How to Clean, Care and Maintain Your Hat

CLEANING: Remove dust and dirt by brushing with soft brush counterclockwise with short strokes until you worked your way around. (hat brush designed for felt hats are the best). Wipe with damp cloth to remove lint after brushing or use a piece of masking tape. To remove a stubborn spot, use a damp cloth with mild soap, then remove the soap with a cloth with clean water. Use a lint free towel and press down to remove the water. Then air dry the hat. You can also try a super-fine sandpaper to remove small spots. Never wash a wool felts hat by submerging it in water.

CARING: Make sure your hands are relatively clean when handling your hat; at least of grease. Hold the brim of your hat not the crown when removing it from your head to maintain shape of the crown. We prefer picking up the hat with thumb inside at sides and fingers barely touching brim. Lay hat upside down when setting it on a surface. Laying it on the brim will flatten and distort the brim. Do not expose your hat to high heat.

If your hat is wet from rain or sweat, use a towel to remove as moisture as possible. Then flip up the sweatband and lay the hat upside down or hang it on a hook and allow it to dry naturally. Do not use hairdryer, dryer, or subject it to high heat from fireplace; heat could cause the wool hat to shrink. Felt will retain the shape it dries in, so check the crown and the brim as you leave it to dry. Small creases and dents can be removed with a steamer. If your hat is completely soaked, it is very difficult to save it without professional help. Felted wool is delicate when wet, it shrinks and deforms as it dries. Gently shake off the water, then pat dry with a towel. Place it on a hat form, you can try to use a container, or bowl, just keep in mind whatever shape you place it on will be the shape. You can also try to weight down the brim to prevent curling. You can use a steamer to shape it.

STORING: Hang your hat on a wide hat hook. If you seldom wear your hat, store it in a hat box or bag. Fedora, safari, cowboy hats should be kept on a hat form, or the crown be stuffed with tissue, so it doesn't sit on its brim. Women's floppy hat can lay flat. You can stack similar crown shaped hats to save space. You can remove dents with a steamer, or over boiling tea pot of water.

CLEANING: Knitted and crocheted wool hats and scarves tend to shrink and can lose its shape. Wool items can be machine washed on wool setting or cold water wash on gentle cycle. Do not wash in a machine with agitator. Always use a detergent made for wool. Stretch and flat dry.

If your hat shrunk or became inconsistent, it can be blocked to unshrink.

CARING: Brush off dirt, shake off dust. Store in a dry area. If you get caught in the rain, remove water with a towel, stretch into shape and lay flat to dry.

CLEANING: Use a soft brush to dust off. Wipe off with a moist cloth to remove small stains. For tougher stains use a cloth dampened in warm water and soap. Use clean a cloth with clean water to remove soap residue, and a towel to remove excess water. Do not let the straw to soak. Air dry and try again.

CARING: Grabbing your straw, Panama hat by the pinch of the crown, could distort the original shape, or cause cracks and holes, especially the firmer weaved, glazed natural straw hats. Best to hold it by the brim when removing from your head. Place your fedora, safari style hats upside down on its crown when setting it on a surface or hang it up. This prevents the brim from curling up.

If your hat gets wet, dry it quickly with a cloth, then let it dry naturally with the brim turned up. Steam it to shape if necessary.

CLEANING: Brush off dust or soil with soft brush. Spot clean only with damp cloth or sponge. Use mild soap if necessary. Do not soak the hat. To clean the sweatband, turn it up, place a towel between the band and inside of the hat, and use a small brush or cloth with mild soap and water solution. Dry with a towel, keep the inner band turned up and let dry. To dry it faster, use a hairdryer on low to medium setting.

CARING: Paper straw hats can be treated with water repellent agent, to make it more water resistant. Misshapen, creased hats can be steamed. With thin toyo straw hats use tightly rolled towel placed inside, then push fibers in line with the brush head of the steamer. With heavier paperbraid hats, place the brush of the steamer on the inside and push against the crown to release wrinkles. To release a crease on the brim with a steamer, place the hat on a flat heat resistant surface and press. You can also use a steam iron with a cloth.

CLEANING: Cotton hats are washable, but they can shrink. We recommend washing them by hand in cold water with a mild detergent. If you prefer to machine wash, use gentle cycle with cold water. Do not use fabric softener. As large shrinkage is caused by heat, line dry the hat in a well ventilated area to allow quick drying. For small stains spot cleaning is the best.

CARING: Cotton hats can be folded and put away. Creases can be released with a steamer or iron.

CARING FOR A CANVAS HAT: Use a brush to remove dirt and dust. Spot clean stains with damp cloth, use mild detergent to remove tougher stains. Waxed or oiled cotton hats can be rinsed off.

CLEANING: Wipe the surface of leather hats with a soft cloth, sherpa, or a damp cloth to remove dust and dirt. Suede hats can be cleaned with a stiff brush; stains can be removed with fine sand paper. Do not dry clean.

CARING: If your hat gets wet, wipe with dry cloth. Let it air dry on flat, clean surface. Never leave your hat in an enclosed area where it is subjected to extreme heat. It will cause shrinkage. Smooth leather hats may occasionally be treated with quality leather dressing. You can treat your hat with waterproof spray. Pick up your hat by the brim want to keep the original shape of the crown. Though, we love the look of a well-aged leather hat with its unique creases and wrinkles. Scarring and subtle variations naturally occur on genuine leather which makes each hat unique and enhances its character and authenticity.

CLEANING: Hats made out of synthetic material, such as nylon, polyester or a blend, are very easy to clean. These materials are colorfast, shrink resistant. Wash on gentle cycle. You can line dry or dry in dryer. Synthetic fabrics dry fast.

CARING: Synthetic fabrics smooth structure often repels dirt, but you can brush or rinse off the hat as well.