Care for your Smelt, and it'll outlast the sauna.
Wool felt is tougher than it looks, but it does have opinions. Treat it well and one hat will see you through years of heat. Here's everything you need to know.
Before the sauna
Give it a light dampen with cool water if you like, a slightly damp hat insulates a touch better and feels cooler on the scalp. A dry hat works perfectly well too. Pop it on before you go in, not after you're already cooking.
In the room
Wear it low and relaxed. The felt sits between your scalp and the heat, so let it do its job. No need to fuss with it. If it feels warm to the touch, that's the wool absorbing heat instead of your head.
After your session
Give it a gentle squeeze to release excess moisture, never wring or twist it. Reshape it with your hands while it's still damp so it keeps its form, then leave it somewhere airy to dry fully.
Drying
Air-dry only, flat or on a rounded surface that holds its shape. Keep it away from direct heat: no radiators, no hairdryers, no tumble dryer. Felt shrinks and hardens when it's dried too fast.
Cleaning
It rarely needs more than airing out. When it does, spot-clean by hand with cool water and a tiny bit of wool-safe detergent. Dab, don't scrub. Rinse gently, reshape, and air-dry.
Storing it
Keep it somewhere dry and breathable between sessions. Don't seal a damp hat in a bag, wool needs air. Stuff it lightly with a towel if you want it to hold its shape on the shelf.
The four nevers
- −Never machine wash it. Felt holds a grudge and will shrink into a coaster.
- −Never tumble dry or use direct heat to speed things up.
- −Never wring or twist it, press the water out instead.
- −Never store it damp in a sealed bag.
The embroidery is stitched, not printed, so it won't crack or peel. Follow the above and it'll stay sharp for the life of the hat.