Whether you're wearing a baseball cap to protect your eyes from the sun, bring good luck to your favorite team, or simply hide your unruly hair, you'll likely need to wash your hat at some point. While newer baseball caps are machine washable, it's often best to wash them by hand (you don't want your favorite hat to break, do you?) Keep reading this article to learn how to wash new, old, and wool hats with hand.
Step
Method 1 of 4: Washing Newer Baseball Caps
Step 1. Plug the sink and fill it with cold water until it is half full
While the water is running, pour a full cup of detergent (without bleach) into the water. The sink will be full of soap suds.
Step 2. Rub or spray stain remover as a pre-wash treatment on the areas with the largest stains on your hat
These stains may be where sweat and dirt builds up most after watching a baseball game for months or after hiking miles and miles.
Step 3. Put the cap in the soapy water
Using a clean cloth dipped in soapy water, carefully scrub the dirt stain. Do this until all the dirt has been removed.
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In addition to a clean cloth, you can also use an old toothbrush. If you're worried about the logo or name printed on the hat being damaged, just scrub around it with a toothbrush. You can control where you want to clean more easily if you use a toothbrush instead of a cloth.
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Step 4. Remove the water from the sink
Rinse your hat under cold running water until the washing water is clear and no longer contains soap.
Step 5. Dry the hat with a few small towels
Puff the inside of the hat to give it a shape during the drying process.
If you have a plastic cap shaper, insert it into the hat while it dries
Step 6. Place the hat on a towel, in front of a small fan
In a few hours, your favorite hat will look like new and ready to get dirty again.
Method 2 of 4: Washing the New Era Baseball Cap Without Damaging the Sticker
Step 1. Take the plastic wrap
Wrap the sticker with plastic wrap. Try to wrap as little as possible so you can wash most of the hat. Only do this step if you are really worried about damaging the sticker while washing it.
Step 2. Dip the toothbrush in a cup of warm water
Do not mix soap in water. Carefully scrub away any dirt or sweat stains with a toothbrush. Using a toothbrush allows you to scrub exactly where you want it. This will reduce the chance of spoiling the color.
Step 3. Mix teaspoon of detergent with seven or eight cups of water in a large bowl
Make sure the detergent does not contain bleach. Bleach will damage your hat. To remove more concentrated stains, dip the toothbrush in a solution of water and detergent, then carefully brush the stain.
Step 4. Rinse off the detergent by dipping the toothbrush in warm water
Make sure this water is without detergent. Carefully rinse the area you have scrubbed with detergent.
Step 5. Remove the plastic wrap from the sticker and allow the hat to air dry
If you're worried that the hat will shrink (say you're getting the hat too wet), wear it over your head while drying. When dry the hat will have the exact shape of your head.
Method 3 of 4: Washing Old Baseball Caps
Step 1. Do a test to see if the hat wears off
Wet a washcloth with cold water and apply a small amount of detergent to the cloth. Make sure you use a mild detergent. Also spray a little "stain remover" like Vanish where you put the detergent.
Step 2. Rub the detergent mixture in a hidden spot on your hat
Behind the front of the hat is usually a good place to do this test. This test will determine if the color of your hat will change when you wash it.
Step 3. Rinse the hidden parts of your hat with a clean, wet washcloth
Let it dry by itself. If there is no discoloration, you can clean the dirtiest part of your hat with a detergent mixture without ruining the color.
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If discoloration occurs and you don't want the hat to lose its original color, you should wash the hat with water. Sweat stains will be more difficult to remove.
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Step 4. Clean all the rest of the hat with a solution of detergent and a washcloth
Spread the soap all over. Pay special attention to the circumference of the head, because this is where your hat is likely to be the dirtiest.
Step 5. Carefully rinse the hat using a washcloth dipped in cold water
Do this until all the soap suds are gone.
Step 6. Let the hat dry by itself
To keep the shape, attach the hat to a head-like object, such as a balloon or coffee can, while it is drying.
Method 4 of 4: Washing Wool Hats
Step 1. Use cold water to wash the wool baseball cap
Wet your wool baseball cap under a stream of cold water. Use a washcloth and mild detergent to remove the stain from the hat. Make sure the detergent used is specifically for wool. Information on whether or not the detergent is safe for wool can be found on the detergent package.
Step 2. Make sure you are careful when washing the wool baseball cap
If you rub too hard, or twist the hat, you can make the wool coarse and grainy. This will give your hat a felt texture.
Step 3. Rinse the wool baseball cap under cold running water and roll it in a clean towel
Gently press the towel against the hat until no more water drips off.
Step 4. Dry your wool baseball cap while wearing it on your head
While this may sound inconvenient, this step ensures that when the wool baseball cap is dry, it will fit snugly against your head.
Tips
You can use a balloon or coffee can to keep the baseball cap in shape while it's drying
Warning
- Be careful choosing a detergent, make sure it doesn't contain bleach.
- Never dry the hat in the dryer.
- When drying the hat, try using a white towel for a white hat or a light-colored hat to help prevent the color from fading.
