How to Wash a Baseball Cap

Deciding How to Wash Your Cap

Assess your hat. First you will need to look closely at your baseball cap to determine if it can be washed and the best approach.

Examine the cap to see if it is well made and if it will hold up to a washing. Look carefully at the material, stitches, and the brim. If your hat is made with good quality materials, is relatively new, and has solid stitching you should be able to wash it without trouble. Look for signs that the hat is inexpensive or poorly constructed. If the cap has loose stitching or a cardboard brim it might fall apart if you wash it. If the hat was inexpensive it might make more sense to replace it than to attempt to wash it.

Look for signs of age. If you your cap is very old, you should take extra care and only wash it by hand.

Check for a tag. A tag on your baseball cap might have washing instructions and other information about the material. Follow the washing instructions if the manufacturer included any on the tag. Determine the kind of fabric. If your hat is made from cotton, polyester, or twill and is well made you should be able to wash it. If the cap is made from wool you should only hand wash it using a special detergent designed for wool, like Woolite.

Consider whether or not the cap can withstand a machine wash. Older, softer caps will probably be just fine on a gentle, cold wash with no fast-spinning, especially if they have no stiffness. For stiff, newer caps, however, you might like to wash the rest by hand. A simple soak post-spot-cleaning should do the trick.

Washing by Hand

Spot clean any stains. This will make it easier to clean the cap as a whole. As with any stain, the sooner the stain is cleaned, the more likely that you will be able to remove it.

Check your hat for colorfastness. If your hat is made from a delicate fabric or if it is an older hat you need to make sure washing it won't remove or change the color. Use a very small amount of mild detergent on a rag or washcloth and rub it on a small area on the hat. Chose an area on the inside part of the hat that is hidden when wearing. Rinse it gently with cool water. If the color stays the same you can wash the rest of the hat.

Spot clean your hat. If there are stains or very soiled areas on your baseball cap, spray them with stain remover or a laundry pre-treatment. Let the stain remover sit for a few minutes, then rinse the areas with water.

Fill a sink with cool water. Put a little bit of mild detergent in the sink as it fills.

Dunk the cap in the sink of soapy water and use a cloth soaked in the soap and water to rub the surface of the cap, especially any very soiled areas. Repeat this step as needed.

Rinse the cap in cool water until all the soap is removed.

Allow the cap to air dry. It's important to make sure the hat keeps its shape while drying. You can stand the hat on something the shape of a head like a balloon or a coffee can to make sure it retains its shape. Pay special attention to the shape of the brim. Make sure it is formed into the shape you like best while it is drying.

Washing in the Dishwasher

Purchase a special mold to hold your hat in shape while washing. You can find these plastic molds at sporting goods stores or hat stores. Some plastic hat frames can be used in either the dishwasher or the washing machine. The washing machine will be rougher on your hat, so check the instructions that came with the mold you choose.

Spot clean your hat if there are stains or very soiled areas. Spray these areas with stain remover or a laundry pre-treatment. Let the stain remover sit for a few minutes, then rinse the areas with water.

Insert the hat in the plastic holder into the dishwasher on the top rack. Don't put anything else in the dishwasher except for other hats.

Place normal dishwashing soap in the dishwasher.

Run the dishwasher for a "Normal" cycle. If you have a temperature setting use cool or lukewarm water. Make sure not to set the dishwasher to "heated-dry" or similar settings. Heat can ruin or shrink your hat.