How to Care for a Felt Hat
The rain came sideways across the parking lot at the Fort Worth Stockyards, and you made it to the truck about ten seconds too late. Your hat is wet. Your first instinct is to set it on the dashboard and crank the defroster. Don't.
A good felt hat can last for years if you treat it with a little common sense. Here is the routine.
Handle it by the brim
Most wear on a felt hat happens in the hands, not in the weather. When you pick up your hat, take it by the front and back of the brim, ideally with both hands. Pinching the crown over and over can wear the felt thin at the pinch and leave it shiny or misshapen.
Brushing
Dust settles into felt the way it settles into everything in West Texas. A soft hat brush lifts it out before it works its way in.
- Use a soft-bristle brush made for hats.
- Brush with the nap. Most hatters suggest working counterclockwise around the crown and brim. Run your hand over the felt: the smooth direction is the right one.
- Brush gently and often rather than hard and rarely.
- If you own both, use a light brush for light hats and a dark brush for dark hats.
Storage
Where your hat spends the night matters as much as where it spends the day.
- Set it upside down on its crown, or hang it on a hat rack or hook. Do not leave it resting flat on its brim, which can flatten the shape over time.
- For longer storage, use a hat box in a cool, dry closet.
- Keep it out of hot cars. A back window or dashboard in summer can shrink a sweatband and distort a crown.
- Keep it out of direct sun for long stretches, which can fade the color.
Rain and getting wet
Felt sheds a light rain. A real soaking takes a little more care.
- Shake off the excess water gently.
- Turn the sweatband out so it can dry.
- Set the hat upside down on its crown at room temperature, on a clean surface.
- Let it air dry completely. No hair dryer, heater, oven or defroster.
- Once it is fully dry, brush it back into order.
If the brim or crown has lost its shape, a hatter can reshape it with steam. You can try it at home, but it is easy to make things worse.
The sweatband
The sweatband is the hardest-working part of the hat. It sits against your skin all day and soaks up sweat, oil and dust.
- After a hot day, turn the sweatband out and let it air dry before you put the hat away.
- If it gets grimy, wipe it lightly with a barely damp cloth, then let it dry the same way.
- Avoid soaking it. Too much water can shrink a leather sweatband.
- When it finally wears out, a hatter can replace it. A new sweatband is a normal part of a long hat life.
Spots and stains
Treat spots early and gently. A clean, dry hat sponge or a felt eraser made for hats can lift light marks. For grease or oil, a hatter is the safer call. Avoid household cleaners and anything wet and soapy. Felts and finishes vary, so check the maker's care notes on each product before you try anything.
What to leave to a hatter
- Deep cleaning
- Reshaping a crown or brim
- Replacing a sweatband or hatband
- Resizing
A good hatter is worth knowing. Find one near you and keep the number in your phone. Most of them are happy to talk shop.
Small habits that add years
- Put your hat on and take it off by the brim, every time.
- Give it a quick brush before you hang it up at night.
- Rotate between two hats in heavy-wear seasons so each one gets a rest.
- Carry it crown-down on a car seat, not brim-down on the floorboard.
A few hats worth looking after
Everything in our hat collection rewards this kind of care, felts most of all. A few to start with:
- The Canyon Coffee Brown Cowboy Hat, a dark felt that forgives a little road dust.
- The Shane Upturned-Brim Felt Hat, with a brim shape worth protecting.
- The Black Alpaca Felt Western Hat, for evenings and occasions.
- The Teddy Cattleman Felt Hat, a classic crease for everyday wear.
Brush it, rest it upside down, and keep it out of the truck in July. It will remember the favor.