Hats are very easily soiled by sweat and oil from the face, hair, and head. Luckily, these stains can be easily removed using one of the four methods below. You just need a little time and a few household items to get a clean, shiny hat.
Step
Method 1 of 4: Manually Washing the Hat
Step 1. Find out if the fabric of your hat is colorfast
Before submerging the hat in water, you need to find out if the paint will fade. Dip a white cloth in warm water and rub it over an inconspicuous area of the hat. If the paint bleeds onto the white cloth, do not immerse the hat in water. If it doesn't fade, it means your hat is fade-resistant and washable.
If the hat doesn't fade, it's best to buy a new one; the hat will be damaged if you try to wash it
Step 2. Fill the bucket with warm water and 15 ml of laundry detergent
Pour the detergent into a clogged bucket or sink and fill it with warm water. Stir a little to foam.
Try not to use bleached detergents or substitutes as they will fade the color of the hat
Step 3. Spray a stain remover product onto the hat to loosen sweat and dirt
Before soaking the hat, it's a good idea to loosen the stain first. Spray the stain remover directly onto the fabric, and concentrate it on the areas most sweat-soiled, such as the inside of a hat.
Step 4. Soak the hat in soapy water for 4 hours
Dip the hat into the detergent solution, and stir a few times. Then, let it sit for a few hours so the soap can break up the sweat and oil. You can stir the water every hour, if you want.
Step 5. Rinse the hat completely with cold water
Remove the hat from the bucket or sink. Use cold tap water to rinse sweat and soap from the hat. Continue rinsing until the water becomes clear and does not foam. Gently squeeze out the excess water while trying not to deform the hat.
Step 6. Fill the hat with a towel and air it dry
Roll up a small towel and tuck it into the hat. Reshape the tongue of the hat if possible. Then, place the hat in front of a fan or open window so that it gets plenty of airflow. Wait for it to dry completely before reapplying, usually for 24 hours.
Try not to dry the hat in direct sunlight so that the color does not fade. Do not also use a clothes dryer because the hat will shrink and damage
Method 2 of 4: Using the Dishwasher
Step 1. Know the material of the hat
Read the label inside the hat to find out what it's made of. Otherwise, you can look up information on the internet or on the manufacturer's website. If the hat is made of jersey, cotton twill, or a polyester blend, you can wash it in the dishwasher. However, if the hat is made of wool, you should not wear it this way, as the hat may shrink.
If the hat has a plastic tongue, please clean it in the dishwasher. However, the tongue of the hat made of cardboard should be cleaned spot clean because this part should not be wet so as not to be damaged
Step 2. Put the hat on the top shelf
Hats should be placed on the top shelf so they are not too close to the heating element. If placed on the bottom shelf, the hat may overheat, causing the fabric to shrink or the plastic tongue to bend. For best results, place a “cap washer” or “cap cage” under the baseball cap to keep it in shape. You can buy them online or at a hat shop.
Do not wash the hat at the same time as the dirty dishes so that the stain does not transfer to the dishes
Step 3. Use dish soap without bleaching agents
Read the packaging for your dish soap. If you see a bleaching agent, such as chlorine, it's best not to use it so that the hat color doesn't change. We recommend that you use a mild and natural detergent.
Step 4. Start the dishwasher using cold water and a no-dry cycle with heat
Try not to use heavy cycles, for example for pots and pans. Use the gentlest cycle and make sure the “heated drying” option is turned off to keep the fabric from shrinking and the tongue of the hat from bending.
Step 5. Reshape the hat if needed and ventilate
Once the cycle is complete, remove the hat from the dishwasher. Carefully shape your hat by hand, if necessary. Then, place a towel in front of the fan and let it air dry. You may need to wait 24 hours so put on another hat in the meantime.
Do not dry the hat in direct sunlight to prevent it from fading, warping, or damage
Method 3 of 4: Applying Spot-Treatment to the Hat
Step 1. Find out if the fabric of your hat is fade-resistant
Before submerging the hat in water, you need to find out if the paint will fade. Dip a white cloth in warm water and rub it over an inconspicuous area of the hat. If the paint bleeds onto the white cloth, do not immerse the hat in water. If it doesn't fade, it means your hat is fade-resistant and washable.
If the hat doesn't fade, it's best to buy a new one; the hat will be damaged if you try to wash it
Step 2. Spray a stain remover product onto the hat to loosen sweat and dirt
If the hat is very dirty, it's a good idea to loosen the oil and sweat stains first. Make sure the product does not contain bleaching agents, such as chlorine, which can discolour the hat.
Step 3. Make a cleaning solution of detergent or shampoo with cold water
Mix a small amount of mild detergent with cold water in a bucket or bowl. Otherwise, you can use shampoo to get rid of sweat and body oil. Stir the solution by hand until the soap dissolves and foams.
Step 4. Dip a clean cloth in the solution and use it to scrub the stain
This cloth does not need to be soaking wet; just slightly dampen the cloth with the detergent solution. Rub a damp cloth over the stained area of the hat to remove dirt, sweat, and oil. Wet a new area of cloth as needed and rub it over the hat until the stain is completely clean.
Step 5. Use cold water to rinse the soap off the hat and let it air dry
Once the stain on the hat is clean, rinse the hat with cold running water. Try not to soak a hat that has a cardboard tongue. Then, absorb the remaining water using a towel. Use your hands to reshape the hat, if needed. Let the hat air dry in front of a fan or window.
Do not dry the hat in direct sunlight or use a tumble dryer as it may bend or fade from the sun and/or heat
Method 4 of 4: Cleaning Stubborn Stains
Step 1. Make a paste of baking soda and warm water
Combine 4 tablespoons (60 ml or 55 g) of baking soda and cup (60 ml) of warm water in a bowl. Stir with a spoon until it forms a paste.
Step 2. Rub the paste on the stain and let it sit for an hour
Use a spoon to rub the paste over the stained area. Use an old toothbrush to rub the paste into the cloth, then leave it on for an hour.
Step 3. Rinse the paste with cold water
After an hour, wash off the paste with cold tap water. Continue rinsing until the paste is completely clean.
Step 4. Aerate the hat completely
Press a clean towel against the cloth to absorb any remaining water. Then, let the hat dry completely before putting it back on. Put the hat in front of a fan or an open window to dry faster.
