How To Clean Dress Hats

Hats made of felt like cowboy hats can be dry cleaned to remove salty sweat stains.

How to clean dress hats. Some sweat stained hats can be damaged with water based cleaning methods. Flip the hat over at some point so the bottom or inside can dry. 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. It s not recommended to dry clean top hats or fedoras. Use light pressure and rub in a circle over the area.

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. If salt stains form on the felt dip a white cloth into an equal mix of distilled white vinegar and water. For a hat caked in dust you can use a damp towel ringing it as dry as possible. Err on the side of cool versus hot. A soft bristled brush is the best way to clean your hat from everyday dirt and debris.

Avoid getting the hat wet at all costs as this will only damage the hat further. Spot clean the salt stains and then allow to dry completely. Brush the hat gently in a clockwise motion to remove dust dirt and other light stains. You may add a scoop of oxyclean into the water to brighten light colors. 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.

Turn the hatband out and allow the hat to dry completely between wearings. Brushing the hat regularly keeps the material free of foreign elements that tend to build up over time. Pour in enough laundry detergent to create rich suds. As it s filling add a tablespoon of laundry detergent or oxiclean. Incorrectly cleaning a hat could lead to discoloration disfiguration and a full on hat astrophe.

Softer bristled brushes work best. 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. Felt hats top hats and fedoras for example do not take well to water. As a simple cleaning technique a cool hairdryer and lint roller can be utilized to whisk away debris. Never dry a wool hat in a dryer as the hat will shrink significantly and may be completely ruined.