How do you clean a straw hat?

Question

I got this old Bailey hat that's kinda dirty. It's not too bad, though, so no extreme scrubbing is needed. I need to shape it after, also. No stores, just stuff I could do at home.

Answer 1

When I worked at a nursing home we cleaned artificial flowers and baskets with salt.  Put a box of table salt in a heavy clear plastic bag big enough to hold your hat. Put hat in and gently shake until you have the desired results. Shake out hat when you remove from bag to get rid if excess salt. You can save the salt for any other cleaning jobs you have. It also works if you have old tapestries. This will not take out the shape of original hat

Answer 2

i would try canned air to get some of the dirt out of the crevices.  other than that maybe the corner of a wet rag with a little drop of dish soap?

Answer 3

You can clean it by brushing it off with a light brush, like a paint brush, or a moist cloth.  You shape them with steam.  Most good western stores will clean and shape them for free, but always nice to leave a tip.

I have moved away from the straws and own three palm leaf hats now.  They "bounce" back better from being crushed and all it takes is moistening them to shape them, unless they are coated.