Baseball hats are one of the most popular headwear and millions of people around the world wear and appreciate them, even if they don’t necessarily enjoy baseball. If you’ve ever owned one and wondered how to wash a baseball hat, you’re not the only one.
It is no secret that baseball hats tend to get dirty after some time. The most popular and easy way to wash your hat is in a dishwasher or washing machine. While some hats are machine washable, others need to be hand washed exclusively, including the majority of baseball hats.
However, most people will tell you that you should never wash your hat because it will shrink and get ruined. Others say that if you do, it will get too floppy and lose its shape. The fact is that modern hats are easy-to-clean and maintain, so long as you wash them the right way.
Even if your hat is machine washable, it is best to wash it by hand to avoid bending it out of shape. The bill of your baseball hat, in particular, is a part of your hat that you do not want to bend out of shape. Proper and careful hand washing will unsure it remains in shape and looks fresh as well.
What You’ll Need:
- Large bowl or a sink
- Mild detergent
- Clean, soft towel
- Small brush or soft toothbrush
- Head-shaped item for shaping (a small bowl or container)
- Cold water
But before you even consider (hand or machine) washing your baseball hats, you need to get a few things out of the way.
Fabric Test
You need to test whether the fabric of your hat can stand the detergent solution. Use a small amount and rub it on a hidden part of your baseball hat. This could be the on the inside of the lining or the underside of the bill. If you notice any color fading, you should only use water to clean your hat.
Vintage Test
Baseball hats made before the 1980s often have cardboard bills instead of the modern plastic ones, that are more durable. You can test it by flicking the bill of your hat and if you hear a hollow sound, you can be sure that your hat is a vintage hat with a cardboard bill.
Vintage hats should not be soaked in water as it can easily damage the shape and integrity of the bill, instead, you will have to spot clean it.
Once you have these tests out of the way, you can start washing your hat by hand. Here, we will discuss two methods of hand washing. The first is a simple and quick method that is meant for light cleaning to refresh your hat, whereas the second is a deep clean method for more severe sweat or dirt stains.
As a rule of thumb, you should start with the simple method first, and then work up to the deep clean if needed.
Simple Hand Wash Method
Here are the steps for a simple hand wash, perfect for light cleaning and maintaining your baseball hats.
1. Fill a Sink with Cool Water
Start by filling cool water in a sink, bucket, or large bowl.
2. Add a Mild Detergent
Add a few drops of mild detergent to the water and stir it to form some suds.
3. Soak for 15-20 Minutes
Place your hat in the detergent solution and let it soak for about 15-20 minutes.
4. Rinse with Cool Water
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Remove the hat from the solution and rinse it thoroughly with cold water.
5. Pat Dry
Use a clean, soft towel to gently pat dry the hat. Make sure not to bend the bill out of shape.
6. Reshape and Air Dry
Reshape the bill if it seems out of shape. Then place the cap on a dry towel and place a small bowl or container upside-down under the hat to mimic the shape of a human head. This will help maintain the hat’s shape as you leave it out to air dry.
Deep-Clean Hand Wash Method
If your baseball hat does not look clean or fresh after a simple hand wash, you can follow these steps for a deep clean that targets sweat marks, tough stains, etc.
1. Spot Clean
Use a small brush or soft toothbrush and the detergent solution to spot clean and scrub out the tough stains or sweat marks. Just makes sure you don’t damage the fabric. Be gently and let the detergent do its job.
2. Soak for a Few Hours
Once you’re done spot cleaning, soak your hat in the detergent solution for a couple of hours.
3. Spot Checks
While your baseball hat soaks, occasionally perform spot checks to see if any other areas need spot cleaning.
4. Rinse with Cool Water
Remove the hat from the solution and rinse it thoroughly with cold water.
5. Pat Dry
Use a clean, soft towel to gently pat dry the hat. Make sure not to bend the bill out of shape.
6. Reshape and Air Dry
Reshape the bill if it seems out of shape. Then place the cap on a dry towel and place a small bowl or container upside-down under the hat to mimic the shape of a human head. This will help maintain the hat’s shape as you leave it out to air dry.
Our Final Thoughts
Following the mentioned guide, you will know exactly how to wash a baseball hat in a way that brings results without damaging the shape or fabric of your hat. Even though some hats are machine washable, it is best to avoid washing your hats in washing machines or dishwashers.
They may bend the bill out of shape or damage the fabric/ color with tumbles, high heat, or harsh detergents. Moreover, you should take extra care when cleaning wool hats because the fabric is delicate and the hat is more prone to lose its shape.
You’ll also need a special mild detergent that s designed for wool washing. With that in mind, you should be able to hand wash all your baseball hats and keep them fresh and clean for longer.
