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.

 

[Edward]

If it's only that one spot on the underside of the brim, I'd be inclined to leave well alone for a while; you might find whatever powder is still stuck in there will gradually ease out over time. FWIW, I had a hat that got forgotten about sitting in a spare room and caked with a layer of dust over the whole thing - that shifted with a careful fifteen minutes with cold water out ofc the showerhead. Sounds like you've already tried something like that, though.

More generally, how do you find the Cattleman in terms of warmth? I have an old Riverina I 'safariised' (as a lot of us did) back in 2008. Considering a new one to add a puggaree to for travel in somewhat warmer weather when a straw isn't necessarily practical (rainy and such). The Riverina worked well enough as it was vented, though the CM looks like it has maybe better venting, and the lack of liner might help.

 

[Woodtroll]

You might try vacuuming it with a brush attachment. That will probably get the baking soda out, but won't correct the altered texture from sanding.

 

[Who?]

My guess is that only you will notice or be aware of it.

 

[Nolanebf]

If it's only that one spot on the underside of the brim, I'd be inclined to leave well alone for a while; you might find whatever powder is still stuck in there will gradually ease out over time. FWIW, I had a hat that got forgotten about sitting in a spare room and caked with a layer of dust over the whole thing - that shifted with a careful fifteen minutes with cold water out ofc the showerhead. Sounds like you've already tried something like that, though.

More generally, how do you find the Cattleman in terms of warmth? I have an old Riverina I 'safariised' (as a lot of us did) back in 2008. Considering a new one to add a puggaree to for travel in somewhat warmer weather when a straw isn't necessarily practical (rainy and such). The Riverina worked well enough as it was vented, though the CM looks like it has maybe better venting, and the lack of liner might help.

Thanks for your input

I am currently using it everyday and find it comfortable and breathable and high quality.

I'd say it's a bit cooler than my lined Stockman akubra hat but more overall it keeps me very comfortable most of the time. Currently -5 Celsius and still use it.

 

[The Lost Cowboy]

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.

Just a quick note on this: if you (or anyone else) decided to try something like this, best to use distilled water. Tap water can leave a stain on the felt.

 

[belfastboy]

Just a quick note on this: if you (or anyone else) decided to try something like this, best to use distilled water. Tap water can leave a stain on the felt.

It depends on where you live. I have the luxury of the west coast and large reservoirs of soft water. The mineral content is so low....we can use it in our appliances with no worry of scale build up. I only use distilled water in my cigar humidor. I forget that Prairie water is a different animal than here.

 

[Nolanebf]

My guess is that only you will notice or be aware of it.

My wife laughed at me when I told her ! True