INPUT ARTICLE: Article: Start filling a sink or bucket with cool water and add a few drops of mild laundry detergent. Dampen a clean cloth in the soapy water, wring out the excess, and rub it over the dirty area(s). Work up a foam by scrubbing the area(s) with a toothbrush. Dampen a new cloth with plain water and wipe the area(s) until no traces of soap remain.  Scrub gently around stitches. Forceful scrubbing may weaken these.  Also be gentle with wool and felt hats for the same reason. Expect machine-washing to run a higher risk of affecting the shape and color of your hat. Hand-wash whenever you can, and never machine-wash a wool or felt hat. Start by soaking the hat in the soapy water for at least 20 minutes. You can leave it soaking for up to 2 hours, depending on how dirty it is. Scrub out any remaining dirt or stains with a toothbrush. Remember to be gentle around stitches. Rinse out the soap with running water, then shake out the excess water or let it drip back into the sink or onto a towel. Use a front-loading machine, not a top one, if machine-washing. Start by treating soiled areas with a stain pre-treatment and give it about ten minutes to set in. Then insert the hat into a hat form if you can find one for your specific hat. Wash the hat with like-colored garments or on its own. Use mild detergent, cold water, and the delicate cycle.  Expect the central agitator in the basin of top-loading machines to damage the hat’s shape. Refrain from using your dishwasher. These use hot water, and many dishwashing detergents have bleach, so expect dishwashers to ruin your hat’s shape, size, and color

SUMMARY: Spot-clean heavily soiled areas before washing. Handwash for best results. Soak the hat in warm water and a mild detergent. Scrub the hat with a toothbrush and rinse. Machine-wash with caution.

INPUT ARTICLE: Article: If you just recently moved into an old home or inherited a space from a relative, check in storage locations to see what you may find. Keep an eye out for any chests, drawers, or briefcases that may be used to contain other items. Search high in the rafters as well. For instance, sometimes people hide money or valuables in a suitcase and stash it in the attic. This is when you can break out the metal detector. You never know what kind of items were hidden throughout your yard or garden, such as coins or arrowheads. These items may be hidden inside of other small containers. Look for small depressions in your yard, and keep an eye out for any items poking above the surface. You can also find items buried under the edge of a walkway or driveway. While this may be less obvious, there may be secret areas hidden throughout your home. Search behind old wallpaper, under the staircase, or near the floorboards, for instance. You may have to get creative with where to look. As they say, “one man’s trash is another man’s treasure”. You never know what people are throwing away in the dumpster! If you live in a community or development, take a look for items at the top while you throw away your garbage. If you see something interesting or potentially valuable, remove it from the bin and take it home.  Be sure to use a disinfectant cleaner to wipe down the item, as it was in the trash and could be ridden in germs. For instance, you could discover an old violin that is worth up to $50,000. Avoid trespassing on private property. Buildings around the house are great places to search for treasure. Be sure to investigate high and low, and keep an eye out for loose bricks or boards. Oftentimes, these areas have loose floorboards where you can discover lost coin collections, gems, or gold.  You can find a storage building full of random antiques, tools, or appliances, for instance. In addition, keep an eye out for scrap metal to sell or items to repurpose.

SUMMARY:
Look in the basement, attic, and garage of your home. Do a sweep of your backyard to see if there are any hidden gems. Check around your home for any hidden doors or compartments. Inspect garbage and recycling bins to search for discarded treasure. Investigate barns and sheds to see what may have been left behind.