smelly riding hat

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brooke1402

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has anyone got any tips on washing/cleaning/making fresh a riding hat.. inside & out!
its not pleasant!!!

don't really want to buy a new one if anyone has any tips!

thanks!!
 
You could wipe the interior with a damp cloth soaked in a solution of baking soda and warm water. Then wipe with plain water, trying not to make the lining too wet.
Alternatively, I use my steam cleaner which seems to do the job.
 
Riding for 4 - 5 hours a day professionally my hat was very unpleasant. We used the hat spray, which kind of put a pleasant chemical smell in, but the niff was still underneath and I had to use it daily. In the end the hat smell made me feel yuk.

At the risk of being slated on forum, and no I am not recommending the action, I used to use Pevadine and hot water, fill the hat to let it soak in well, scrub it round, then rinse the minimal possible. I left as much of the Pevadine in as I could without having an orange head.

Smelly hats are due to bacteria, and Pevadine kills bacteria. In the end I would treat the hat as soon as it was smelly (only a few months) and it would never smell again.

My hats never seemed to suffer from this experience. I do not recommend it though, as I am sure it was a bad idea. ;-)
 
I would sprinkle generously with bicarbonate of soda and leave for as long as possible. Then wash out with disinfectant soap, preferably one that smells nice. Also, leaving it in the sun to dry out after riding will help.
 
Not much help, but its why I chose my new hat, a gatehouse with removable washable liner, bliss, no more smelly hat.
 
Red-1 said:
Riding for 4 - 5 hours a day professionally my hat was very unpleasant. We used the hat spray, which kind of put a pleasant chemical smell in, but the niff was still underneath and I had to use it daily. In the end the hat smell made me feel yuk.

At the risk of being slated on forum, and no I am not recommending the action, I used to use Pevadine and hot water, fill the hat to let it soak in well, scrub it round, then rinse the minimal possible. I left as much of the Pevadine in as I could without having an orange head.

Smelly hats are due to bacteria, and Pevadine kills bacteria. In the end I would treat the hat as soon as it was smelly (only a few months) and it would never smell again.

My hats never seemed to suffer from this experience. I do not recommend it though, as I am sure it was a bad idea. ;-)
Click to expand...

In that case do you think this spray would work then, as wouldn't need to wet the hat? http://shop.patient.co.uk/pharmacy/Betadine_Dry_Powder_Spray_100ml.htm?ID=21497
 
w1bbler said:
Not much help, but its why I chose my new hat, a gatehouse with removable washable liner, bliss, no more smelly hat.
Click to expand...

This hat sounds great! Might try one next time I replace my everyday hat. I must admit I never wash my hat but it doesn't smell, although sometimes it's soaking inside even the following day when I go to put it on-yuk! I'm wary of using heat/steam/liquid to clean mine incase it degrades the effectiveness of the hat in any way. I wonder what the manufacturers cleaning instructions state?!
 
A friend of mine works for a fish company...he swears by using custard powder to get rid of nasty niffs in his car caused by fishy leaks...!! May work in your hat short term - sprinkle on and vacuum out later..so you don't end up with a custard head :-)
 
autumn7 said:
In that case do you think this spray would work then, as wouldn't need to wet the hat? http://shop.patient.co.uk/pharmacy/Betadine_Dry_Powder_Spray_100ml.htm?ID=21497
Click to expand...

I have not used that product, but as an iodine based product I would check it does not come out purple or something before you spray it in your hat!!!

I think the Pevadine solution works as it gets right into the hat, and whenever you sweat and the hat is wet again it re-activates the Pevadine.

I have done about 12 hats like this (mine and other fellow riders) and only one hat ever suffered, but that one was so old it was falling apart anyway, and the water got under the glue on a stick in label, which was already peeling off.

With a newer hat they have always been fine, and what I like is that they only seem to need doing once.

I obviously don't recommend it though, as it will undoubtedly not be what the manufacturer recommends. They do get wet through with sweat and rain, and if god forbid you fall off in the water!

With so many hours in the saddle it would mean a new hat at least every year if not more often otherwise.

BTW, I am loving the idea of custard!!!!!
 
I have got a gatehouse with a removable liner - genius idea that someone should have thought of sooner. Very tempted by a samshield for the next one as they have removeable and replaceable liners.
 
Charles Owen say this:

"Charles Owen advises that cleaning the interior of its riding hats should be undertaken only using its own products, foamed detergents or shampoo and water. Afterwards, the lining should be vacuumed dry. "
 
Charles Owen adventurer with removable pads. Put the pads in the washing machine and they dry overnight. These hats have been around for years.
 
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