How to clean a Panama hat - sweat stains, mould, dirt and spills

How to clean a Panama hat - sweat stains, mould, dirt and spills - Truffaux Hatmakers

A gentleman called from Singapore today, desperate to clean his very expensive Panama that he had spilled a cup of coffee onto.

Accidents happen, and it breaks your heart, but they can be solved relatively easily. The Panama is much like linen, it is porous, very durable and prone to absorbing stains. I lean towards natural solutions, because it is on my skin and I don't like absorbing unnecessary chemicals.

DIRT

If your hat gets dusty and dirty, it is time to give it a brush. Any brush will do, but I prefer a stiff-bristle kitchen brush with nylon bristles. The idea is for the bristles to reach into the texture of the weave and flick out the dust particles. If your hat is very soft, then be gentle. Stiffer hats dont mind so much. Sometimes I use a pin to pick out the stuck debris.

Work your way around the hat and you will be amazed at how much it improves the appearance. For mud, use a little dish soap and a toothbrush to brush the stains out. Pat dry with a paper towel.

For most stains I have found the white sponge Magic Erasers to be superb - just wet the sponge and rub the stain until it is gone - you won't hurt your hat. Great for scuffs and dirt in general

SWEAT STAINS

The most common question I get is how to get sweat stains out. Because a Panama is porous, anything mixed with sweat will go into the fibres and lodge in your hat. If you wear makeup, sunscreen and hair products they will colour the area around the band. For the same reason it keeps you cool, it will also absorb stains. This is the toughest one to budge, but if you love your hat, be patient and it will work out.

Follow these steps :

1. Brush your hat to get out any loose dirt

2. Wash the stained area with soap and water - a toothbrush is useful

3. Wipe off the moisture with a clean cloth

4. Apply gel bleach or diluted hydrogen peroxide to the area and let it sit for the recommended time. Placing it in the sun can speed this process up

5. When it looks good - clean off the bleach with warm water, pat it dry and let it dry naturally.

For spot stains elsewhere on the hat, using the gel bleach works a treat. 

COFFEE, WINE & LIQUIDS

The trick with these stains is to wash them out quickly before the staining sets. Your hat is already wet, so wet it more and pat with a dry cloth or paper towel. Adding a little detergent won't hurt, but you might need to check if it is an unusual liquid. I find one tablespoon each of dish soap and vinegar is very effective. Remember to use clean white cloths/towels to ensure no colours transfer.

Red wine can be difficult, and I would recommend a hydrogen peroxide dilution to solve that problem. The wine will soak into the fibres and run along them, so you will need to be patient.

STAINS ON RIBBONS

Typically your ribbons will be made of polyester so they can be cleaned with diluted dish soap and water. Pat them dry and everything will look like new. If they are silk, be very careful as they can run easily.

GREASE AND OIL

I often work on cars, so my hats will get greasy and very dirty. I have used hand cleaner very successfully - rub it thoroughly into the stain with a toothbrush and then wash off and pat dry. If it is an abrasive hand cleaner with pumice, be gentle or you will wear a mark in your hat.

MOULD 

Now this can be tricky. Once the mould is alive in the hat fibres it can spread like crazy. It is very rare, but it does happen, particularly in the tropics, where it is a common problem in houses. When your hat is stored wet from wearing, and the right fungus has found a home, it will destroy your hat.

First off, you need to kill the fungus - spraying it with vinegar is a good start. Give it a light mist and let it soak in for several hours. Then pat it down to remove the vinegar. If that doesn't work, you may need to use professional mould treatments. Be aware, that your hat contacts your skin, and those nasty chemicals should be treated as such - rinse and remove them carefully.

Once the mould is stopped, you will need to use a hydrogen peroxide dilution to get the black stains out. This may not work, depending on how bad it is. Try it on a small area to see first.

REMEMBER

Your Panama straw is very much like linen in texture, qualities and behaviour. If you are unsure what to do for an unusual stain, then look up linen! Like all stains, you may need to do a little research to solve your problem.

Often the problem will lie in the quality of that hat you own - if it is a cheap, tourist Panama they will stain very easily and fall apart. If it is a 'paper straw' then don't even try to clean it. Choosing the right hat to start with will dramatically change your experience. Have a look here.

If you are confused, please send me an email and I will help you out. My passion for Panamas extends to healing old ones, solving problems and making the most of what you have.

Love

Truffaux

 

YOU ARE IN THE RIGHT PLACE

GET THE RIGHT HAT FIRST TIME

Skip the stress of wondering if it will look great, fit right and arrive safely. With 20 years of global shipping experience, I’ve mastered the art of pairing the perfect style and size, then delivering it to your door in pristine condition.

No one does it better, and tens of thousands of satisfied customers attest to my unmatched personal expertise.