Ribbon sweatstain!

[bbshriver]

Help!
I was at the Hilton Head concours and vintage racing this weekend, and underestimated the heat/humidity mix and got pretty sweaty under my "new" Royal Stetson (which stayed in the car for the afternoon). The felt and sweatband seem ok, but there are now visible sweat-stains in the grosgrain ribbon. Any pointers on a good/safe way to clean this? I believe the hat is a 50's variety Stetson, so pretty old.

 

[M6Classic]

In this situation I would treat myself to a new ribbon. Do you live anywhere near a hatmaker?

Buzz

 

[feltfan]

Whoa.

Before you go get a new ribbon, try cleaning the old one.

Those sweat stains will probably come out simply by dabbing
a moist, clean, new sponge on the ribbon a few times. May take
more than one application. At worst, sending it out for a cleaning
is more practical and probably a touch more economical than
getting a new ribbon.

Aside from the cost of a new ribbon, those old ribbons
are something special. Don't toss 'em if you can fix 'em.

 

[bbshriver]

Thanks,
A new ribbon is not really an option, or at least a last resort. I don't have any nearby hatmakers or even hat stores. Would have to send it out and just not something I want to spend the $ on.
I was thinking of dabbing with some woolite solution, or steaming perhaps. Sponge sounds ok too.

Whoa.

Before you go get a new ribbon, try cleaning the old one.

Those sweat stains will probably come out simply by dabbing
a moist, clean, new sponge on the ribbon a few times. May take
more than one application. At worst, sending it out for a cleaning
is more practical and probably a touch more economical than
getting a new ribbon.

Aside from the cost of a new ribbon, those old ribbons
are something special. Don't toss 'em if you can fix 'em.

 

[J.T.Marcus]

Whoa.

Before you go get a new ribbon, try cleaning the old one.

Those sweat stains will probably come out simply by dabbing
a moist, clean, new sponge on the ribbon a few times. May take
more than one application. At worst, sending it out for a cleaning
is more practical and probably a touch more economical than
getting a new ribbon.

Aside from the cost of a new ribbon, those old ribbons
are something special. Don't toss 'em if you can fix 'em.

Great advice! I would add: Do it now! The longer a sweat stain sits, the bigger the damage to the ribbon. After a long period of time, it becomes impossible to remove.

 

[tonyb]

Yes, start with the least drastic measures first.

If cold water alone doesn't work (try to apply the water uniformly, so that you don't leave a "high-water mark," with a spray bottle, outdoors or over a sink), then try white vinegar diluted with water. That usually does the trick.

Unless your hatter uses vintage ribbon, the replacement will probably not be quite so fine as the existing ribbon. It's not that decent new ribbon doesn't exist, but even the best of it is rarely as good as the old stuff, and much of it is quite noticeably inferior.

 

[M6Classic]

My experience is that cleaning sweat stains from ribbons hasn't worked well and that when I have tried to the ribbon has ended up mis-shapen or puckered or with a tide line. It is true that replacing the ribbon is the most drastic solution and more costly than dabbing with a bit of water. However, it is still a relatively small cost against other hat maintenance.

Buzz