This post may actually be useful to the interwebs. It’s going to be a HOW TO post.
Let me explain. On Tuesday this week, I started back to work. I was bright-eyed and bushy-tailed as it was my first day back to work in 2012. Just like high school, I was eager to wear some of my purchases from my recent Christmas trip to Canada where I was able to shop with YYZ. Unfortunately, the weather was terrible = pissing with rain and gale force winds. So, in all my wisdom I chose to wear my brand new hat to protect my hair. Bad idea.
I had purchased this grey felt hat at the Holt Renfrew’s sale. I think I bought it because It reminded me of my Grandmother’s hat from the 60s. (Mum, can you scan me that photo of Gramma so I can post it here?) Anyway, I wore my new hat on Tuesday. Within half a block of my house, it flew from my head. It landed in the dog park close to my house. Luckily, I quickly caught up with it and it was still in pristine condition despite its proximity to dog shit ….
I tempted fate and put it back on my head. I held on to it with one of my hands. Unfortunately, as I was 100 feet from the tube station, my grip loosened and my hat was caught in the wind. It flew in the midst of Dalston Kingsland Road. My natural reaction was to run after it. I took a few steps and then realised I would soon be a nasty statistic if I didn’t let it go. So I did.
After the stream of cars cleared, I saw my poor hat sitting upright in the middle of the road. It was a MIRACLE, it wasn’t squashed by the multiple cars and buses that drove over it. However, it was clearly much dirtier and greasier than it had been moments before. Well, at least it wasn’t squashed out of recognition.
Now on to the HOW TO element of this post. As soon as I got to work, I sent out an SOS to the 4 people in my life who I thought could help:
- Andrew McDonald – my Millinery teacher
- YYZ as you know she is a milliner-in-training
- My Aunt Barb who is an amazing seamstress and made her fair share of hats in her day
- My Mum who just knows stuff like this.
I got great responses from three of them (my Mum has not yet responded – Mum?) I felt it only right to share their tips with you. But first, here is the hat.
my hat post incident
Dirt and grease marks on the hat after the incident
Here was the first response. It was from Aunt Barb.
now the hat looks like felt …wool felt ? just dirt ? or grease ? I would let it dry !!.. vaccuum & then brush with a brush ( stiff ). Nanny Carr used to clean fur by putting corn starch in a pillow case with the fur & shaking. Then shaking it outside the bag. Anyway maybe a little cornstarch might help? ( how about a tie on your hat? an old scarf ???
Here was YYZ’s suggestions:
A clean toothbrush is where to start. Gently brush the felt while both hat and brush are dry. That should help. You might also put a bit of baking soda on the brush to absorb any oil from the street. I think with gentle perseverance, it will come clean. What a drag, though.
Finally, here’s Andrew’s suggestions:
Happy New Year and I hope it’s a lot less windy for your sake and your poor old – or new hat.
It is typical isn’t it. The best thing to try is a damp cloth with a little bit of detergent and wipe away at the dirt to remove it. Another thing to try when the hat is dry is soft white bread and use it like a rubber to absorb and sponge up the marks.
If you have time you’re welcome to drop it in to my studio and i’ll have go at it.
Well, Hat Helpers, I still haven’t tried anything yet. I’m a bit scared. I think I will start with the vaccuum to take up all the dirt, then I might try one of the methods to try to erase the grease – bread, baking soda or corn starch. If all else fails, Andrew, I’ll come for a visit.
If you have a suggestion, please leave it in the comments and I’ll share it above. You never know I might not be the only one with this problem.
) She found them and will, no doubt, post them soon!
