How to Clean Straw Hats

Co-authored by Ayad Mirjan

Last Updated: April 24, 2022

If you’ve never cleaned a straw hat before, you may be perplexed on how you might start. This makes sense. Straw hats are stylish, but they can also be ruined with improper treatment. However, cleaning them when they are dirty and keeping them that way should not overwhelm you. Depending on what type of straw hat you have, there are concrete methods you have at your fingertips to keep them spotless, shiny, and stain-free!

Method 1

Method 1 of 3:

Cleaning the Hat

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Look to see if the hat has a label of some sort. You might be able to find this under the brim. Once you find it, see if your hat is made up of baku, shantung, or any other material that can be washed with water. It is possible to have a straw hat that cannot be hand-washed. This probably will not be the case.
2
Remove any extras. Sometimes straw hats will have bands, ribbons, or other decorative pieces on them. If possible, you will want to remove these extra pieces. Don’t do this if the decorations are interwoven into the hat!
- Cleaning the ribbon isn’t difficult! You can dust and hand-wash it. Use a brush to lightly dust away anything that has ended up on the cloth. Also, you can spot clean the ribbon with a wet cloth. After you clean or dust the ribbon, you should use a small amount of steam to freshen it up. You might also try using an iron on a medium setting to go over the ribbon.
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The hat will probably have excess dirt and dust on it. So, you should use a soft bristle brush to scrub that dust and dirt away. You can generally find these at hardware and beauty supply stores. Gently brush the grime off. You don’t want to be too rough, because you can end up harming the fabric of the hat.
For an incredibly dusty hat, you may need an extreme solution. You can try placing netting or pantyhose over a vacuum brush, then using a vacuum on the hat. Again, this should only be used in extreme cases.
5
Clean the hat with a peroxide solution. Combine equal parts hydrogen peroxide and warm water in a bowl or bottle. Then, you should either spray a soft cleaning cloth with the bottle, or dip a cloth in the bowl.
- Don’t use a colored cloth because its dye will bleed into your hat. Test a small area of the hat with the solution to make sure it does not damage the hat. Once this has been verified, begin wiping the hat with the cloth. Swipe off as much dirt and grime as possible.
- Make sure that your cloth is damp, but not soaked. You don’t want to get your hat extremely wet.
Combine a tablespoon of dish soap with a cup of hot water in a bowl or bottle. As you did before, dip your cloth in the bowl or spray your cloth with the bottle. Again, verify that the solution will not ruin your hat by placing a small amount on your hat. Rub the cloth in a circular motion to remove the dirt.
While most straw hats should not be rinsed, this is a good option if the hat's label clearly says that it is OK to submerge it in water. Fill a bowl with warm water. Dip a cloth in the bowl, take it out, and run it over the entire hat. Put the hat in a cool place, preferably under a shadow, to let it dry. If your hat’s brim is curved, do not lay it on a flat surface.

Method 2

Method 2 of 3:

Removing Stains

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Pour a small amount of talcum powder on the stained spot. Wait for an hour or two for the powder to soak up the oil. Use a vacuum or brush to remove the powder.
2
Remove sweat stains. Whenever you sweat, you should immediate wipe the area with a damp white cloth. ^{[1]
X
Research source} This will keep the salt from your perspiration from seeping into your hat.
- On dark straw hats, you should use ammonia to get rid of these stains. Mix half a teaspoon of ammonia with half a teaspoon of water in a bowl. Then, dip a small brush into the water mixture and use it to go over the stained area.
- With a light straw hat, you can use a hydrogen peroxide and water mixture. Combine a half teaspoon of each in a bowl. Just take a brush, dip it in the mixture, and lightly scrub the sweat-stained area. Wait for the area to dry before wearing the hat again.
Using an art gum eraser, lightly rub scuffed spots. The gum should make the scuffs disappear.

Method 3

Method 3 of 3:

Maintaining Your Hat

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1
Keep your hat dry. Straw hats can seem more durable than they actually are. However, wetness and dampness can misshape the hat. This means that when your hat gets wet, you should attempt to dry it as quickly as possible. ^{[2]
X
Research source} Try to put water repellent on your hat every now and then. Not only will this keep your hat safe from water damage, but it will protect it from stains as well.
- When you’re not wearing your hat, place it in a dark, dry area. Put a hat with a curved brim on a mannequin head to keep its shape. You can also simply the tilt the hat upside down and store it in a hat box.
- Don’t let your hat get too hot! If your hat is exposed to direct sunlight for a long time, then the straw can be damaged. The heat will make the straw rigid or cause the synthetic material to melt.
You want to make sure that your hands are clean before you touch your hat. This is an easy way to prevent your hat from getting dirt and oil on it. When you are taking off your hat, try to hold on to the brim. Too much contact with the crown of the hat can destroy the fibers.
Sometimes the straws in your hat can become discolored. To refresh the colors, wipe your hat with cloth dipped in alcohol and water. After you do this, use a piece of black or red velvet to polish the hat. ^{[3]
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Research source}

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Question

Will this method work for synthetic straw hats?

Community Answer

Yes. Combine a tablespoon of dish soap with a cup of hot water in a bowl or bottle. Put the solution on the hat, then rub off dirt with a cloth.

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My hat is cracking. What can I do?

Community Answer

Purchase cotton fabric leftovers. Then, cut a piece that is about a third of an inch larger than the cracked area. Use a drying glue on one side of the fabric, then place the fabric on the cracked spot. This should fix the cracked spot.

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Tips

Note that a straw hat that gets too wet may shrink.

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If you are unsure about using any of these methods, take the hat to a haberdasher or dry cleaners.

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Warnings

Do not over spray your hat, as straw hats tend to shrink upon contact with too much water.

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Do not put your hat in the washing machine; this will ruin it.

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Things You'll Need

Mild soapsuds or soap detergent
Small soft white cleaning cloth
Hat block or similar shaped item for drying hat over
Soft bristle brush
Hydrogen peroxide
Warm water
Small spray bottle
Bowl
Talcum powder

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How to Clean Straw Hats

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Cleaning the Hat

Removing Stains

Maintaining Your Hat

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