Abstract: A method is disclosed for treating papermill felts to inhibit the deposit of sticky material thereon. The method comprises applying an aqueous solution which contains at least about 2 ppm of a cationic polymer; which contains a water soluble cationic surfactant; the surfactant being applied in an amount effective to inhibit build-up of deposits derived from the cationic polymer. Cationic surfactants are preferred. Particular use is disclosed of water soluble surfactants which have a molecular weight between about 200 and 800 and having the general formula: ##STR1## wherein each R is independently selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, polyethylene oxide groups, polypropylene oxide groups, alkyl groups having between about 1 and 22 carbon atoms, aryl groups, and aralkyl groups, at least one of said R groups being an alkyl group having at least about 8 carbon atoms, and wherein X.sup.- is an anion, or 1/n of an n-valent anion.