Hat Etiquette

• Ladies may wear their hats indoors, as these are considered fashion accessories and do not need to be removed.
• Men should always remove their hats in restaurants.
• When entering an elevator men should always remove their hats, until they are off the elevator, unless it is crowded, then it may stay on.
• When entering a place of business or a residence you should remove your hat. When in an enclosed shopping mall, it is your choice to remove your hat.

Hat Care

• Store hats upsidedown in a hatbox, on the top shelf of your closet, or on a hook. Make sure you stuff the crown with tissue paper or set them on a head form, this will ensure your hat retains its original shape.
• Watch out for too much sun… it will dry out your straw hat and cause it to break. Most straw hats are not intended to protect you from rain, so please don’t subject your straw hat to rain.
• If the brim of your flat brim straw hat needs repair, use an iron set on low. Manipulate the brim back to its original shape while constantly moving the iron. To clean your straw hat, use a mild detergent and warm water. Test a spot for  discolouring first. Wipe the hat quickly, then use a dry cloth to press it dry.  For more significant stains check out our Nustraw Hat Cleaner.
• Collecting vintage hats? Take care – hair oils, moisture in the air and handling can damage the hat. True collectors never wear their vintage hats.
• Clean felt hats with a soft brush. Hard bristles will damage fine felt. Dust it every week so that the dust does not permanently damage the hat. See our hat care products for brushes and mild cleaners – perfect for your hat. Make sure you purchase a light coloured brush for light hats and a dark coloured brush for dark hats.
• You can also use a damp towel with a slight nap to dust you hat. Use a quick circular counterclockwise motion. Do not use a water based cleaning solution for a hard, shellac hat.
• Stains that refuse to budge? Try a soft, small-pored sponge such as a makeup sponge or a bit of foam rubber. Or you might want to try an art-gum eraser, just remember: Always work the eraser in a counter clockwise motion to the grain of the hat.
• If the stain is deeply embedded into your hat, use the finest sandpaper you can buy. Again, always use circular motions, moving the sandpaper counterclockwise to the grain of the hat. Do not press hard or dig into the spot. When using sandpaper, make sure you are only removing the minimal amount of felt.
• For oil stain – you need more help! Use our stain removal product. Follow the directions on the product carefully. If the stain is deep, consider shipping it back to our store. Our professional staff will care for your hat and restore it.

Quick Hat Tips

1. Always pick up your hat by the brim – never handle your hat by the crown. When placing your hat on your head, adjust it by gently tugging on the front and back of the brim.
2. Want to keep your hat in good shape? Wear it! Your hat belongs on your head. But, should you remove it, take care not to set it on its brim. Ancient folklore warns against it – if you do your luck will spill out!
3. Beware of excess heat. The back window of your car on a hot summer day is the perfect place to ruin your hat. Fine hats will shrink in excess heat.
4. Can’t avoid a downpour? Gently remove your hat and let the hat air dry. If the hat is drenched, consider blotting it with a soft towel – but do not handle it excessively.
5. Whether you wear your hat regularly or not, gently wipe it with a damp sponge once a week to remove the dust. If you’ve hit a dusty trail and you can’t seem to remove the dust with a gentle cleaning – call on a professional. We can clean and block your hat, restoring it to “like new” appearance.

To measure your head simply place a measuring tape 1″ above your eye brow at where the top of your ear meets your head. It is exactly where you would wear a baseball cap (or any other hat). Be careful though not to include your finger in the measurement! Once you have the measurement in either inches or centimetres, simply convert it to the size on the chart above. If you are having difficulties call us for assistance, we’d be happy to help.