Club Obi Wan

I dont mean brushing it, I mean actually cleaning it. See, Ive been wearing my Fed IV 10 hours a day, 5 days a week since March. So its seen all temperature extremes and I have sweated in it. Yesterday was when I noticed it was pretty rank, and all I could think of was to Febreze it, hold it over the kettle for some steamy goodness, then spray a little cologne in it.

Right? Wrong? Better Suggestions?

Sounds like you need nothing short of a good re-block. Seems like you would need to really clean the felt, but that would envolve taking the liner, sweat band and ribbon out, cleaning the felt in solution, then letting it dry on a block. Once dry, the old components are replaced w/new. Unless you are a good do-it-yourselfer, might want to turn it over to one of the hatters?

That's where the naptha bath comes in, if you're talking about a serious cleaning. Of course, it's highly flammable stuff and you need lots of ventilation, but if you're talking about a deep cleaning to remove dirt, sweat stains, and the like, it's naptha time. I know Steve and some other hatters use this. If that's the kind of cleaning you need, safest bet is to send it to one of our local hatters who may be willing to clean it for you.

If it's just a little smelly, it might not be the felt, and might not need cleaning. Pull out the lining (gently!) and hand wash it. Put some baking soda in an old sock and seal it in a bag with the hat for a couple of days. That should absorb surface odors on the felt.

If that fails, or if the hat clearly looks grungy as well, then follow Bink's advice. AB, Penman, and Optimo all offer cleaning services.

You might want to review/read this thread as well:

viewtopic.php?f=5&t=41593

Some of the dirt/smell could also be suspended in the sweatband.

Regards! Michaelson

Between the the sweatband, felt and liner, the three could cause quite a stink!