Interesting experience. I wonder if there is a difference between US and Canadian Coleman camp fuel? It is the only thing I use as it is so easily obtained. The Coleman's gasses off within hours and have never had a lingering odour. It gasses off and dries super quickly. And I use it regularly in my hat restoration business.
I use to pay $23 (Canadian dollars for a US gallon of Colemans. Last week it jumped up to $34......but NO ONE had any stock.....it is sold out everywhere.
“Your mother was a hamster and your father smelt of elderberries.”
I'm along for the ride on this one Eric.What will remove the staining (crown and brim)on this hat?
(The attached pic shows the hat during steaming this morning. You can see a distinct line or stain on the hat.)
Background: I am fortunate to have been able to aquire this hat. It has been on a "Search List" for a long time. When I recieved and looked carefully this hat I noticed some vague cloudy stains. It was infinitely wearable at that moment. In my desire to make the hat as close to pristine I started cleaning which exacerbated the staining. I regret my decision.
I first naphtha bathed the hat. The stain on the crown and brim edge started to show up more. I wiped the hat down with a damp distilled cloth and the stains absolutely popped out. I let the hat completely dry. As I was disappointed in my deision to clean the hat I put it aside for a week. Yesterday I started the Jiffy Steamer up and steamed the hat copiously and started brushing hard. I let the hat completely dry overnight.
Disappointed this morning I went and tested Scout Cleaner. No additional staining. I sprayed the cleaner and started brushing. Gentle brushing-no effect. Medium brushing-no effect. Back to my Jiffy Steamer. Lots and lots of steam and hard brushing. No effect.
To my eyes I look at the hat and only see the distinct line of staining. Duh!!!
What will remove the staining?
Chagrined and challenged this morning, Eric -
John Lofgren Monkey Boots Shinki Horsebuttt - $1,136 The classic monkey boot silhouette in an incredibly rich Shinki russet horse leather. 
Grant Stone Diesel Boot Dark Olive Chromexcel - $395 Goodyear welted, Horween Chromexcel, classic good looks. 
Schott 568 Vandals Jacket - $1,250 The classic Perfecto motorcycle jacket, in a very special limited-edition Schott double rider style.
Is worth a try. Stains/soiling is such a crap shoot as it is so contingent on the composition of the stain. I have found that naptha is not the cure all as there are stains it does not touch. As you suggest in your post ....the stain has to be broken down and then flushed from the felt. If we don't know the nature of the stain we don't know what to attack it with.......other than trial and error.
What kind of bucket and cover are you using for this? Won't Naptha melt or dissolve plastic?
I use either a large SS stock pot or a bigger old enameled canning pot, both have lids. I have never used plastic and I always wear elbow length chemical grade rubber gloves. I have a soft silicone bristle brush that I use on the felt for the real tough stains. Also, the hat is stripped of all components, ribbon, sweat and liner.
When cleaning a vintage hat my first step is to clean with warm water and Orvis paste (a low Ph soap my wife uses to clean raw wool) It works for a great many stains and even gets out some that naptha won't. The upside is it so much easier to work with than naptha....and cheaper....and I suspect easier on the felt itself. As well I can do the wash in my laundry tubs indoors rather than outside. I find myself doing it this way more often than the naptha bath. I have to experiment with the oxy clean/peroxide method.
Yep, I def don't smoke my cigar whilst doing the naptha bath.......and I do it in my garage with the door wide open and the naptha bucket at the very open edge of the big doorway.
