part of living with a cat or dog.

The difference lies mostly in how the material is maintained.

With wool felt, light and targeted care is often enough.

For pet hair: vacuum, lint roller, or cashmere brush

Pet hair is usually what accumulates most quickly on a pet bed.

For regular care of the MATT™ Basket, you can simply use a vacuum, a lint roller, or a cashmere brush.

A vacuum quickly removes hair, dust, and small particles. A lint roller is especially convenient for a quick surface clean, while a cashmere brush can gently refresh the felt and remove small fibers that may appear with use.

There is no need to scrub aggressively. A few light passes are generally enough.

Regular light maintenance helps keep the basket clean while significantly reducing the need for deeper cleaning.

How do you clean a small stain?

A small stain does not necessarily mean that the entire basket needs to be cleaned.

If something is spilled on the felt, begin by gently absorbing the excess with a clean cloth. Avoid rubbing aggressively, which can unnecessarily disturb the fibers.

Then use a small amount of cold water and mild soap to spot-clean the affected area.

There is no need to completely soak the felt. The goal is simply to clean the area that needs attention.

Allow it to air dry naturally before reassembling the basket.

The method is simple: blot, spot clean, and let dry.

Why avoid the washing machine?

Wool behaves differently from synthetic fabric.

Felt is already made from wool fibers that are tightly interlocked. A significant combination of water, heat, and mechanical movement can continue to work those fibers and may eventually alter the density or dimensions of the material.

For this reason, we do not recommend putting the MATT™ Basket in a washing machine or soaking it completely in water.

Its construction was specifically designed to avoid this type of washing.

The basket can be completely unfolded, giving access to the entire felt surface. This makes it easy to vacuum, brush, or treat a stain exactly where it appears.

And when a more thorough cleaning becomes necessary, there is another method particularly well suited to the material: professional dry cleaning.

Can a wool felt pet bed be dry cleaned?

Yes. Professional dry cleaning is the method we recommend for a deep cleaning of the MATT™ Basket.

Despite its name, dry cleaning is not actually a completely “dry” process.

The main difference from traditional washing is that a cleaning solvent is used instead of water as the primary cleaning liquid.

The basket is placed in a professional machine where the solvent circulates through the material while the drum gently tumbles. This mechanical action allows the solvent to reach the felt surface and remove dirt.

The solvent is then extracted, and the product goes through a drying stage before it is returned.

For our high-density wool felt, this process allows the material to be thoroughly cleaned without changing its dimensions or thickness, while preserving the precision of the cut edges.

This is particularly important for the MATT™ Basket, since its contours, openings, and precise folds determine how the flat surface transforms into the finished basket.

Does tumbling (during dry clean process) change the appearance of the felt?

Very little.

The mechanical action inside the machine may create a very slight fuzz on the surface of the felt. This is simply the result of a few natural fibers becoming slightly more visible after cleaning.

The change is subtle and does not affect the structure of the product.

If you would like to refresh the surface, a few gentle passes with a cashmere brush will usually help remove the visible fibers and restore a more even finish.

How do you flatten the basket again after cleaning?

Once the basket has been returned from the dry cleaner, we recommend unfolding it completely and laying it flat before reassembling it.

Transportation and tumbling may occasionally create a slight curve or a few temporary creases in the felt.

The solution is simple: steam.

A steam iron can be used to help return the felt to a smooth, flat surface. Work gradually, ideally with a clean cloth between the iron and the material, then allow the felt to cool completely while lying flat.

You can then reform the folds and reassemble the basket.

This simple step helps restore clean lines and a well-defined structure.

Why does the MATT™ Basket unfold completely?

Ease of care was part of the design of the MATT™ Basket from the very beginning.

The product was created by Kim Landry, architect and founder of MATT™, who was looking for an alternative to traditional pet beds made from multiple layers of fabric, padding, covers, and zippers.

The goal was to create a resting space that was simple, durable, and above all, easy to maintain.

The MATT™ Basket is therefore made from a single sheet of high-density natural wool felt. Precise cuts and a few carefully considered folds transform this flat surface into a structured resting space.

When it is time to clean the basket, the process simply works in reverse: the fasteners are opened and the basket becomes a large flat surface again.

This makes every part of the material easy to access for vacuuming, brushing, spot cleaning, steaming flat, or professional dry cleaning.

For us, care does not come after design. It is part of the design.

An object that can easily be cleaned, refreshed, and restored is also much more likely to be kept for a long time.

What if the basket is used with a cushion?

The MATT™ Basket can be used on its own or paired with a removable cushion.

Some cats and dogs enjoy the firm yet slightly flexible surface of the felt, while others prefer an additional layer of softness.

Keeping the cushion completely separate from the basket also allows each element to be cared for according to its own needs.

The felt can be vacuumed, spot-cleaned, or professionally dry cleaned, while the cushion can be maintained separately according to its own care instructions.

This separation is intentional.

When one component needs to be cleaned or eventually replaced, it should not mean replacing the entire product.

Our recommended care routine

For MATT™ high-density wool felt pet baskets, here is the routine we recommend.

For regular care
Remove pet hair and dust with a vacuum, lint roller, or cashmere brush.

For a small stain
Blot the excess with a clean cloth, then spot-clean with cold water and mild soap. Avoid soaking the felt completely and allow it to air dry.

To refresh the surface
Gently use a cashmere brush to remove small fibers or light fuzz that may appear with use.

For deep cleaning
Take the basket to a professional dry cleaner. Dry cleaning is suitable for our high-density wool felt and allows it to retain its dimensions, thickness, and clean cut edges.

After dry cleaning
Unfold the basket completely, lay it flat, and use a steam iron if needed to restore the material to a flat surface before reassembling it.

Avoid
Do not machine wash the basket, soak it completely, or scrub the felt aggressively.

A material designed to be maintained, not replaced

A durable product is not one that never gets dirty.

It is one that can be maintained.

A pet bed used every day will naturally collect hair, dust, the occasional stain, and signs of use. That is simply part of the life of the object.

The goal is not to keep the material looking perfectly new.

It is to be able to clean it, brush it, restore its shape, and continue using it.

The natural properties of wool allow us to approach care in exactly this way: fewer full cleanings, more targeted maintenance, and deep cleaning only when it is truly needed.

It is also another way of thinking about durability.

A final thought

We often associate easy care with being able to put something directly into the washing machine.

But an object can be easy to maintain in other ways.

It can be designed to come apart easily. Its material can be spot-cleaned. Its surface can be brushed. Its shape can be restored with a little steam. And when a complete cleaning is needed, it can be entrusted to a professional.

Caring for an object also means understanding its material.

And when an object is designed from the beginning with maintenance in mind, it becomes much easier to keep.

Why has wool stood the test of time?
Understanding industrial wool felt
Why does wool feel so familiar to cats?
Why won’t my cat sleep in their bed?
Why MATT™? Everything starts flat.

About MATT™

MATT™ is a brand founded by architect Kim Landry.

Through The MATT™ Journal, we explore animal behavior, natural materials, and thoughtful design to better understand what inspires each of our objects.

We believe the best products always begin with a deeper understanding of those who use them, the materials they are made from, and the way they actually live within our homes.

How to clean a wool felt pet bed | MATT™