Most of us hat-wearing men tend to treat our baseball caps like outerwear; This means we wear them when we leave the house, take them off when we get home, and pretty much just leave them at that. If your shirts, pants, and underwear get dirty or sweaty, you'll probably do the sensible thing and throw them in the washing machine; But when was the last time your well-worn hats featured in your laundry cycle? If you are wondering how to wash a hat, we summarize everything for you here; including how to wash a baseball cap, how to wash a hat by hand, how to wash a white hat, and how to wash a hat in water. dishwasher, among other methods. (Hint: One of the methods is the best and most reliable).
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What You Need to Know About Hat Washing
It's a shame that so many of us neglect to wash hats, because as most of us know all too well, hats get just as dirty, stained, and sweat-stained as other clothes, if not more so. Wear a baseball cap, especially on a sunny day; When you get home, that hat will be more damp than your gym clothes. Wear a hat to the gym and double the trouble. Don't even think about wearing a white baseball cap for more than five minutes; From experience, I can say that many of my once sparkling white hats are now much closer to yellow.
But your favorite hats don't need to be thrown away just yet; even if they have gotten worse and no longer look as vibrant and fresh as when you bought them. It turns out there are lots of ways to clean and revitalize your hat, so even seriously oversized caps can have another chance at life in your daily rotation. Here's how to clean your hats and get them looking (almost) as good as new again.
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Best Way: How to Wash a Hat by Hand?
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If you're looking for how to wash a baseball cap, it turns out that the best and most reliable method is also the most labor-intensive. Fill your sink or bucket with warm water and a small amount of mild dish soap. (We recommend avoiding using hand soap because it often contains moisturizers, which can further stain your hat.) Soak the hat in water and apply a microfiber cloth or toothbrush to the most prominent and deep spots or stains. Scrub gently with the soap until they begin to dissolve, then submerge the hat in water again and let it sit for an hour.
Calum Swamp
Calum Swamp
Calum Swamp
Remove the hat from the water, check again for any remaining stains, and then very gently squeeze the excess water from the fabric; Prevent wrinkles from forming or changing edge shape. Place the hat on a dry surface, such as a bath towel. Fitted beanies, trucker hats, and most snapbacks are sturdy enough to retain their shape after this cleaning, but softer, less structured hats like dad hats may need something placed inside them during the drying process to prevent collapse. You don't want it to lose its shape or wrinkle the cover.
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Should We Wash the Hat in the Dishwasher?
You may remember hearing this from your mother, and it's true, the dishwasher is a classic hat cleaning hack. However, if you choose to wash your hat in the dishwasher, there are a few things you should pay attention to. First, make sure the dishwasher is set to a low, gentle cycle or quick wash, and make sure you don't add dishwasher tablets or too much washing liquid. (Since the water is so hot, you probably won't need to use any washing liquid; the water will do most of the work.) Be careful how you place the hat on the rack, and avoid doing so if you need to. The intense heat and pressure of the water has the potential to damage the fabric of your hat, especially if it is old, worn, or fragile.
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Should We Wash the Hat in the Washing Machine/Dryer?
If you've tried hand washing your hat and had no luck either in the dishwasher or in the dishwasher, or if your hat has been in the washer. Really is in poor shape and in need of some seriously intense cleaning; You can choose the last resort: using a washing machine. Needless to say, you'll want to run the gentlest, shortest cycle available on the machine, and you'll want to make sure the temperature is set to cold or for whites (if it's a white hat).
It is very important that you remove the hat as soon as the cycle is finished and leave the hat to dry on something to maintain its shape; Consider stretching the hat over a bowl or coffee can or hanging it by a strand. a doorknob to dry. And no matter what, avoid putting the hat through the machine dryer; It may be tempting for the hat to come out warm and fuzzy, but the dryer will almost certainly distort your hat, causing it to end up looking crooked and weird. .
Amazon sells inexpensive hat-washing “cages” to help the hat keep its shape while in the washing machine. While they're not quite perfect, these cages can go a long way in helping a hat or baseball cap maintain its shape throughout the wash cycle.
Coopache Hat Washing Cage for Washing Machine (Pack of 2)
Courtesy Image
Weirdest Idea: Shower
This may sound a little crazy, but many people attest to the effectiveness of wearing your hat in the shower and washing your head as if you were cleaning it. It cleans the hat and you won't lose the shape of the hat as you wear it. But fair warning, if someone sees you doing this you will probably look crazy.
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Extra Tips for Washing Hats
- If you're dealing with a white cap that's yellowed from sweat, consider using a Tide To-Go stick to remove the marks.
- If your hat is made of wool, try cleaning with colder water or even gentler water, squeezing out excess water more carefully.
- For ongoing care, never forget to air out your hats after wearing them instead of putting them back in a drawer, closet or closet. Sometimes a little air can make hats look and smell great over time.
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