Bring Your Dirty Wool Hat Back To Life With A Simple Cleaning Method

For the fashion-forward, wool hats make a fabulous addition to any wardrobe. While wool is primarily known for its softness, it is also moisture-wicking, breathable, and long-lasting. Eventually, though, all articles of clothing get dirty — even hats. Luckily, wool is relatively easy to clean, and you can bring your dirty hat back to life by hand washing. 

To hand wash a wool hat, fill a bowl with cold water and add about a teaspoon of a non-bleach laundry detergent like Woolite. Then, test the mixture on a small area of your hat to ensure there's no visible discoloration, bleeding, or other changes to the fabric. Gently brush out any visible stains with a dry toothbrush, then allow your hat to sit for 15 minutes before submerging the entire thing in your mixture for 30 minutes. 

A heavily soiled hat can soak for longer, but check in on it periodically to make sure the color and texture of the fabric are still holding up. After its bath, rinse the hat in cold water to get rid of any leftover detergent. Then, gently squeeze it to remove excess water; avoid wringing the hat, as that can alter the shape. Finally, place your hat on a towel and allow it to dry away in an area free from excessive heat or sunlight.

If your hat has a lot of tough stains, you may feel that adding bleach to the cleaning process is the solution. However, even diluted bleach isn't recommended for wool because the two aren't chemically compatible. It might sound funny, but wool is actually acidic. Bleach, on the other hand, is alkaline. Introducing bleach to wool will create a chemical reaction that can destroy your wool's fibers. 

Instead of bleach, you can use one part white vinegar to one part cold water and work it in with a toothbrush or felt sponge. Washing wool clothing with vinegar is a common cleaning practice because it's also a fantastic deodorizer. For oily stains like those caused by hair products or lotions, dust the area with cornstarch and leave it for a few hours before brushing it with a soft brush. (You may need to repeat this process a few times depending on the severity of the stain.) Once finished, you can use a lint roller to perform a final cleanup on the area. After your hat is clean, you also want to store it properly. Place it in a hat box or a cool, dry space to avoid any warping or discoloration from sunlight. You can also store it in a plastic bag for dust protection — just don't tie the bag so tight that you inadvertently ruin the shape. 

The idea of placing wool in a washing machine is stressful; it's not hard to come across horror stories of people completely ruining garments by doing so. However, wool can be washed this way if the machine is on the appropriate setting. The key thing to remember is that wool is primarily made up of keratin, like our hair. Compared to plant fibers, protein substances like keratin are more sensitive to chemical damage or environmental factors like heat. Plus, wool is often stretched during the manufacturing process, so it will try to return to its natural state when exposed to high heat and motion. However, your washing machine has settings to address this.

You can machine wash your wool hat on a gentle or delicate cycle inside a laundry bag or pillowcase. (Be sure that your machine is using cold water to avoid the possibility of shrinkage.) After the wash is done, skip the dryer. Instead, gently pat your hat with a towel to soak up any excess water before allowing it to air dry. If you accidentally shrink your hat, don't toss it out. You may be able to save your shrunken wool with a handy kitchen staple. Simply soak it in a sink full of cold water with two tablespoons of vinegar for 20 to 30 minutes; pat off any excess water, and then try gently stretching your hat back to its original shape.