Cowboy Hats and More

Since its release in 1986, people around the world have been captivated by Mick “Crocodile” Dundee.  Characterized by his outback hat, crocodile skin vest, big knife, and unique outlook on life, the Crocodile Dundee was a big hit at the box office and became a cultural icon for the decade.  In recent years, a follow up film to the original Crocodile Dundee was released, placing the same characters in the urban environment of Los Angeles, though it was met with only moderate success.  Though the crocodile man from down under didn’t fare so well this time, the original films excite and entertain modern audiences as well

Paraphernalia from the show is still popular as it has become a standard stereotype for Australian people.  Though real Australians don’t wear crocodile skin garments and tote large skinning knives, it’s fun to think about people who do. 

A well loved and worn hat will inevitably become stained at some point (even a well made 20X cowboy hat). The key is to treat it kindly and act swiftly to remove the damage. The starting point is, of course, regular maintenance.  Invest in a good soft brush (never stiff — it will tear the fabric) and use it regularly to dust your hat. A dark colored brush works best for dark hats and a light brush on lighter hued hats.

If you prefer, you can use a damp towel with a slight nap to do the same job — rub in circular counter-clockwise motion to remove foreign particles.

A makeup sponge (or any small-pored sponge) works well for stubborn stains.  In a pinch even foam rubber can be used.  The often overlooked advantage of foam rubber is that it is slightly sticky and adheres well to surface soil. Art-gum erasers work well for the same reason … just remember to rub in a counter clockwise motion to the grain.

Staw hats can be kept clean and good looking with a few regular passes of a standard whisk broom.