CARING FOR YOUR HAT

HATS ARE LIKE ANYTHING ELSE IN LIFE; IF YOU WANT THEM TO LOOK GOOD,
YOU'LL HAVE TO CARE FOR THEM.​​.

TRAVELING WITH YOUR HAT

CARING FOR STRAW HATS

Keep "good" hats in a hatbox, on a hook or on the top shelf of your closet.  

Keep all hats away from extended periods of time in the sun. It will dry out straws, causing breakage.

Never wear a hat in the rain unless it is expressly intended for it.

You can use an iron set on number three to repair damage to flat brim straw hats. While keeping the iron moving, use your fingers to maneuver the straw back to its original shape. Do not use on high heat, as it will burn the straw.

To remove dirty marks from straw, use a cloth dampened with water and mild detergent (always test on an inconspicuous area first). Go over the spot rapidly and then press it dry with another piece of cloth.

CARING FOR FELT & WOOL HATS

To clean a fur felt hat or wool hat, you’ll need a soft bristle brush and, in more extreme cases, a steam cleaner and powdered cleaners.. Brush the top and bottom counter-clockwise with a soft bristle brush.

Set your hat on its top or hang from a peg or hat hook to help it retain its shape.

If your hat gets wet, shake off all excess water, let dry, then lightly brush clean.

Use steam to shape and clean hat. For heavy stains, powdered cleaners may be used.

CLEANING LEATHER HATS

Brush your hat with a nylon or slightly stiff bristle brush to get out loose dirt and dust. Brushing periodically keeps the suede looking fresh.

Buff any matted suede or caked on dirt with emery cloth or fine-grit sandpaper. It is important to choose a grit that matches the finish of your hat; 120-grit works well with most suede hats.

For light colored leathers, a suede bar (sometimes called a suede eraser) works best on most stains. Move the suede bar in a circular pattern to "erase" the stain. You may need to work the material aggressively for set in stains. Then brush again with the suede brush.

Oily stains from sweat cannot be removed completely. You may remove most of the oils and odors with a mixture of one part baby shampoo and 15 parts warm water. Use this mixture with your suede brush.

If your hat gets wet, shake off excess water and let dry. Then brush clean.   Steam clean to get rid of water spots or reshape your hat.

Leather hats should be periodically treated with leather dressing like mink oil, neatsfoot oil, Lexol/Brik4 or similar products. Be sure to avoid saddle soap, as that may dry your leather hat. (Oiled leather hats tend to require less attention.)

ADDITIONAL MAINTENANCE TIPS

Always stuff the crown with tissue paper or keep them on a head form.

Treat your hat with a waterproof spray to avoid moisture damage

Some hats may shrink when exposed to extreme heat, such as drying by an open fire, so avoid any exposure to high heat

Store your hats in a hat box and cover your most valuable hats with a vinyl hat cover to avoid dust buildup, staining and odor accumulation.

Embrace your hat’s unique stretches and permanent marks as signs of authenticity and character — it’s what makes it your own!