There is a wide variety of headwear available in the millinery industry. Every type of hat, from beaver hats to top hats to straw hats, has a particular set of instructions for how it should be cared for. It is crucial to know how to clean your hat in the event that it becomes dirty, even if you are someone who only owns one hat (or just a few of them).

Borax is a naturally occurring mineral that can be discovered in a variety of locations across the globe. Since ancient times, people have employed it as a method of sanitation and bleaching. The buildup of sweat and oils on hats can be removed with borax, which can be used to clean the hats.

Using borax to clean your hat, as luck would have it, is not at all difficult. By carefully following these instructions, you will be able to quickly and easily learn everything you need to know about using borax to clean your hat.

What is Borax?

Borax, also known as sodium borate, is a mineral that can be found in its natural state in a variety of locations all over the world. It is first extracted from the ground, and then put to use in a wide variety of consumer goods and industrial processes. Borax finds widespread application in the processing of textiles as well as in cleaning processes. Additionally, it is frequently utilized in items designed for cleaning the house, such as dishwashing soap, hand soap, and laundry detergent.

Borax is an excellent alternative for cleaning and protecting your hat due to the fact that it is non-toxic and has an alkaline composition in its natural state. This ensures that it is kind to both your hands and the hat, and that it won’t cause any damage to either.

Borax has a pH that is quite low, which means that it won’t harm the material that your hat is made of. Borax, on the other hand, is effective at killing bacteria and other types of organisms when the pH level is low. Because of this, it is an excellent choice for disinfecting your headwear, eliminating stains, and neutralizing odors that have developed over time.

Why Use Borax to Clean Hats?

Because it does not produce any harmful byproducts or pose any safety risks, borax is a wonderful option for cleaning your hat. It is a mineral that occurs naturally and is normally extracted from the ground before being used in a wide variety of products that are designed for cleaning the home. Borax is a substance that is frequently discovered in hand soap and laundry detergents. Additionally, it is utilized in the preservation of fur and leather goods, as well as a variety of other textile treatments. When it comes to cleaning hats, borax is a fantastic choice because it is not only kind to the hands but also to the hats themselves. Because borax occurs naturally in an alkaline state, it is safe to use and will not do any damage to the fabric of your hat. Borax, which has a low pH, is particularly good at killing bacteria and other germs due to its properties.

Step by Step Guide to Clean Hats

Step 1: Find the Stains

Locating the spots that need to be removed off your hat with borax is the first stage in the process. In an ideal situation, you will strive to remove stains as soon as they appear, but if you have a hat that has become stained over time, you shouldn’t be too concerned about it. Borax is an amazing cleaner that may eliminate stains despite the fact that they occurred at any point in time. There are a variety of substances that might leave stains on your hat, including sweat, oils, and dirt. In most cases, the color of these stains is somewhere between brown and yellow. The band, the lining, and the fabric of the hat itself can frequently be found to be stained with these stains. You will locate any stains on the exterior of your hat, regardless of whether they were caused by food or drink. The exterior of the hat is the most likely location for stains caused by food and drink; these stains are often red or blue in hue.

Step 2: Mix the Borax and Water Together

After you have determined where the stains are located on your hat, you will need to prepare a cleaning solution. If the stain is light, you can get away with using a couple cups of water mixed with a teaspoon of borax, but if the stain is heavy, you should use a tablespoon of borax. You may also try using a solution of water and ammonia to help break up light stains. This works best for lighter stains. Before moving forward with the cleaning process, it is imperative that you perform a spot test on a small area of the hat using the solution. Because of this, the material of your hat will be protected from any potential damage caused by the solution.

Step 3: Soak the Hat in a Solution of Borax and Water

After you have put together a cleaning solution, the next step is to submerge the hat in the solution for some time. Make sure that the hat is completely submerged in the solution and that the cleaning solution is applied to each and every component of the hat before you remove it. You are not need to wring or squeeze the hat in any way, as doing so may cause the fabric to get damaged. You can use a large bowl, a sink, or a sink instead of a bucket if you have a very enormous hat that won’t fit in a bucket. Make an effort to soak the hat in the solution for at least six hours, since this will give it sufficient time to break down the stains. If you have the opportunity and the leisure, even longer is preferable.

Step 4: Rinse and Dry Your Hat

After the hat has had enough time to absorb the liquid, you will need to give it a good rinsing and then let it air dry. You can hasten the drying process by hanging the hat on a clothesline or placing it on a rack designed for that purpose. You might also try drying the hat on a low heat setting in the dryer. It is best to let your hat air dry, but it is acceptable to use a dryer if you need to get it clean more quickly. It is imperative that you maintain a close check on the hat while it dries to ensure that it does not become overheated.

How to Machine Wash a Hat

‍Taking a trip to the laundry room might not seem like a huge concern, but if you plan to wash your hat along with the rest of the clothes, you will need to take some additional safety measures. Baseball caps made of acrylic, cotton made entirely of, or a cotton-poly blend should be laundered in a washing machine for the best results. Never put a hat made of cashmere, silk, or any other delicate material through the washing machine. This includes baseball caps made of wool, straw hats, and other similar styles.

Pretreat the Liner or Headband

Now is the time to focus on the portions of your hat that are the most stained and require the most attention. Use a brush with soft bristles, such as a toothbrush, and scrape away the grime in the same manner as you did in the previous step while hand washing a hat. If you find that your hat does not come out as brilliant as you would like it to, in addition to using a gentle detergent, you may also try adding baking soda. Under no circumstances should chlorine bleach with a white cap be used. Ever.

Use a Garment Bag

Use an additional layer, such as a garment bag with a zipper, to protect the form and color of your hat, even though the label on the inside of the hat says it can be washed in a machine. This will assist in preventing the hat from becoming damaged as a result of the movement of the washer.

Wash In Cold Water

If you wash your hat in hot water, it may undergo unintended shrinking and change its form as a result of the process. Keep in mind that you should only wash your clothes with other items of the same hue. For instance, if you want to avoid having pink sheets, don’t wash a red cap with a load of white sheets. This will cause the linens to turn pink.

Use the Delicate Cycle

To protect the hat from being ruined by the machine’s standard amount of agitation, it is imperative that you use the gentle cycle when you launder the item in question.

Air Dry the Hat

‍Don’t give in to the impulse to just toss your hat in the dryer, regardless of how tempting it might be. Even if you dry your hat at a low temperature, this can still cause it to shrink and damage its shape. Put your hat somewhere dry indoors on a towel, and give it some time to air dry. You may prevent your hat from losing its shape by placing a towel that has been balled up inside of it.

How to Spot Clean a Hat

Cleaning your headgear locally is by far the most secure approach to use. It requires a little more effort and won’t always get rid of the most persistent stains, but it will keep your hat from falling apart in the wash.Straw hats, hats made of leather or suede, antique baseball caps with cardboard bills, and hats made of delicate fabrics are the types of hats that should be spot cleaned whenever possible.

Test Hat Flexibility and Fabric

There are certain straw hats that are so delicate that even gentle hand washing is not an option for cleaning them. The vast majority of straw hats sold today are rather durable. Test the durability of the brim of the hat by bending it slightly; if it cracks, frays, or bends too quickly, the brim is not suitable for cleaning.

Focus on Embellishments Separately

Be sure to handle your hat with caution if it features any ornamental elements, such as ribbons, buttons, rhinestones, beads, or leather embellishments, because these may become damaged easily. Use your best judgment when deciding how to clean them, taking into account the type of material and how fragile it is. There are times when all that is required is a light touch with a gentle cloth.

Dab Gently

Clean the soiled sections of the hat by dabbing them with a washcloth that has been dipped in a solution of warm water, non-bleach mild laundry detergent, or dish soap. If the hat has some more noticeable stains and is able to withstand a bit more, you can try using a soft-bristled brush like a toothbrush to wipe away the grime. This method is effective for hats that can withstand a little more. When you are washing a straw hat, you should take special care to ensure that the straw itself does not become wet.

Allow to Air Dry

It is recommended that after washing a hat, you allow it to air dry indoors in a well-ventilated room that is out of the direct sunshine. This is the most effective option.