Hat care

Storing a Hat

The hat box that ships with every hat is the best storage for your hat.

For non-long term storage, you can hang your hat on a hat rack or peg. Make sure the peg or hook is wide enough to not create a dimple in the hat. If your hook seems too narrow, cut a slit in a tennis ball and slip it over the hook to create a wider platform. Do not store your hat on a peg for long periods of time as the force of gravity pulling on the hat can change its shape.

When putting your hat down on a flat surface, lay it upside down on its crown, not on its brim. Leaving it on its brim will cause it to flatten out and change shape.

If you plan on storing your hat for an extended period of time, then it’s best to place the hat in a cardboard hat box which supports both the brim and crown, and provides proper breath-ability, and dust protection for your hat. Store the box in a cool, dry place, as both heat and moisture can damage your hat.

Prolonging the Life of Your Hat

Handle it by the brim, not the crown.

Too much pinching will misshape the crown and weaken  its ability to holds its shape or create a crease that can’t be fixed. Oils and dirt from your hand will also soil the hat. Take off or pick up your hat by grasping it at the front and back of the brim. Always handle your hat with clean hands to avoid transferring grime to it.

1

Allow wet hats to dry naturally.

If you get caught in a rainstorm and your hat becomes soaked, allow it to dry naturally; artificial heat from a hair dryer or heater can shrink the hat. Turn the sweatband out and place the hat on its brim on a towel to avoid creating flat spots on the crown. You can also hang it on a peg or hat rack. Shape the hat to its proper form; a wet hat will dry in the shape you leave it in.

2

Never leave your hat in your hot car.

Heat and sunlight can dry out and shrink your hat. So don’t leave it on your dashboard or in your trunk, or sitting in front of a window at home. If its needs to be in a car in the heat make sure its not in a bent position the heat will misshape it that way.

3

When your sweatband gets wet and oily, flip it down to let it dry out.

This allows the perspiration to evaporate instead of soaking into your hat.

4

Cleaning a Hat

First, let’s gather up all the items we need to get the job done. You’ll want to have the following items listed below, which should be pretty easy to find at your local Walmart, Target, Amazon or HomeGoods store.

  • Hat Brush
  • Lint Remover
  • Clear Hand Soap or Detergent
  • Wash Cloth
  • Steamer and/or Iron
  • Hat Stiffener Spray

With time, your hat is going to gather airborne particles, from dust, to lint, to pet hairs if you happen to own one. Grab your hat brush, and brush outward to remove these particles from your hat. You’ll want to work from the inside out, so start with the crown area, and then work from the inner-brim to the outer-brim. Don’t forget the under-brim and inside the crown of the hat as well. Next, grab your lint roller, and roll gently around the crown and brim to remove any remaining particles.

Next up is our battle with stains. And lighter the hat color, the tougher the battle. So if you’ve got a dirt stain on your fedora, it’s time to grab a wash cloth, grab a bit of colorless detergent or hand soap, and squirt a dab of soap into a cup of water. No more than a teaspoon’s worth, as you’ll want to avoid hat discoloration from any soap residue.

For best results, use a wash cloth that’s similar in shade or color to your fedora. For instance, a white or light grey wash cloth for a white or camel colored hat, and a black wash cloth for a darker colored hat, in order to avoid introducing unnecessary fabric lint to your fedora.

Apply a light amount of your wash solution to the washcloth and scrub gently in a circular motion. You want the washcloth to be damp and NOT soaking wet. For more stubborn stains, try using an old toothbrush. Scrub the stained area gently in a circular motion.

Next, wipe off any excess moisture on your fedora, with a dry area of the washcloth. Brush the cleaned area with your hat brush once more and allow to dry on a flat surface.

It’s highly likely that if your fedora needs cleaning, it also needs a little reshaping and TLC. If so, it’s time to grab your standing or hand held steamer, and get to work. Steam out the crown and brim slowly, to bring the hat back to its original form. Check out our ‘How to Fix a Crushed Hat’ tutorial for more information on this topic.  If you own a flat stiff brim fedora like our Geoffrey, James or Ferguson Fedora, you’ll want to iron the brim with high heat and steam, to bring it back to it’s completely flat, blade-like form. We’ve also covered this procedure extensively, in our Hat Straightening video. Now set your steamed or ironed hat on a flat surface to dry and take shape, and give it a few minutes.

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