Your hat is an important part of your wardrobe, and it’s important to take care of it so that you can continue to make the most of it for years. In this blog post, we will give you some tips on how to clean a hat. We will walk you through how to care for leather, suede and wool hats. So whether you have a favourite old hat that you want to keep in good condition, or you’ve just bought a new one, make sure to read this post!
So you’ve got your hat, and now you’re going to want to look after it.
Wondering how to clean a hat? How to store a hat? Which leather care products are right for your hat?
Your Hattic hat was made to last a lifetime, but just like anything else it will age and show signs of wear with time. Mostly, this will just mean seeing your hat grow in character: a natural patina developing or the material adapting to fit the unique shape of your head perfectly. In essence, like all the finer things in life your hat should really just get better with age. But there are a few things you can do along the way to help it out – knowing how to clean your hat without damaging it will help improve its lifespan and keep it in tip top condition.
How to Clean Your Hat
All hats made by The Hattic can be freshened up on the inside with the steam from the kettle. To clean your hat with steam, boil the kettle and hold the hat over it for a minute or so, being careful to keep your hands away from the steam and not to burn them. Once the steam has filled the inside of your hat for about a minute, wipe it out with a cotton cloth like a tea towel, and leave to air. This method of gently applying steam to the interior of your hat and then wiping away any grime or sweat with a cotton cloth is your best bet when it comes to keeping your hat generally fresh and clean on the inside.
General Hat Care
Your hats should be stored somewhere dry and away from direct sunlight to avoid fading or damaging the fabric. Some hats may shrink or warp in heat so avoid ever drying your hat on the radiator or leaving it near high heat. Of course, this doesn’t mean you can’t wear your hat in the summer. By all means wear your hat to protect your head and look stylish in the sun, but avoid storing it in that direct sunlight when you take it off.
To avoid misshaping your hat, we recommend storing it on a peg (especially our 8 piece caps). For more structured styles like Fedoras, Trilbies and Pork Pie hats leave them resting upside down on the crown. This will help avoid your hat being pushed out of shape, whatever the material or style. Store wool hats in a moth-proof container or area, to avoid them being eaten up and full of holes!
Looking After Leather Hats
If you have a leather hat, it’s important to clean the inside of it every now and then. This will help to remove any sweat or dirt that may have built up. You can do this by using the steam method outlined above. Or, to clean tougher stains inside your hat – use a damp cloth and some mild soap, like baby shampoo. Be sure to dry the hat properly afterwards, otherwise it may start to mould.
There are lots of leather care products on the market to satisfy a range of needs whether you are looking to protect, waterproof or nourish your leather hat. At the Hattic we usually tend to like our leather hats to do their own thing and develop their own natural patina, but if you would like to use a leather conditioner or water repellent solution opt for something high quality. These hat care products can easily be found online or on the high street.
Avoid spraying perfume or applying hairspray while you are wearing your leather hat. Using alcohol based products will stain the leather. Wait until perfumes, colognes, moisturisers and hair products have all dried before handling and wearing your hat.
Oilskin hat Care
Oilskin hats were made for the outdoors: they are water repellent and durable. Which makes sense since dry oilskin hats were originally worn by sailors and fishermen. To care for your oilskin hat, you can occasionally apply a coat of oilskin wax treatment. This will help keep the fabric watertight.
Our oilskin cotton and canvas hats at the Hattic can only be spot cleaned – never put them in the washing machine or fully submerge in water. You can spot clean your oilskin hat by brushing off any loose dirt before wiping stained patches with a damp cloth and a little mild soap.
Don’t leave your oilskin hat in direct sunlight, for example in your car.
Suede Hat Care
Suede is a delicate material, so it’s important to take care of it when cleaning. If your suede hat gets dirty, you can try to clean it with a soft brush or a damp (but not wet!) cloth. Be very careful not to get the suede wet, as this will cause it to shrink and could damage the fabric. This applies to both cleaning and wearing your suede hat, keep it out of the rain if you can!
