How to Wash a Hat Without Ruining it? By Hand or By Machine

Hats inevitably get soaked in sweat and dirt during daily use. Washing a hat is a difficult task, especially for finely crafted hats. Washing a hat by hand is the safest way. But if it's a sturdy hat, it's okay to wash it with a washing machine. After washing the hat, it cannot be dried, otherwise it may shrink easily. Today, let’s learn how to wash a hat without ruining it. And I will take you on how to clean different types of hats, including baseball caps, wool felt hats, straw hats and more.

How to wash a hat in the dishwasher?

You can wash a baseball cap in the dishwasher because the water flow of the dishwasher is gentle. But the water temperature must be enough to kill the bacteria on the hat.

Step 1. Put the hat on the bottom of the dishwasher. A standard dishwasher often has sparse teeth on the lower layer, allowing the edge of the hat to fit in and the bowl shaped part to fit on top of the teeth. This way, the hat will not lose its shape during the washing process.

Step 2. Add Oxiclean detergent to the dishwasher. The detergent is essential. It is best to use a mild detergent without any additives or spices.

Step 3. Set the dishwasher to fast washing mode. When washing baseball hats, it is important to choose the fast mode to avoid prolonged soaking, as the hat is prone to deformation.

Step 4. Hang the hat dry. Do not use the built-in drying function of the dishwasher. Instead, take out the hat and stuff it inside with a dry and clean towel. Then lay the hat flat on another towel to dry, so that it is not easily to lose its shape when air dried.

How to wash a hat in washing machine?

It's not suggested to wash a hat in washing machine. It may lose its original shape.

Step 1. Check the care label on the hat to ensure that it is safe to wash in a washing machine.

Step 2. Place the hat in a washing bag or mesh laundry basket to prevent any damage during washing.

Step 3. Select the appropriate cycle on your washing machine, usually delicate or gentle.

Step 4. Add laundry detergent and fabric softener if desired. Run the washing cycle and let the hat air dry on a flat surface.

How to wash a hat with sweat stains by hand?

Washing a baseball hat by hand is the best way to keep the original color and shape of a cap clean.

Step 1. Fill the sink with warm water. Then add a spoonful of laundry detergent.

Step 2. Clean the stained area. Just like cleaning regular clothes, if there are special oil stains, soak the hat and use a toothbrush (or other small brush tool) to apply detergent for washing. Sweat stains can be cleaned with shower gel. Pay special attention to areas with needle and thread stitching, as excessive force may cause misalignment or even breakage of the stitching.

Step 3. Immerse the baseball cap in water in the sink. After you have specifically cleaned the stained area, put the baseball cap in water for about 20-30 minutes. During soaking, you can occasionally take it out to see if the stains have been removed. If not, you still need to use your small brush to clean the problem area again.

Step 4. Clean foam with warm water.

Step 5. Gently pat with a towel to remove moisture. After being taken out of the water, let the baseball cap drip all the excess water. While maintaining the shape of the cap, gently pat it with a dry towel (not a tap).

Step 6. Air dry. Find a coffee pot, small can, or a towel rolled into a column, or the head of a mannequin (if you have it at home), and fasten the hat on top to avoid wrinkles when it dries, which can maximize the shape of the hat. If you want to speed up the drying process, give it a fan or use a low-end hair dryer.

How to wash a wool baseball hat?

Wool baseball hats are much more delicate and fragile than regular cotton or mesh hats. It is best to choose a professional wool detergent and wash it strictly according to its regulations. Still gently pat to remove moisture, then you can consider wearing it to thoroughly air dry. Wool hats are very prone to damage after washing, so special care should be taken.

How do I clean a felt hat?

Due to the material and shape, felt hats cannot be washed with water. You can also clean and care for yourself at home. It's really easy.

Step 1. Use a hat brush to remove dust and comb the hair smoothly.

Step 2. Felt hats are prone to sticking fur balls. Stick the large transparent adhesive onto the small hair ball on the hat, and even a strong pull can clean the hat very clean.

Step 3. If there is dirty dirt on some parts of the hat, then you can only use water now. Dip a small brush in weakly acidic cleaning solution to clean the dirty area, and then rinse with clean water. Be careful not to dirty the other parts of the hat that are not dirty, and do not let the hat collapse.

How do I clean a straw hat?

Step 1. Take a dry white cloth to wipe off any dirt, dust, and dirt on the surface. If you have a dark straw hat, you can use a darker fabric.

Step 2. Gently wipe the hat with a soft cloth or ultra-fine fiber cloth dipped in a small amount of detergent and water. Wipe in a circular or counterclockwise direction to avoid damaging the woven pattern of the hat. Ensure that the fabric is only wet and not completely permeable, as this may cause damage to the material by water.

Step 3. Let the hat air dry in a cool and well ventilated place, avoiding direct sunlight.

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