How Should You Maintain and Care for Your Straw Hat? The Essential Tips to Consider

Hats are making a significant comeback. Currently, both men and women don't wear hats because they are obligated to some norm, but because they want to create a fashion statement. When you look around, you will come across all kinds of hats. However, the straw hat is the go-to accessory when it's summertime. It could be a flat-brimmed boater or a floppy hat that you want to flaunt on the beach – straw hats are gaining prominence. However, you need to keep in mind just one thing in mind. Since you will be sporting the straw hats all through the summer month, the chances are that they might get stained, and you need to tackle it well. 

However, if you are a straw-hat lover, there’s no need to despair. When you know how to clean the straw hat, you can keep it well and ensure that it stays durable for the long run. 

This article will discuss some of the essential guidelines that will help keep your straw hat clean and well maintained. 

Cleaning your straw hat

Did you visit the barn? If yes, chances are you have come across the straw smell that is a by-product of the rain. Similarly, if you plan to wash the straw hat in a washing machine, you will have to witness the same. And at its worst, the straw hat will completely lose its shape. The ideal way for cleaning the straw hat is to avert added moisture. That way, you can preserve the straw hat for a long time. 

The process of spot cleaning

The majority of the time, you can get away with cleaning the spots on your straw hat by using a non-liquid cleaner and a cloth and broom. However, if you have scuffs, you can use the gum eraser to wipe them gently away. If you want, you can also sprinkle corn starch and powder on the hat stain, which can help absorb the stain if you allow it to stay on it for some time. 

Deep cleaning can help

If you want to clean your hat deep, you can resort to a specialty cleaner for straw hats, which is a blend of hydrogen peroxide and water. Alternatively, you can also make use of glass cleaner. The ideal way to apply the cleaner is to place it in a misty sprayer and then wipe off the hat surface using a clean cloth. You need to realize that the objective is not to soak your hat. 

Ways to clean the hat fabric

Not all the parts of the straw hats get made using a straw. When it comes to the fabric parts, for instance, the outer band and the sweatband, you can resort to a detergent and water solution and use it with a clean cloth. You can dip the cloth in the detergent and take out the excess solution. After that, you can cautiously apply the same to the hat's fabric. You can dab the solution so that it doesn’t adversely impact the fabric. 

The process of drying the straw hats

In case the hat gets wet, your initial instinct is to do all it takes to allow the hat to dry at the earliest. Even then, you need to resist the tendency to opt-in for a blow dryer and get your hat dried. Neither should you let it out in the sun. In both situations, your hat will get warped. If you want to dry the hat, choose the following steps:

• You can gently dab your straw hat using the paper or cloth towel to take the excess water. 

• You can fold out the sweatband. 

• In case the hat comes with natural bends, such as an upturned brim, ensure that all these parts get refolded. 

• Leave your hat sitting in an upside-down position on the flat surface. 

• Make sure that the hat is not exposed to direct sunlight. 

Another effective alternative here is to leave the straw hat to get dry on the mannequin's head or a wall peg. It will ensure that it doesn't lose its original shape when it gets dry. Today, there is a vast collection of straw hats, such as garden hats or fedora hats, that you can sport during the summer months. However, a proud hat owner is one who would also want to keep their hats clean and well-maintained. And it is here that the tips mentioned above come in handy. 

Last but not least, if you have a high-end straw hat, it’s always better to get it cleaned by a professional service provider. Also, it's a good idea to speak to your hat maker concerning the hat cleaning and maintenance guidelines. You can also read blogs and watch YouTube videos about it if you want. But asking your hat maker online will provide you with helpful information that you can use.