Made from natural fibers steamed and pressed into shape, wool felt is soft yet sturdy. It holds its form beautifully and feels comfortable in all seasons. Like everything else, it can pick up dust and debris over time.
Before we style any hat at The Original Hat Bar, we start with a clean slate — literally. A fresh, dust-free hat is the best foundation for your hatbands, feathers, pins and other charcuterie.
If you wear your custom hat often, it will need cleaning sooner or later. Even just letting it hang on your wall or sit on your dresser for too long can leave it looking like it’s lost its spark. No worries, though.
When your hat seems like it needs a little picker-upper, just follow these steps to freshen it up.
Step 1: Brush it off
Grab a soft-bristle hat brush and gently sweep away dust and dirt in a counterclockwise direction, starting at the front, or with the natural nap of the felt. You can also use a gum eraser or clean makeup sponge, if you don’t have a hat brush.
Step 2: Roll with it
For stubborn fuzzies or lint, a lint roller works great. One quick swipe and your hat is fuzz free.
Step 3: Spot-clean stains
First, take a moment to size up the stain. Different marks need different treatments, and rushing in can sometimes make things worse. Go slow and have patience. And the sooner you get to a stain, the better.
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Water-based stains: Dampen a clean cloth or hat sponge ever so slightly with water and a drop of mild soap. Dab gently — don’t scrub — until the mark disappears. Be sure to use a dark-colored sponge for dark-colored hats and a light-colored sponge for light-colored hats.
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Oil-based stains: Sprinkle a little cornstarch or talcum powder right on the spot. Let it sit for a bit, then use a hat brush to brush it off.
Step 4: Keep it in shape
While this post is all about cleaning your hat, a wool hat that gets worn a lot may need to be reshaped too. If your brim gets bent, your crown gets crushed or you wake up one day and your topper feels too tight, you can steam it back into shape.
What not to do when you clean your hat
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Don’t toss it in the wash. Wool felt is delicate; your washer is a one-way ticket to ruin.
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Don’t soak it in water. A damp cloth is fine, but a full dunk can be your hat’s demise.
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If your hat is damp, don’t put it in the dryer or set it out in the sun. Heat and felt are not friends.
