What to do about "gas station" on hat?

[Naphtali]

I was filling up at a truck stop. The gusting wind blew my Borsalino fedora off. When I retrieved it, I observed it has several large areas of dirt or, god forbid, something "else" from the truck stop's blacktop.

What do I do? My hatter is in New York for ten days.

 

[David Conwill]

Don't rush out and do anything on my recommendation, but isn't naphtha an excellent solvent for petroleum based staining?

-Dave

 

[rmrdaddy]

Have you brushed it already?

 

[Naphtali]

After cursing sincerely from the heart, I put hat on seat, drove home, put it on a chair, and have not touched it since. My first thought was anything I do in terms of rubbing will force whatever's on the hat into the felt more deeply. My second thought was I don't know what I'm doing; so do nothing.

 

[handlebar bart]

I think you are on the right track to not try anything until you get some real solid advice from one of the wise vets on here. I would have a hard time looking at the hat and not trying to fix it on my own, so my advice would be to wait for some good advice. One of the well versed guys will chime in eventually and get you headed in the right direction. Good luck with your hat, I feel your pain

 

[John in Covina]

There is a good chance the dirt is also combined with grease and oil from the vehicles that have been thru the area. If so you may not want to rub it as it may spread or get rubbed in.

Naptha is noted as a usual cleaning agent and others say Coleman fuel is good for this type of cleaning. The dirt may come out with the grease and oils. There are a couple of cleaning threads, you should do a search and contact those that have done this type of work previously to learn what works and what to avoid. If it sounds do able you can try it or wait for your guy to return.

Maybe an excuse to get another hat while waiting.:eusa_doh:

 

[Naphtali]

. . . Maybe an excuse to get another hat while waiting.:eusa_doh:

Of course, this is my favorite hat. Why couldn't I have been wearing the trash Borsalino I wear when grubbing around?
***
I wasn't wearing the lapel button; I never do. What suggestions have you for avoiding this situation in the future? The gust was unexpected, so I didn't take preemptive action like leaving it in the truck.

 

[GWD]

I'M NOT AN EXPERT! BUT,

I've cleaned every hat I have bought off of ebay with Coleman Fuel in a covered five gallon bucket. It's cheaper than Naphtha and works just as well in my opinion.

I typically let them soak a good 24 hours and let them air dry for another 4 to 6 hours. I've had no ill effects whatsoever with this method and in your case it should dissolve any petroleum products on your hat.

If you're not comfortable with this I would send it to Optimo Hats in Chicago for a professional cleaning it will run you about $70.00 including shipping both ways.

I agree with you about the brushing, it will just embed the stain deeper.

 

[John in Covina]

I wasn't wearing the lapel button; I never do. What suggestions have you for avoiding this situation in the future? The gust was unexpected, so I didn't take preemptive action like leaving it in the truck.

*************
The wind trolley is number one. After that it is a matter of getting the hat uncomfortably tight on your head. The other is a report about the action heros of the 40's serials, something about getting rubber hose like the type that deliveres the gas to a bunsen burner in a lab. It acts as a wedge and anti slip ridge inside a hat.

Have you tried staples? (Bill Murray - A Christmas Carol)

 

[frijoli]

I'M NOT AN EXPERT! BUT,

I've cleaned every hat I have bought off of ebay with Coleman Fuel in a covered five gallon bucket. It's cheaper than Naphtha and works just as well in my opinion.

Pretty sure Coleman fuel IS Naptha based on the MSDS. Buy whatever is cheapest.

Clay

 

[John in Covina]

Some body said Walmart is pretty inexpensive for the Coleman fuel. Maybe Sam's Club has it too.

 

[Woodfluter]

I wuz rong!

On some other thread, I mentioned that spilt and evaporated Coleman fuel left an unpleasant residual odor in clothing that could only be removed with soap. Figured it was something added to make sure you knew it was there and didn't drop cigar ashes in it. Well, dang...

That was then, and maybe Coleman fuel has changed. I've burned it but haven't spilled it in years. I just wet down a bit of paper towel from the tin and ran a test. It now has an odor reminiscent of room freshener or weak cologne, and after drying I can still smell it, but just barely. It would probably dissapate entirely with time. So for the benefit of anyone searching the archives, just ignore what I said before. Others know far more about this as a cleaning agent than do I.

In response to a question, fuels variously called "Coleman Fuel" (TM) and naphtha and white gas are said to be about 60% hexane and 40% heptane. Apart from any additives.

- Bill

 

[doug01]

take it to a good cleaner, they have the right solvents

 

[Magus]

I use long Naptha soaking ot clean my really dirty hats. I will be posting a basic "how to" thread on it shortly Disclaimer...I am not a professional

 

[HatDoc]

Do you have to scrub them while wet, or just brush when dry? How long does the odor last?

Thanks,

Randy

I'M NOT AN EXPERT! BUT,

I've cleaned every hat I have bought off of ebay with Coleman Fuel in a covered five gallon bucket. It's cheaper than Naphtha and works just as well in my opinion.

I typically let them soak a good 24 hours and let them air dry for another 4 to 6 hours. I've had no ill effects whatsoever with this method and in your case it should dissolve any petroleum products on your hat.

If you're not comfortable with this I would send it to Optimo Hats in Chicago for a professional cleaning it will run you about $70.00 including shipping both ways.

I agree with you about the brushing, it will just embed the stain deeper.

 

[Naphtali]

I think self-cleaning will be equivalent to self-medicating, in my case. Having decided to let Jimmy work his magic (Jimmy Harrison, Double H Custom Hat Company, Darby, Montana), I find he's having knee replacement surgery on Friday. Oh, well. I'll drop the hat off along with my super-duper Irish Blackthorn root walking stick -- I don't care for the look of hospital canes -- and wait until the job's done.