Baking soda discolored my Akubra Cattleman. Anyway to save it?

[Nolanebf]

Hi.

I stupidly tried to clean a grease stain on my nearly brand new Akubra Cattleman in dark brown color by putting some baking soda on it and then brushing it off after 20 minute or so.

No harm done except one tiny spot of discoloration which I could of lived with.

My perfectionist tendency was to try and brush it out which didn't work so I sanded with 220 grit and that didn't help. Finally I used a damp cloth to try and wipe it out and it smudged the white spot and made it a wider spot.

Was wondering if there is anything I could try or do? Or just live with it I guess.

 

[belfastboy]

You could flood the area with water to take the remaining soda out of the felt. Then rub the area with fractionated coconut oil. Use a balled up cotton fabric, warm the oil (but not real hot, Or the safest step would be to leave it as is, wear the hell out of it so the spot is not the only sign of wear. Two things: 220 grit is far too coarse a grit to sand a hat. Secondly, a spritz of denatured alcohol is a safe way to remove spots such as a grease stain.

 

[Nolanebf]

You could flood the area with water to take the remaining soda out of the felt. Then rub the area with fractionated coconut oil. Use a balled up cotton fabric, warm the oil (but not real hot, Or the safest step would be to leave it as is, wear the hell out of it so the spot is not the only sign of wear. Two things: 220 grit is far too coarse a grit to sand a hat. Secondly, a spritz of denatured alcohol is a safe way to remove spots such as a grease stain.

Thank you.

My plan is to leave it and let it gain more character. Might get a 2nd hat I keep as my "nice" hat! In a similar style.