The possession of a straw cowboy hat is an item in the American summer fashion and hardworking life in the country. No matter whether you wear it to country music festivals or when you are working in the hot Texas sun it will accumulate dust and sweat at some point in time. When you know how to clean it, you will have your favorite item of western wear that is still fresh and looks as it maintains its original shape. This detailed instructional manual will make sure that you have all necessary steps that can ensure your headwear is in perfect condition over the years. It is a seasonal habit with many Americans to switch the heavy felt hat with a lightweight one, which is made of straw. Straw enables your head to be ventilated in hot heat waves and it also offers the much needed shades to your face and neck. The nature of the natural woven materials is such that they absorb dirt of the environment very fast. Various materials such as the Shantung or Toyo straw are also of different finishes, but the same suffer day to day wear and tear. There is a certain amount of knowledge that is needed to maintain such hats to ensure that they are not damaged accidentally. By learning how to clean a straw cowboy hat at home, you will save money and at the same time keep your precious investment that you invested in not deteriorating with early wear.
What is the reason why you should clean your hat on a regular basis?
The largest enemies of the natural straw fibers are dirt and sweat. When you are sweating in an afternoon long walk outside the moisture trickles down into the hatband and the straw round it. With time this water will draw dust and leave dark spots that will destroy the beauty of your hat. Salt and body oils are also present in sweat and eventually destroy the woven material rendering it brittle and thus crack. This breakdown can be avoided by maintenance and thereby the investment life can be prolonged. The unpleasant aroma also does not accumulate in the crown because of the clean hat. It is worthwhile to take a few minutes and clean your hat after a dusty weekend, and it will be well compensated in the long term. Cowboy hats of high quality are not cheap and thus taking good care of them becomes the financial priority of any person who wears it frequently. The wear and tear of the protective finish by the dirt grinding into the weave is like sandpaper. The moment that finish is eroded the hat is highly prone to being ruined by the water and other serious stains. Normal treatment prevents this vicious cycle.
Items that you require to begin cleaning.
The first thing that you need in order to restore your western hat is to amass the necessary materials. You do not require costly business cleaners in order to do it well. A brush with soft bristles is required to rub off the loose dusty surface without scratching the straw which is very delicate. The use of horsehair is commonly thought to be the most suitable brush on this type of delicate job. Some clean white cloths should also be taken to wipe the surface. Plain white cotton may be used since there might be any dye on the colored cloths that would be transferred onto the light colored straw. A weak detergent e.g. mild dish soap or baby shampoo would be ideal as a mild cleaning agent since it is pH balanced and will not remove natural oils. A small bowl of warm water will be required in order to dilute the soap. In case the hat has greasy areas due to the sunscreen or hair products then you should store a bit of cornstarch or talcum powder to absorb the oils. Another thing you may desire is a special dry hat sponge in case you have it. It is easy to have all these prepared before the process starts and this way, the whole exercise of maintenance is smooth and efficient.
Instruction on cleaning a cowboy hat a straw: Step-by-Step directions.
The real cleaning involves slight touch and some level of patience. Begin by your soft-bristled brush, and sweeps it over the whole of the hat surface. It is always important to brush with the weave of the straw so that the fibers will not be entangled or torn. According to many hat experts, it is advisable to brush the top crown of the hat in a counter-clockwise manner and the other way round the bottom of the brim in a clockwise manner. The dry brushing removes the loose layer of dirt which falls on the brim and the crown. When the loose dirt has been removed add some few drops of your mild soap to the warm water in the bowl. Wet a clean white cloth in the soapy water and squeeze it so that it is not too wet, but it is only a little bit wet. You would never wish dripping water anywhere around your straw hat. Squeegee the wet cloth on the dirty parts lightly in a circular manner. Circle the rim and then proceed to the top. In case your hat has a decorative band at the outside rub it down very well so as to not destroy any beads and leatherwork. When you are done wiping the hat with the soapy cloth then you take another clean white cloth that has been dipped in plain water to rub the residual traces of the soaps.
Having a problem with ugly sweat marks.
The major problem that is associated with cowboy hats is the sweat stains particularly in hot American summers. These stains tend to occur immediately at the point of the brim and the crown as well as they may be notoriously hard to clean off in case they are not treated promptly. An old toothbrush with very soft bristles can be used in order to remove these hard marks. Wipe your stained toothbrush using a soapy water that is diluted. Do not rub too hard since they will be torn in case of harsh scrubbing of the straw fibers. In case, the soap and water solution is not obtained to remove the stain you can prepare a mild cleaning solution with the help of white vinegar and water in equal quantities. The acidity of the vinegar is mild which dissolves the sweat and the salt deposits without any danger. Cleanse using vinegar solution and a cloth or soft toothbrush and leave it to dry after one minute then wipe it using a wet cloth. To remove oil-based stain on the straw sprinkle a lot of cornstarch on the spot. Set the powder there overnight in a warm room to take on the grease then brush it off completely the following morning. With a white hat, occasionally it is possible to use diluted hydrogen peroxide to the point of near yellowing you do however, need to test it on an inconspicuous section first.
Instructions on dry clean and storage of your straw hat.
It is also important to dry your hat right after cleaning as much as it is important to clean it. Wrong methods of drying the shape will be destroyed and the straw will permanently be warped. After wiping your hat with a towel dry towel to dry off any surplus moisture on your hat. Hat should be dried in a room that is cool and well ventilated to dry naturally. Damp straw hat must never be left in the open sunshine, the violent ultraviolet ray will bleach the colour and dry up the fibres too soon and will snap them. There is also the need not to use artificial sources of heat such as hair dryers, or put on the hat near a radiator. The heat will burst out and cause the sweatband to shrink and the brim to be distorted. Whenever putting the hat to dry, it is always important to put it upside down on its crown. Any flat laying of a wet cowboy hat on the brim will make the sides to flatten and lack the typical western curve. It is also necessary to put your hat back in the right place once it is dry. Store it in a hat box or put it on a suitable hat stand so that the brim will not be bent down.
Errors that should not be made during the cleaning process.
Most of the good intentions hat owners make the wrong choices when trying to ruin their favourite accessories. When the hat is totally dipped in water, that is the greatest mistake. Straw cowboy hats should not be wetened and too much water will disintegrate the waterproof stiffening substances that hold the hat together. When those stiffeners get the hat after washing up it is a shapeless mess that cannot be mended. The other mistake that is made is that people use the hard household chemical cleansers or bleach to clean tough stains. The chemicals are very strong and chew holes in natural straw and leave permanent spots of discoloration. Another huge error is the use of saddle soap since it is intended to use on heavy leather and it will plug the ventilated holes in woven straw. You must not also take your hat and squeeze the pinch of the top after putting it on or removing it. Continuous squeezing of the crown makes the straw weak at that particular point and ultimately it breaks open in a colossal manner. Always play with your hat by the brim as a way of developing even distribution of the pressure and ensuring that your hands are clean before touching your light colored headwear.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is it possible to wash my cowboy hat that is made of straw in the washing machine? Absolutely not. A straw cowboy hat will be immediately ruined in case of violent agitation and soaking in water inside a washing machine. You must always clean your hat manually in soft ways so that you do not alter its shape and integrity.
The frequency of cleaning my hat is? This purely depends on the frequency and the activities. Provided you wear it every day in the ranch or any other form of outside work, it is better to brush it off everyday and wipe it down with a damp towel after every few weeks. The occasional wearers may only have to wash their hats after every season.
What would I do in case my hat becomes entangled in a heavy rain storm? When you are caught in the rain shake off the water on your hat. Turn the leather sweatband inside and outside so that it can breathe and lay the hat upside down on the crown in a dry room. Allow it to dry off then put it back on.
Am I going to clean my hat with the help of a vacuum cleaner? It should not be recommended. Hand vacuums even of small size have a powerful suction to drag and tear the woven straw fibers. Always use a soft bristled brush to brush off dust.
What about cleaning the leather sweatband in the hat? Use a wet cloth to wipe the leather sweatband in order to eliminate dirt and sweat on the surface. After it is dry you can place some little drop of leather conditioner so that it does not dry cracking on your forehead.
Is it possible to use a hair dryer to accelerate the process of drying it? No no, no you must not use a hair dryer. The harsh heat flow will cause the straw to bend the inner band and permanently destroy the hat shape that was customized.
Final Thought
Maintaining your western head wear is not necessarily a complex and stressful task. Knowing how to clean a cowboy hat made of straw properly you will be guaranteed that your favorite accessory will become your constant partner in all your outdoor activities. The straw can be brushed regularly and the sweat stains taken care of in time to ensure that it looks bright and fresh season after season. Always remember that one should always use mild cleaning techniques and never use too much moisture or use of artificial heat. The battered hat belonging to a cowboy is a natural narration of hard labor and sunny days but keeping it clean demonstrates a high degree of respect to the craftsmanship. By taking proper care of your hat, you will be guaranteed years of great fashion and protection against the sun regardless where the trail will carry you.
