Leather Cowboy Hat Care and Maintenance Tips

When you buy a Stetson, it comes with a commitment to following the western fashion and way of life. A good quality western hat can be expensive, which makes it important to take all steps to lavish tender love and care to extend its life and retain its good looks. Some essential tips for taking good care of your cowboy hat:

Cleaning a Stetson

With regular use and exposure to sweat, dust, dirt, debris, and pollution, your hat is bound to get dirty. The trick is not to allow the dirt to settle in because it becomes harder to clean the hat. You must take steps to clean your hat periodically without waiting for it to become visibly dirty. Also, if you happen to drop it on the ground or something spills on it by accident, you should promptly clean it. Fortunately, cleaning a Stetson is not too difficult, and according to enthusiasts a regular cleaning schedule is relaxing and helps you bond with your hat better. Although a western hat can be of several different materials, you must never dip it into the water and try to wash it like clothes. According to Types of Hats, you must never put your hat into a washing machine regardless of how dirty it is or use any appliance or device like a dryer, hairdryer, or even a room heater to dry it faster. You will find that you will spoil the material and the shape of the hat irreparably. The best method of drying your western hat if it has got wet accidentally or due to the cleaning process is to leave it in a cool dry place away from direct sunlight, preferably on a hat stand or any other flat surface resting on its crown. Some tips for cleaning your leather western hat:

Cleaning Leather Cowboy Hats

Although not very common nowadays due to their cost, leather cowboy hats are undoubtedly stylish and a perfect accessory to your western looks. Even if you wear it carefully, your leather hat can get dirty. However, it is fairly easy to clean. While you must make it a point to avoid spraying water or washing it in water, you can use a barely-damp cloth, preferably a lint-free white microfiber cloth, to dab the surface of the hat to clean it. However, it is best to first brush the surface of the hat with a soft-bristled brush to eliminate the dust and embedded debris that are bound to accumulate with regular use. If there are stubborn stains, you can use a few drops of detergent on the damp cloth and rub the surface of the hat in a gentle circular motion. Be sure to use a gentle detergent and spot test it at a place where any discoloration will not be noticeable. After cleaning it with a damp cloth, make sure you pat it dry with a clean dry cloth to remove all moisture from it; else the water may stain the surface. Let it air dry naturally on a hat stand without exposing it to direct heat.

If the leather is stained with oil, the best way of tackling it is to dust talcum powder on it and let it sit overnight. You can then brush the talc away, and the stain will have disappeared. Do not use any products containing alcohol to clean the leather surface as it tends to dry it out.

Maintaining a Leather Cowboy Hat

Even though leather is a hardy material, you will need to look after your leather cowboy hats to maintain them in top condition. Over time, the leather can dry out and develop cracks. To prevent this from happening, you can use a leather-conditioning product that will keep it soft and looking good. You can also ask your milliner for dressing oil that you can use to keep the leather soft and supple and protect it from light rain. There is no need for you to rest your hat after oiling it, but it is always better to avoid exposure to rain. Another thing you need to be careful about is exposing the hat to long hours of sunshine and heat. It means you should never leave it on the parcel shelf in a parked car. The heat will dry out the leather, which can develop cracks and spoil the shape. Also, extended exposure to the sun’s UV rays can lead to color fading.

Conclusion 

While you can follow the tips outlined above for cleaning and maintaining your leather hat, you can also extend its life by storing it properly. The best way of storing your hat when you are using it regularly is to hang it on a hat rack or a coat rack. For long periods of storage, you should use a hatbox that will help maintain its shape. Always store leather cowboy hats in a cool dry place.

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Author Bio: Jay Jangid has 2 years of experience in the news media industry with journalistic touch and knowledge of how to create and recreate information into news. Now serving ‘The Next Hint, Inc.’ and ‘Netflix Trends‘ to serve people with right and original content.
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