How to Clean a Straw Hat (Without Ruining the Straw)
To clean a straw hat, brush off the dust with a soft brush, then wipe it gently with a cloth that’s barely damp, and let it air dry in its proper shape. Don’t soak it. Straw that gets too wet can go limp, lose its shape, or crack once it dries.
Straw hats live hard lives. Beach days, yard work, county fairs. The trick is to clean them often and lightly instead of rarely and heavily.
The quick answer
- Brush the whole hat with a soft, dry brush, following the weave.
- Wipe the surface with a barely damp cloth. Wring it out until it’s almost dry.
- Dab any spots with a tiny amount of mild cleaner on a soft brush, after testing a hidden spot.
- Wipe the sweatband with a damp cloth and a little cleaner.
- Reshape the crown and brim by hand.
- Air dry on a form or upside down, out of direct sun and away from heat.
What you’ll need
- A soft-bristle brush (a clean makeup brush or soft toothbrush is great for tight weaves)
- Two clean microfiber cloths
- A gentle cleaner, or a couple drops of mild dish soap in a cup of cool water
- A towel to stuff the crown while it dries
How to clean a straw hat, step by step
Step 1: Brush it dry
Hold the hat by the brim and brush with the direction of the weave. Go easy where the straw is thin or loose. Dust settles into the gaps between strands, and dry brushing gets most of it out before you add any moisture.
Step 2: Wipe with a barely damp cloth
Dip a cloth in cool water and wring it out hard. Then wring it again. It should feel almost dry. Wipe the hat in the direction of the weave, a section at a time. You’re picking up surface grime, not washing it.
Step 3: Spot clean stains
Test your cleaner on the underside of the brim first. Some straws, especially dyed or painted ones, can spot or bleed.
If the test spot looks fine, put a small amount of cleaner on a soft brush and dab the stain. Short, gentle strokes. Then wipe with your second cloth, lightly damp, and blot with a dry part of the cloth. Don’t scrub hard. Straw fibers can split.
Step 4: Handle the sweatband
Fold the sweatband out if you can. Wipe it with a damp cloth and a little cleaner, then wipe again with clean water. Leave it folded out while it dries so moisture doesn’t sit against the straw.
Step 5: Reshape and dry
While the hat is still slightly damp, gently push the crown and brim back into shape. Stuff the crown with a towel so it holds its form. Set it upside down on the crown, or on a hat stand, in a shaded spot with good airflow. Most straw hats are dry in 1 to 3 hours because you barely got them wet.
How to clean a straw cowboy hat
Straw cowboy hats follow the same rules, with a couple of extras. Many are stiffened or coated, so test cleaner on a hidden spot before anything else. Keep the shaped parts, like the crease and the curl of the brim, supported while it dries so they don’t flatten. Set it upside down on its crown, never on the brim.
If you also wear felt in the cooler months, that hat needs a totally different approach. Check out how to clean a felt cowboy hat.
Getting sweat stains out of a straw hat
Sweat stains on a straw hat usually show up as a dark or yellow line just above the band. Start by cleaning the sweatband itself, since that’s where the sweat soaks through. Then dab the line on the outside with a little cleaner on a soft brush, wipe, and blot.
Old stains might take two or three rounds, with full drying in between. If the line won’t fade, it may be set into the fiber for good. Cleaning the band every week or two during summer is the best way to stop it from happening. There’s more on this in our sweat stains guide.
Fixing a straw hat that lost its shape
A crushed or flattened straw hat can often be coaxed back. Hold it over the steam from a kettle for a few seconds at a time, keeping your hands clear of the steam, then reshape it by hand while it’s warm and pliable. Stuff the crown and let it set. Go slow. Too much steam and you’re back to the soggy-straw problem.
For a very stiff or expensive hat, a hat shop can steam and reshape it properly.
Don’t do this to a straw hat
- Soaking it. Straw absorbs water, swells, and can warp or turn brittle as it dries.
- Washing machine or dishwasher. Straw comes out mangled. Not worth it.
- Drying it in hot sun. Fast drying makes straw brittle and can fade it.
- Bleach. It can discolor natural straw and weaken the fibers.
- Storing it squished. Hang it, or rest it upside down on its crown. Never stack heavy stuff on it.
Which hats can take more water?
| Hat | How much moisture | Guide |
|---|---|---|
| Straw | Barely damp cloth only | This page |
| Felt cowboy hat | Mostly dry, tiny spots of moisture | Felt cowboy hat |
| Cotton or polyester cap | Damp brush and cloth, can handle more | Hand wash a hat |
How often to clean a straw hat
Brush it after any dusty or sweaty day. Wipe the sweatband every week or two when you’re wearing it a lot. A full surface wipe a few times a season is usually enough. At the end of summer, give it one good clean before you store it so stains don’t set over the winter.
The easy way
Cap Sauce Foam Cleaner works without water, which makes it a good fit for straw that hates getting wet. Put a little foam on the soft brush, test it under the brim, then dab and wipe. The Complete Kit adds a deodorizer for a sweaty band and a protector spray that helps repel dirt and moisture.
FAQ
Can you wash a straw hat with water?
Only a little. Use a cloth that’s wrung out until it’s almost dry. Soaking or rinsing can warp the straw and make it brittle once it dries.
How do you get sweat stains out of a straw hat?
Clean the sweatband first, then dab the outside stain with a small amount of mild cleaner on a soft brush and blot. Repeat after it dries if needed.
How do you reshape a straw hat?
Briefly hold it over steam to soften it, shape it by hand, stuff the crown with a towel, and let it cool and dry. Go a few seconds at a time.
Can a straw hat get rained on?
A light rain is usually fine. Shake off the water, reshape it, and let it dry upside down in the shade. Heavy soaking is what causes damage.