One of the most important things to keep in mind when taking care of your fedora wool hat is proper cleaning and maintenance. Wool and felt hats are luxurious and delicate, and require special care to avoid getting soiled.Here are some simple tips on how to clean your wool or felt fedora if it gets dirty:
Dust and Lint
To remove dust from your hat, use a lint roller to roll it in the opposite direction of the clock hands. After that, use an ultra-soft bristle brush to remove any excess lint or dust that the roller may have missed. If you don't have a hat brush, a baby toothbrush will work just as well.
Stains or Marks
Start by removing all the dust from the hat as mentioned above. Then, use a slightly damp cloth to gently rub or dab on the stain. If the stain is greasy, rub it in the opposite direction of the clock hands to activate the wool or felt fibers and loosen the stain. You can also use a yellow sponge from a hardware store, as they are designed to absorb dirt. We do not recommend using any chemical or stain remover products, as wool fibers are usually very delicate. If you want to try a natural stain remover, apply it first to a discreet part of the hat that is not visible to make sure it won't cause any adverse effects or discoloration. After cleaning, let the hat dry in the shade to avoid the sun shrinking the fibers. Once dry, brush it again for uniformity. Never put your hat in the washing machine.
Wrinkles or Deformations
If your wool or felt hat has a soft brim and is deformed, use steam around the crown until it feels damp and pliable. Then, use your hands to press the dented parts on the brim so that the hat regains its shape. Finally, let it dry. You don't need to apply direct heat with an iron. You can use steam from a pot or a steaming machine.
If your hat has a hard brim like our Morelia and Tlaquepaque hats and has dents or is wavy, you'll need a powerful steaming machine or an iron and a thick cotton cloth. If you have a steaming machine, pass steam all over the hat, and when it's damp, place the hat on a flat surface and press forcefully around the brim of the hat in the direction of the clock hands. Once it's flat and without dents, you can place flatteners or some heavy books for 15 minutes. Alternatively, you can use an iron:
- Set the iron to wool mode and maximum steam
- Place the cotton cloth over the brim of the hat
- Gently press the iron over the cloth, repeating this process around the entire brim of the hat
- With your hands in the direction of the clock hands, press it onto the table where you're ironing and let it rest for 15 minutes.
If you still have doubts, you can always check with a cleaning specialist or send us an email, and we will find a way to help you.
