Classic hats have always been in trend and have made an even more stunning comeback in the past few years. At the same time, some people with unique and classical choices like tradition and love wearing hats as an attractive accessory no matter the trend. Hats bring in with them classic handsomeness. A hat, like a suit or a watch, is the kind of accessory most people doesn’t mind shelling out a few extra dollars for to get a top-quality product.
Following are a few tips and tricks to embrace the longevity of a hat and keep it fresh, sharp, and clean.
- Storing a hat
Whenever taking the hat off and putting it down, please do not keep it on its brim, but lay it flat upside down on the crown. Laying a hat on a flat surface on its brim will make it flatten out and lose shape before time.
It is also suggested to hang the hat on a peg or a hat rack. But while doing so, always ensure that the hook or peg is wide enough not to sink a dimple in the hat. In case of the hook or peg is a little too sharp or pointed for the hat, cutting a slit in a tennis ball and slipping it over the hook creates a broader platform. However, hats should never be stored on hooks for extended periods; the gravitational pull acting on the hat tends to change the hat’s shape.
It is best to place hats in hatboxes when storing them for extended periods. A hatbox will support both the crown and brim of the hat. This box should then be kept in a cool and dry place since heat and moisture tend to cause damage to the hat material. Using lavender or cedar prevents moths from attacking the topper.
- Cleaning the hat
If a felt hat looks tired and dirty, it needs a loving brush. Nylon bristles tend to be too harsh for felt; a horsehair brush will do the job well.
- Lose dirt
A soft shoe shine brush will also do the trick, or some people also buy special brushes designed to brush hats. However, it is essential to note that the bristles’ color sometimes bleeds on the hat, hence dark-colored bristles for dark-colored hats and vice versa. Gently brush the hat in counterclockwise, short motions. Regular brushing prolongs the hat’s life even if dirt is not visible.
- Dust
Wiping with a slightly damped cloth will help eliminate settled dust particles.
- Hair and fuzz
If fuzz or pet hair gets on the hat, gently wipe it with a piece of sticky tape. Use the tape to wrap a finger, the sticky side facing the hat, and sweep it across it. All of the hair and fuzz gets stuck on the tape.
- Smudges and stains
Stains and smudges on felt hats could be cleaned using gum erasers, rubber sponges, or make-up sponges. Dry-cleaning sponges and sponges explicitly made for cleaning hats are also available in the market.
A trick to get rid of grease stains is to rub cornstarch on it and brush it off after a while. Spray cleaners are available for even more stubborn stains. Spray it on the stain and brush it off when it becomes a dry powder. Rubbing ivory soap and wet cloth can clean stains on straw hats.
- Prolonging the life of the hat
Handle the hat by the brim, not by the crown. We all like to grab our hats by the crown; it feels good and looks cool too! Unfortunately, it may feel sauvé, but it is detrimental for the hat. Much pinching weakens the crown and makes it lose shape or sometimes even creates a crease that cannot be fixed. Please take off the hat by holding it from the front or back of the brim, and never grasp by the crown. Always handle it with clean hands so that grease and grime are not transferred onto the hat. Dirt and oils from our palms also soil the hat.
- Naturally air dry wet hats
If caught in a rainstorm or a hat gets soaked, always let it dry naturally; artificial hot air from heaters and hair dryers shrinks and distorts the actual shape of hats. To avoid creating flat spots on the crown, turn the sweatband inside out and keep the hat on a towel on its brim. Always remember to reshape the hat to its proper form; a moist hat takes the shape it is left in.
Avoid getting a straw hat wet at all times. The moisture causes the straw to swell, disturbing the hat’s shape.
- Never leave the hat behind in a hot car
Heat and sunlight adversely affect the hat, distorting it. Heat dries out, shrinks, and fades the color of the hat. It is almost toxic to leave it on the dashboard or trunk.
When the sweatbands get wet or oily, dry them by flipping them upside down. This prevents sweat from soaking into the hat, allowing it to evaporate.
Don’t try to cut down on the expenditure when buying a hat; check here for a dedicated hat platform to choose one that fits best and suits the wallet. It might cost a little dime extra initially, but it can last a lifetime if it’s taken care of. Thus, giving back more bang for the dollar spent than something that will fall apart in a couple of years.
