Can you wash hats in the washer

Between the yard work, the summer hikes, and the long beach days it has seen you through, it's no wonder that your beloved baseball cap is looking a little worse for wear.

Learning how to clean a baseball cap the right way will help your hat last for many years and hikes, and beach days to come. As with cleaning most things, you'll want to start with the gentlest cleaning method first, then work your way up. If your baseball cap is just mildly dirty, a quick soak in the sink is all it needs. But for serious sweat stains, you'll want to pump up the stain-fighting power.

Follow our guide to cleaning a baseball cap, below, beginning with the mildest method. Fill a clean sink or a basin with cool water and add a drop or two of mild laundry detergent. Dunk the hat and agitate the water to create some suds. Remove the hat and rinse it thoroughly with cool water. Gently squeeze excess water out of the hat, but avoid twisting the brim, which can bend it out of shape. Use a clean towel to pat down the hat.

Either hang up the hat or reshape the hat and set it on a towel to dry. Straw sun hats are the easiest to clean—simply spray them off with a hose and leave to air dry 2. Any kind of structured hat should be spot cleaned if possible to prevent it from losing its shape.

Hand Washing Hats When hand washing a hat, fill the sink with cold water and add a few drops of high-quality laundry detergent.

Slosh the liquid enough to create suds before placing the hat in the sink. For knit hats, submerge and dunk gently a few times, ensuring the water goes through the hat.

Rinse clean, very gently wring out excess water with your hands, roll the hat up in a towel to get the rest of the moisture out, and then lay flat to dry. Got an older, vintage cap? Skip the dishwasher. Avoid the washing machine. Start with the gentlest method first, then work your way up to more serious cleaning if needed. Step 3: Rinse Rinse the hat thoroughly with cool or warm water and gently pat dry with a towel.

Step 4: Reshape and drip dry Reshape the hat by placing the cap the part that sits directly on your head on top of an upside down coffee can, small bowl or other container that mimics the shape of your head.

Leave out to dry. Cleaning tip: Take extra care when cleaning wool baseball caps since the fabric is more delicate and prone to losing its shape.

Using a mild detergent specifically designed for wool, dilute it in water and scrub gently. Reshape the hat either by wearing it until dry or placing it on something that mimics the shape of your head. Step 1: Spot clean Spot clean extra-dirty areas by using more detergent diluted in water and scrubbing them with a toothbrush or other small brush. Step 2: Soak Soak the hat for a few hours and check the hat occasionally to see if any spots need more cleaning.

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