
If your cloche is crushed or fedora flattened, there's a few home remedies to try before retiring your felt hat. The process, which involves steaming or stuffing the hat, an be approached several ways to accommodate the extent of damage and the coarseness of the fabric. However, repairs to felt hats should never involve an iron, which can singe the material.
Stuffing

Gently pop out any dents.

Stuff the entire hat with tissue paper.

Check the progress after a day, though it could take several days depending on the hat's style and the coarseness of the fabric. Remove the paper when the hat regains its shape.
Steaming

Set a full tea kettle over a gas or electric range. Maintain the steam so it escapes the spout steadily but not forcefully.

Position the warped area over the steam for up to 30 seconds or until the fabric is evenly saturated.

Reshape the area with your fingers without overworking the fabric. Allow it to cool and stiffen.
Wetting

Submerge your hat in clean lukewarm water.

Shake off or wring out the excess water.

Let the hat dry on your head until it regains its shape. Use your fingers to smooth out any wrinkles.
Related Articles

How to Fix a Cowboy Straw Hat

How to Restore the Shape of a Floppy Hat

How to Firm a Hat Brim
How to Use the Steam Buddy

How to Take Out Wrinkles From a Merino ...

How to Shape & Resize a Leather Cowboy ...

How to Stiffen the Brim of a Cap

How to Shape a Stetson Hat

How to Steam Wedding Veils

How to Get Creases Out of a Canvas Hat

How & Why Do You Steam Fondant After ...

How to Wash a Baseball Cap

The Best Way to Flatten a Hat Brim

How to Shape a Fedora Brim

How to Delint a Sweater
How to Steam a Dress Shirt Vertically

How to Press Chiffon

How to Dye a Cotton Hat

How to Break in a Newsboy Hat
How to Make a Fitted Hat Smaller
References
Writer Bio
Rick Lopez is a writer for AOL News and a freelance copy editor. He started reporting for Hearst Newspapers in 1995 and worked at several newspapers including "The New York Sun" and "The New York Blade." He is an alumnus of the Vidal M. Trevino School of Communications and Fine Arts, where he studied mass communications.
Photo Credits
Jeanne Studio/Demand Media