Washing riding hats - a review!

[JVB]

Well I have a new hat and my old one which was in good nick but just very grubby and nasty smelling has been washed!

Thought I would write a thread so if anyone else wants to do the same then they can rest easy it works.

Hat in question was harry hall, black and grey sort of fabric covered with air vents etc.

I washed it in the sink with warm soapy water, used a scrubbing brush on it in particular the nasty forehead bit, left it to soak for a half hour, rinsed it off, hung it on the line and then the radiator over night and it....

looks like new and smells fresh! Even has plumped up the sponge so fits a bit snugger than before!

 

[ghostie]

oooh, thanks for the info. Funnily enough I was thinking about my hat this morning and musing as to whether it could be washed as the padding is a bit manky! Might just give it a go

 

[touchstone]

Do be aware though that manufacturers tell you not to wash hats for a good reason; any detergents can damage the materials used to bond the padding, so it might not be as protective afterwards.

 

[goldypops]

Just dont do what I did with my old one. The oven had been on and was cooling down so I stuck it in there to dry. Promptly forgot all about it and next day put the oven on to cook something and wondered what the burning smell was 10 minutes later!!!!!!!

 

[Archangel]

It must be modern riding hats because I never remember older hats 'niffing' so much. Perhaps they didn't have so much padding. I found an older 'lightweight' skull cap in the attic. I def remember it as was SO lightweight at the time - honestly it must weigh two stone - oh how times have changed.

Goldypops I did much the same thing with a skirt once (was very young and foolish).

 

[MagicMelon]

If its non-velvet, I just use a baby wipe over the surface of mine and use proper riding hat cleaner spray (foamy stuff) which cleans the inside. For a velvet hat, I do the inside the same but simply buff the outside with a brush. Never ended up with a stinky hat as such?!

 

[mturnbull]

Someone once said to me to put your hat in your washing machine, im sure that would be excellent at keeping it still safe...!