Hat Cleaning Guide

Hat Cleaning Guide:

How to clean your hat? This is a question we receive time and time again, and for good reason: having a clean hat to finish your elegant outfit is just as important as the clothes you wear. We have listed here the essential tips for cleaning your hat at home.

Although professional cleaning is ideal, it's not always possible. Below, we've included details on how to clean your hat at home and tips for keeping them clean all year round. Our cleaning advice is tailored to the type of hat: straw hats or leather hats, caps... We reveal our cleaning secrets for elegant and durable hats.

Cleaning fur felt hats and wool hats
Cleaning straw hats
Cleaning suede hats
Cleaning leather hats
Cleaning fabric hats
Cleaning canvas hats
Cleaning wool berets

Cleaning fur felt hats and wool hats:

Shaping and reshaping your hat: Steam

Caution: steam is hot!

To clean your felt hat, brush it from top to bottom counterclockwise with a soft-bristled brush.
Use steam to reshape or clean it - Boil water. The most practical way is to use a steam iron and leave it open to let the steam escape, but a simple pot will do.
Hold the hat about 30 cm above the steam source. Moisten the entire hat or just the part to be reshaped this way, it should soften in a few tens of seconds.
Patiently shape the brim of your hat with your fingers if needed (in case your hat has become deformed, this is the best solution if you don't have a hat form)
To reshape the crown, smooth it by placing your hand inside the hat
For heavy stains, trichloroethylene can be used.

How to care for a felt hat after rain?

If your felt hat has gotten wet, it may become misshapen. Follow this very simple procedure to keep your model intact:

Shake the headwear to remove excess water from the felt
Then stuff it with tissue paper or a neutral dry cloth
Let it dry at room temperature and away from a radiator in winter
Once dry, brush it counterclockwise.

How to store your felt model?

To maintain its initial shape and thus avoid deformations, it should be stored upside down after use. That is to say on the top of its crown. You can also carefully place it on a hat stand or in a hat box for optimal storage.

What methods are there for cleaning a felt hat?

Daily: brushing and dusting; for this you can use a soft-bristled brush. Use it counterclockwise to remove excess dust
Restore shine to the felt and eliminate sweat. For this, steam is ideal, steam your hat, once moistened, clean it gently with a soft brush.
Persistent stains (sebum perspiration, blood, foundation - makeup, ...) In order to respect the qualities of the felt (breathability, water resistance, flexibility...), we advise you to use exclusively natural products such as Fuller's earth. Don't delay and treat the stain as soon as possible!

Recommended method with Fuller's earth:

Dry cleaning with Fuller's earth.
This powder has a strong absorbing power.
Sprinkle the powder on the stain, then let it work for several hours.
Then, work the powder into the surface by rubbing with a sponge or brush. Make sure it is clean and dry.
Finally, vacuum up the powder, then dust with a soft-bristled brush.

Cleaning straw hats:

Keep your straw hat clean and fresh by brushing it with a small brush or with a damp cloth.
Use a straw hat cleaner.
Store the hat on its upper part.
Keep your straw hat indoors during summer rains.
If your hat does get wet, wipe off excess water with a dry cloth. Then, place it on a flat, clean surface to dry. Steam it to reshape, if necessary.
Do not use artificial heat.

Cleaning suede hats:

Brush the suede hat with a slightly stiff-bristled brush to remove dirt and dust.
Regular brushing keeps suede looking fresh.

Cleaning leather hats:

Leather hats should be treated periodically with a leather cream. Once conditioned, your hat is ready to be worn in all seasons.
Avoid any contact with your wet hat and let it dry away from any heat source.
Also avoid placing it in direct sunlight for long periods, as such exposure can shrink the hat by one size.

Cleaning fabric hats:

If your hat is made of waxed or oiled cotton, simply rinse the hat.
If your fabric hat is made of untreated fabric, use a stiff-bristled brush to clean it. In case you have heavier stains, use a powder cleaner.

Cleaning canvas hats:

You can clean your canvas hats with a damp cloth. For heavier stains, you can use powder cleaners (Fuller's earth) or trichloroethylene.

Cleaning merino wool berets and caps:

It is forbidden to clean your beret in a washing machine, and hand washing and dry cleaning are excluded for felted virgin merino wool. In case the beret has stains, blot with absorbent paper and clean with a soft brush or natural sponge soaked in lukewarm water and Marseille soap, avoiding excessive wetting of the beret/cap and the leather brim.

For drying when it has been caught in the rain or you have sweated, always lay the beret flat, with paper inside, in the open air but away from light to preserve its shape and original color. Never dry your beret on a heat source. A little tip: To freshen up your beret/cap, apply some dry shampoo, let it dry for a few moments, then brush.

Maintenance, brushing, dusting: Felted merino wool is a material with exceptional qualities. However, it easily catches dust, textile fibers, and animal hair. We therefore recommend using an adhesive textile brush.

Tip: Slightly moisten the palm of your hand and gently rub the surface of your beret/cap in circles, the dust will then form a ball that you will only have to remove to get a clean beret.

To best protect your beret/cap, it is recommended to store it in a moth-proof bag or use a cedar ball after each use.