Washing a hat

Washing a hat A hat is a very stylish and interesting summer wardrobe item, but like any other item, it requires a specific approach to washing. Most hats are textured, meaning they have a specific shape. If you wash a hat haphazardly, without following any washing instructions, it will quickly become a shapeless mess. To prevent this, approach the washing process carefully.

Basic recommendations

It's worth noting that experts recommend washing your hat in a washing machine. Machine washing can damage the hat. Storage should also be approached responsibly.

If the hat is felt, it cannot be hung on a hanger.
All types of hats, including straw ones, are best stored in a box, stuffed with crumpled paper and wrapped in something. It is recommended to thoroughly clean the hat before long-term storage.

It's recommended to regularly maintain the appearance and condition of your hat to prevent persistent and serious stains. Although machine washing is often not an option, almost any type of stain can be removed by hand using household products: grease can be removed with gasoline, and greasy areas can be removed with a solution of ammonia and denatured alcohol.

How to clean from dust and dirt?

The method for cleaning a hat often depends on two factors: the material and the degree and type of dirt. Since most hats are made of felt, a dense, non-woven material, we'll focus on that material.

Please note: Even the slightest stains are very visible on a felt hat.

If dust has simply accumulated on the hat, you can remove it with either a vacuum cleaner with a soft-bristled attachment or a clothes brush. If you can't remove the dirt without cleaning products, try the following: grayness is removed with ammonia

mix salt, ammonia and 9% vinegar in proportions 1:2:2;
make a solution of water and baking soda;
Mix water and ammonia in a 1:1 ratio.

To avoid damaging your felt hat, try to keep the amount of water you use to a minimum. Even the minimum concentrations of these solutions are effective in removing stains.

If the hat gets wet in the rain

You shouldn't get your hats wet, but if you do get wet in the rain, there's a way to properly dry them and keep their shape:

You can remove rainwater from the hat with a steamer, but keep it away from the material. It's best to hold the hat over a pan of boiling water and then brush the nap.
To completely dry the product, place it in a warm place, but away from heating devices.

To ensure even drying and to maintain shape, stuff the inside of the hat with crumpled paper, such as newspaper.

Cleaning specific stains

Wearing hats every day can lead to them picking up specific stains that are difficult to remove with a dry brush. Let's figure out how to remove them in 5 minutes using household products.

To remove whitewash stains, mix 9% vinegar and water in a 1:1 ratio and wipe the stains with the resulting solution, working from the edges toward the center. Then wipe the cleaned surface with a damp cloth.
To remove stubborn grease stains, you can use gasoline. Take a coarse, porous cloth, dip it in a solution of water and gasoline, and wipe away the stains. The substances are mixed in equal proportions.
If the stains are fresh, you don't necessarily need to resort to gasoline. Instead, soak a cloth in denatured alcohol and wipe the surface of the material.
If the hat is made of black felt and needs cleaning, a tobacco decoction will help. Add a tablespoon to a liter of water, soak a cloth in the solution, and wipe the hat.

Caution! The downside of the "tobacco" method is its characteristic lingering odor, which not everyone likes. To get rid of it, you'll need to air out the hat for several days.

You can avoid the hassle of home remedies and use specialized stain removers. However, be sure to use them strictly according to the manufacturer's instructions.

Cleaning a hat made of light-colored fabric

Light-colored hats aren't any easier to clean than dark-colored ones. However, cleaning them is also easy at home. The choice of the right cleaning solution depends on the level of dirt:

Add a small amount of purified gasoline to the starch, drop by drop, until a paste forms. Apply the resulting mixture to the item, let it dry, and then brush it off.
Heat the semolina in a frying pan, being careful not to let it burn. Apply the hot semolina to the stains and rub it in with your fingers. Shake off any dried semolina and wipe the hat with a damp cloth.
You can refresh light-colored fabrics with dry bran. Rub it into the garment, then tap it out with your fingers from the back.
To remove yellowing, mix 1 liter of water, 2 teaspoons of ammonia, and 4 tablespoons of hydrogen peroxide. Dip a clothes brush in the solution and wipe the garment.
If your felt hat has faded in the sun, special solutions will help. A home remedy that can replace them is a solution of water and soda (a little soda per liter of water).
A summer hat can be in for an unexpected surprise: traces of bird droppings. These should be removed while still fresh using a regular soap solution. If the droppings are already dried, you'll need to sand the surface of the hat.
A solution of water and ammonia works well against brown stains. Apply a small amount of the solution to a sponge and wipe the hat.