How to Clean Fur Felt Hats

Clean fur felt hats with a soft bristled brush.

Fur felt hats are mainly made from rabbit fur, but the more expensive ones are made from beaver. Fur felt hats provide ample protection from the rain and wind and are durable and harder to rip than most fabrics. Cowboy hats are one of the most common fur felt hats, and with their light weight and water resistance, they are perfect protection for a cowboy's head. Cleaning fur felt hats is easy as long as you know the proper procedure.

Things You'll Need

• Soft bristled brush
• Clean damp cloth
• Masking tape
• Hat box

Instructions

1. Wipe the fur felt hat with a soft bristled brush. Wipe with the nap, not against it. Start on one side of the hat and go completely around it with the brush, removing any dust and debris.

2. Clean the felt hat using a clean damp--not wet--cloth. Wipe it with the nap of the hat. Place the hat on a hat rack to dry.

3. Wrap masking tape, sticky side out, several times around the four fingers of one hand. Go over the felt hat with the masking tape removing any lint or left behind dust remaining on the hat.

4. Lay the felt hat on its crown and turn the sweatband up, if it has a sweatband around the inside rim of the hat. This allows any moisture on the sweatband to evaporate.

Tips & Warnings

• Store fur felt hats in a hat box to ensure the hat does not accidentally become crushed and damaged. The hat box also provides a dust-free environment.

• Certain precautions such as laying the hat on its crown instead of the brim, and not leaving the hat in a hot atmosphere, helps to keep fur felt hats in good condition.

References

• Cowboy Way: Felt Cowboy Hat Care
• Felt Hats: Felt Hat Care