How To Clean Dress Hats

As a hat owner it s important to know how to clean your hat properly.

How to clean dress hats. If salt stains form on the felt dip a white cloth into an equal mix of distilled white vinegar and water. Lay the hat out on a clean surface and let it air dry. Hats made of felt like cowboy hats can be dry cleaned to remove salty sweat stains. The types of hats best suited for hand washing include baseball caps as long as you are not cleaning older hats with a cardboard bill wool hats and hand knit hats. Brush the hat gently in a clockwise motion to remove dust dirt and other light stains.

Turn the hatband out and allow the hat to dry completely between wearings. Spot clean the salt stains and then allow to dry completely. Our very own sarah teaches you how you can properly clean a felt hat so that it will last longer and keep you looking great. Lay the hat flat on a clean surface. As it s filling add a tablespoon of laundry detergent or oxiclean.

Use a soft brush to restore the nap of the felt. Whether you re sporting a cloth or straw version learn the proper way to treat rinse wash and rid your hat of spots and stains and keep it looking fresh. Soak the hat in this solution for about 15 minutes or until the hat seems clean. It s not recommended to dry clean top hats or fedoras. Dish soap can do in a pinch but detergent or a dedicated stain fighting treatment like oxiclean is stronger and works harder at getting the stains out of the hat s fibers.

Never dry a wool hat in a dryer as the hat will shrink significantly and may be completely ruined. Softer bristled brushes work best. As a simple cleaning technique a cool hairdryer and lint roller can be utilized to whisk away debris. Some sweat stained hats can be damaged with water based cleaning methods. Cleaning a hat by hand is generally the most effective way to clean your hat even if the label says it s safe to put in the washing machine.

Brushing the hat regularly keeps the material free of foreign elements that tend to build up over time. Felt hats top hats and fedoras for example do not take well to water. You may add a scoop of oxyclean into the water to brighten light colors. Avoid getting the hat wet at all costs as this will only damage the hat further. Pour in enough laundry detergent to create rich suds.