Over time, dust, dirt, oily skin and hair, sweat, and other products can leave your baseball-style cap looking far from new. Whether your hat has grown dirty from weeks of wear and tear, or from years of working in the garden, baseball caps are more likely to last longer with a bit of regular cleaning.
Instead of tossing your favorite cap after years of sentimental use, try rescuing your hat with a solid deep clean.
Before you get started, make sure you refer to any washing and care instructions on the hat’s label. There are some athletic hats that are constructed using durable materials, those kinds of hats can retain their shape even with aggressive washing. You can also get great results with a more hands-on approach, it really is your choice.
The guide below offers a few helpful tips and methods for washing your baseball cap so you can keep the whole family’s hats clean and fresh for every wear.
How Often to Clean a Baseball Hat
If you wear your baseball hat every day or at least a few times a week, you should plan to wash it about once or twice a month, depending on how often it sees use. If your hat is more of an occasional accessory, you can probably get away with only washing it a few times a year.
Like other accessories, you probably don’t want to wait until stains, spots, and dirt are visible to clean your hat. By that point, those spots will be harder to remove, so it is a better move to wash the hat sooner rather than later.
Washing a Baseball Cap By Hand
✨ Start by shaking the hat out over your trashcan or vacuuming it out with the upholstery tool to knock out any dust and loose dirt. You can also use a lint roller or tape to remove stuck-on hairs and fibers.
✨ Fill your sink, bowl, or bathtub with cold water, and mix in a few drops of either laundry detergent or dish soap. You can pretreat stains by applying a drop or two of detergent to any stains and rubbing it in with an old toothbrush.
✨ Mix the water to create suds, then submerge your hat and swirl it around to help the water move through the fibers.
✨ Leave the hat to soak for 15 to 20 minutes, then start working on any stains. For more stubborn stains, use an old toothbrush to work more detergent or dish soap into the fabric and let it sit for 5 minutes before putting it back in the soapy water.
✨ Once the hat is clean, empty the sink and rinse the hat under cool water until any soap residue is gone. Then gently wring out any excess water within the hat, but avoid bending the brim so it keeps its shape.
✨ Dry the hat by patting it with a clean, dry towel. Stuff a dry hand towel in the dome of the hat or place the hat on a ball or bowl so it keeps its shape as it dries. Don’t wear the hat again until it has completely dried.
Washing a Baseball Cap in a Washing Machine
✨ Like the handwashing method, knock out any debris and pre-treat any stains with detergent.
✨ If you have one, put the hat in a mesh laundry bag big enough for the hat to fit without bending.
✨ Set the washer to a delicate cycle with cold water so the hat doesn’t stretch, shrink, or bend.
✨ Wash the hat alone, with other hats, or with a handful of lightweight items. Don’t add anything large or heavy so the hat doesn’t get crushed.
✨ As soon as the wash cycle is done, remove the hat and stuff the dome of the hat with a dry hand towel or place it on top of a ball or bowl, so it keeps its shape as it dries.
Spot Cleaning a Baseball Cap
✨ Knock any debris loose from around the hat, you can use a soft brush to easily remove dust and dirt that has been embedded around any stitching or embellishments.
✨ Use a fabric spray like OxiClean or a DIY spray made from a cup of water, a teaspoon of white vinegar, and a few drops of dish soap to treat any surface stains on the hat.
✨ Use an old toothbrush or microfiber cloth to apply the cleaner directly onto the stain. Blot at the stain with a damp cloth until the stain lifts.
FAQs
Can you wash a baseball cap in the dishwasher?
You should not wash your baseball hat in your dishwasher. High heat and harsh chemical dish detergents will damage the fibers and discolor the hat. Avoid the dishwasher and opt to wash them by hand or in a gentle cycle in your washing machine.
How do you wash a vintage baseball cap without ruining it?
Generally, you can easily clean your vintage baseball cap by simply soaking it in cool water mixed with a small amount of mild detergent, and spot-cleaning where necessary.
How do you clean a dirty sweaty baseball cap?
We suggest using OxiClean™ Versatile Stain Remover to treat and remove sweat stains from your hat like you would for any other washable fabric.
How do you shape a baseball cap after washing it?
To maintain your hat’s shape, do not dry your baseball hat in your machine dryer. You can air-dry the hat by placing a small balled-up towel in the dome of the hat while it dries
How do you color-test the fabric of your hat?
To make sure your hat is color-safe and won’t be damaged with cleaning products, rub a very small amount of cleaning solution like laundry detergent, or stain-fighting powder diluted with water, on a hidden section of the hat. Wait a few minutes and check for discoloration.
For more cleaning tips and tricks from TidyHere cleaning services, check out our blog full of DIYs and useful methods for cleaning up around the house. You can also check out our full list of cleaning services and book your appointment with us today! We’re here to help you accomplish your cleaning goals for a happy and healthy home all year long.
