Most of what keeps a felt hat looking good happens in thirty seconds after you take it off. A little regular care keeps dust from settling into the felt and buys you years between deep cleanings.
Everyday care
- Brush it. Use a soft hat brush and work around the hat counterclockwise, following the direction of the felt. Brush the crown and both sides of the brim.
- Lift surface dirt. A dry hat cleaning sponge picks up light marks and lint. Use gentle strokes and test a hidden spot first.
- Air out the sweatband. After a long day, turn the sweatband out and let it dry before you put the hat away.
Skip household cleaners, stain removers and soaking. They can spot, shrink or stiffen felt. Keep heat away too: hair dryers, heaters and a hot dashboard can pull a hat out of shape.
If it gets wet
Shake off the water, turn the sweatband out and set the hat upside down on its crown at room temperature. Let it dry on its own. Do not wear it until it is fully dry, and resist the urge to speed things up with heat.
When to hand it off
Some problems go deeper than a brush can reach:
- Sweat and salt lines that have worked through the band into the felt
- Stains that do not lift with a dry sponge
- A crown that has been crushed or a brim that has warped after rain
- A sweatband that has gone stiff, curled or smells no matter how long it airs out
That is the kind of work we do. Start a request with a few photos and we will tell you what is possible and the price before any work starts.
Watch
Further reading
- How To Clean A Felt Cowboy Hat · Tecovas
- Cowboy Hat Care · Resistol
Videos and articles belong to their creators. We link to them because we think they are worth your time.