How to Clean a Felt Hat

John asked: How do I clean a black felt hat? It has deep dust stains and lint on it.

Felt hats are classic and versatile hats that have been around for years. Proper care not only keeps the hat clean and looking good, it is essential for extending the life of the hat. Generally, cleaning and caring for your felt hat is simple and can be done with a few simple steps. Here are the general guidelines for keeping your hat in beautiful, wearable condition.

You Will Need:

Soft hat brush (dark colored for dark hats and light colored for light hats)
Wide tape such as masking or painter’s tape
Water
Mild soap
Old toothbrush

Steps to Clean the Hat:

Start by removing dirt from the surface of the hat with a hat brush. Gently brush the surface of the hat starting on the left and working counter-clockwise around to the back.
To remove lint from the hat, wrap wide tape around your hand so that the sticky side is facing out.
Gently press the tape against the areas with lint. Apply just enough pressure so the lint will adhere to the tape.
Lift quickly to remove. You should see the lint transferred to the tape.
Repeat until all of the lint is removed.
Lastly, turn the sweatband down and allow it to dry completely. By turning it out, the oils and perspiration will evaporate rather than soak into the felt on the hat.
If the sweatband needs to be cleaned, this can be done with great caution not to get the hat wet. Moisten a towel or toothbrush with water and a mild soap. Gently scrub the sweatband to remove any dirt and stains.
Rinse and blot it with a soft cloth to dry. Again, avoid getting any water/detergent on the hat as it will leave spots.

Additional Tips and Ideas

Avoid placing the brim of the hat on a flat surface as it can cause it to flatten and lose its shape. Always set it upside-down on the crown.
Store your hat in a hat box or on a clean surface to prevent stains and discolorations.
When moving the hat around, try to adjust it using the brim, rather than the crown. Avoid touching the crown to keep away oils and dirt that may cause spots.
Heat can cause the sweatband inside of the hat to shrink, leaving you with a hat that is too small. Keep your hat in a cool location.
If you need a hat stand, one can quickly be made at home by covering an oatmeal container or coffee can.

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{ 3 comments… read them below or add one }

Barbara December 1, 2009 at 11:33 pm How to get water circles out of a felt hat: I have my grandfather’s hat since his death of almost forty five years ago. Although it is in a hat box for protection in the top of the closet it still got damaged over the years. It has water circles around the brim and is molded spots on it. I want to clean it and keep it as long as can. Do you know what to clean it with or is it to late? Thank you so much for the advise.
Jcauley December 16, 2009 at 6:48 am cleaning felt hat: My husband spilled coca cola on the brim of a nice felt hat. How can I get the stain out? It is only on the under side of the brim.
Desmond Lundy August 15, 2010 at 5:19 pm cleaning felt hat: I have an Akrubra fur felt hat in serious need of cleaning. It is sweat stained but there is no hat cleaning service near me. Can you direct me to procedures whereby I can do a thorough cleaning. I can easily make of a size block to retain the present sweat band shape/dimensions.