Method of improving paper machine fabric performance

A method of treating and cleaning papermaking fabrics including one or more papermaking felts to increase a drainage rate, the method comprising:

• applying an alkali material in combination with an anionic polymeric dispersant and a hydroxyfunctional carboxylic acid to the one or more papermaking felts of the papermaking fabrics as a single aqueous solution to increase a drainage rate through the papermaking fabrics, wherein the papermaking fabrics are contaminated with contaminants comprising wet soils that are hydrophilic and include papermaking fines, and wherein the single aqueous solution comprises a pH from about 9.5 to about 13.5 and a dynamic surface tension of about 25 mN/m to about 40 mN/m;
• and
• based on the application of the single aqueous solution of the alkali material in combination with the anionic polymeric dispersant and the hydroxyfunctional carboxylic acid, removing the contaminants from the papermaking fabrics and improving the drainage of the one or more papermaking felts of the papermaking fabrics such that a resulting drainage rate from the single aqueous solution is higher than the drainage rate through application of the alkali material alone to the one or more papermaking felts of the papermaking fabrics.