How to Clean Leather Hats

Leather hats are usually made from suede, which has a dull and rough finish. These hats are popular with horse riders and due to the nature of use, they often become dirty. Fortunately, cleaning suede-leather hats is something the hat owner can do himself.

Things You'll Need

• Nylon-bristle brush or crepe suede brush Emery board or fine-grit sandpaper Suede-cleaning bar Baby shampoo

Instructions

1. Brush your suede-leather hat with a nylon-bristle brush or a crepe suede brush. This will help remove and loosen dirt and grime, as well as remove fingerprints.

2. Use an emery board or fine-grit sandpaper (e.g. 120) to remove grease stains and matted-in dirt and grime.

3. Rub a suede-cleaning bar in circular motions to remove makeup and dirt stains.

4. Use baby shampoo to get rid of tough stains. Mix 15 parts warm water to one part baby shampoo. Use the nylon-bristle brush or suede brush to scrub out stubborn stains.

Tips & Warnings

• You may wish to consider applying a water repellent and stain repellent upon purchasing the hat and after each cleaning, especially since sweat stains are near impossible to clean. It is best to follow the manufacturer's cleaning instructions; check the manufacturer's Web site for them.

References

• Hat Your Head
• Shane's Tack