Dust & Dust Mites in Hats. Remedies?

[FedoraFan112390]

I have a pretty bad allergy to dust mites, which tend to inhabit, well dusty places such as pillowcases, feathers, etc., and I was curious if a felt (beaver or rabbit) fedora collects dust or dust mites easily?

 

[Mav]

I have a pretty bad allergy to dust mites, which tend to inhabit, well dusty places such as pillowcases, feathers, etc., and I was curious if a felt (beaver or rabbit) fedora collects dust or dust mites easily?

Dust, yes; dust mites, no idea.
Brush 'em.

 

[BanjoMerlin]

Dust yes, dust mites yes.

A good naptha bath generally takes care of both.

 

[FedoraFan112390]

=/ not good..Since my dust mite allergy is very high in severity

 

[Dinerman]

A brushing and steaming will take care of any problems.

 

[James71]

I brush whichever one I am wearing in the morning before I leave the house. They appear as clean as a whistle.

(assuming whistles are clean)

 

[Dewhurst]

They collect them about as easy as regularly worn clothing in my experience. Maybe a bit less, since it is on your head. It doesn't make much difference, a lot of the time.

 

[Lone_Ranger]

I've heard it recommended, that you can take a child's stuffed animal, and put it in a plastic ziplock bag, and pop it in the freezer. I don't know if the method actually works, or not. If it works, I suspect it would work with a hat,

 

[FedoraFan112390]

bump

 

[Mr E Train]

I brush whichever one I am wearing in the morning before I leave the house. They appear as clean as a whistle.

(assuming whistles are clean)

When people say "clean as a whistle," they forget that a whistle is full of spit. --George Carlin

 

[BanjoMerlin]

I don't usually recommend brushing hats to people who are allergic to dust. It tends to move the dust from the surface into the air where it can be more easily inhaled.

Once the hat has been cleaned it should be stored in a box when not being worn. If you are going to brush it you should wear a good dust mask.

 

[FedoraFan112390]

Bump. This is the only thing stopping me from buying a fedora, as I have an allergy to dust mites. If someone could try to alleviate my fears about this, it'd be great.

 

[Rodkins]

Bump. This is the only thing stopping me from buying a fedora, as I have an allergy to dust mites. If someone could try to alleviate my fears about this, it'd be great.

If I were in your shoes I would get a fedora, brush and steam it thoroughly, and put it in one of those medium sized sealed clear Tupperware type plastic containers I use to store stuff in the attic that I buy at Target. You could even rig up the internals of a hat box in there and use the sealed container as your hat box. At least then you wouldn't have to brush and steam it as often. On second thought, maybe just keeping it in any hatbox would work just as well.

 

[danofarlington]

I've heard it recommended, that you can take a child's stuffed animal, and put it in a plastic ziplock bag, and pop it in the freezer. I don't know if the method actually works, or not. If it works, I suspect it would work with a hat,

If not, you'll have some might cold and angry mites in the bag.

 

[Aureliano]

use a vacuum with the small brush attachment. Or ask a friend or significant other to kindly brush it for you. Store in a box.

 

[Levallois]

Any recommendations for the best type or brand of brush? Thanks!

 

[Yeps]

Any recommendations for the best type or brand of brush? Thanks!

A brand new shoe polish brush works perfectly well, in my experience (has to be new, don't want gunk on it), but others might offer a more expensive option.

 

[Rodkins]

A brand new shoe polish brush works perfectly well, in my experience (has to be new, don't want gunk on it), but others might offer a more expensive option.

Any clean horsehair brush should work. Dark for dark hats and light for light hats.

 

[Fedora Jay]

I use a shoe polish brush as well. I bought a new one specifically for my hats. It's a brown Kiwi brand, and it works fine. If I don't brush them for several days, I can kick up a nice little cloud of dust.

 

[randooch]

A brand new shoe polish brush works perfectly well, in my experience (has to be new, don't want gunk on it), but others might offer a more expensive option.

Here's mine. Works like a charm!