Your favorite hat goes everywhere with you, which means it picks up dirt, sweat, and oils along the way. The best and safest way to wash a hat at home is by hand-washing it in cool water with mild detergent.  

 

While machine washing is an option for durable caps, handwashing gives you the most control and is the only way to ensure you don’t damage the hat’s shape or material. So, before you grab some men’s caps or women’s hats from our selection, check out our guide for hat care.

 

Do Baseball Hats Need Washing?

 

Yes, absolutely. Just like any other piece of clothing you wear regularly, hats absorb sweat, body oils, and environmental grime. Over time, this buildup can lead to stains (especially on the sweatband), odors, and even skin irritation.  

Regular cleaning not only keeps your hat looking fresh but also extends its life. For a hat you wear daily, or for workouts, light cleaning every few weeks is ideal. For occasional wear, washing it once or twice a season is usually sufficient.

How to Wash a Baseball Cap

 

Before you start, a few crucial checks can save your hat from disaster.

 

Before washing

 

Check the Brim: This is the most important step. Vintage hats (typically made before the early 1980s) often have a brim made of cardboard. If this gets soaked, it will warp, disintegrate, and ruin the hat permanently. To check, gently flick or bend the brim. A cardboard brim will feel soft and may even have a slight crease, while a plastic brim will feel firm and spring back into shape. If it's cardboard, do not submerge it; only spot-clean the hat.  

 

Read the Care Label: If your hat still has its care label, it’s your best guide. It will tell you the material and provide any specific washing instructions from the manufacturer. 

 

Identify the Material: Wool, cotton, and synthetic blends require different levels of care. Wool, for instance, can shrink in hot water, while cotton is more durable. 

 

Do a Colorfastness Test: If your hat has vibrant colors, test a small, inconspicuous spot (like the inside of the sweatband) with a damp, white cloth and a bit of detergent to ensure the colors won’t bleed.

 

Method 1: Clean Your Hat by Hand  

 

This is the safest and most recommended method for almost any hat. 

 

Fill a clean sink or basin with cool water and add a small amount of mild, bleach-free laundry detergent. Submerge  the hat and let it soak for about 30 minutes to an hour to loosen dirt. 

 

Pat the hat with a clean towel to remove excess water without wringing or twisting it. 

Method 2: Machine Wash Your Hat

 

Use this method with caution, as it can damage the hat's shape. 

 

Place your hat inside a "cap washer" or "hat cage." This  plastic frame is essential for protecting the hat's structure in the machine. Wash it on a gentle cycle using cool water and mild detergent. 

 

Do not wash it with a heavy load of clothes like jeans, as the weight can crush the hat, even inside a cage. Wash it with a small load of light items or on its own.

 

Method 3: Soak and Deep Clean Your Hat

 

This is for very dirty or heavily stained hats. 

 

Fill a basin with cool water and add a scoop of an oxygenbased cleaner (like OxiClean) along with your mild detergent. Submerge the hat completely and let it soak for 2 - 4 hours.

 

You will likely see the water become discolored as dirt and oils are lifted. After soaking, gently scrub the sweatband and any remaining stains with a soft brush. Rinse thoroughly under cool water until the water runs clear.

 

Method 4: Wash Your Hat in the Dishwasher

 

This popular hack can work, but it comes with risks.

 

Place your hat in a cap washer on the top rack of the dishwasher. This is crucial to protect its shape. 

 

Use dishwasher detergent that is free of bleach. Run a normal wash cycle but make sure to turn off the heated dry function. The high heat is the biggest risk and can warp the hat's brim and shrink the fabric.

How to Dry a Baseball Cap

 

Proper drying is just as important as proper washing.

 

Never put a hat in the clothes dryer. The high heat will shrink the fabric and can permanently warp the plastic brim. After washing, gently pat the hat with a towel to remove excess water.

 

Reshape the hat to its original form. Place the hat on an object that mimics the shape of a head to air dry. A coffee can, a large jar, a canister, or even a balled-up towel works perfectly. This ensures the crown keeps its rounded shape. Let it air dry completely, away from direct sunlight, which can cause fading. 

 

Common Hat Washing Mistakes 

 

The biggest mistakes to avoid are using hot water, putting your hat in a clothes dryer, wringing it out, and using harsh, bleach-based detergents. Submerging a vintage hat with a cardboard brim is also a fatal error. To ensure your hat lasts, the best method is clear: hand-washing in cool water and air-drying it is the safest, most effective way to preserve its shape and color.

 

How to Wash Caps FAQs 

 

How often are you supposed to wash a hat? 

 

This depends on how often you wear it. For daily or workout use, a wash every few weeks is a good idea to manage sweat and oils. For more casual wear, cleaning it 2-3 times per season is usually enough to keep it fresh.

Does washing a hat ruin the brim? 

 

If your hat is modern (made after the early 1980s), it has a plastic brim that is safe to wash. The brim will only be ruined by the high heat of a clothes dryer. If your hat is vintage with a cardboard brim, washing will destroy it. 

 

How to sanitize a hat without washing it? 

 

To quickly sanitize a hat, you can use a fabric disinfectant spray, focusing on the inside and the sweatband. Alternatively, a light mist of diluted isopropyl alcohol or vodka can kill germs. Always let the hat air dry completely afterward.

 

Is it okay to wash a hat with clothes? 

 

It’s not recommended, as the weight of other clothes can crush your hat and ruin its shape. If you must, place the hat in a cap washer cage and wash it on a gentle cycle with a small, light load of laundry. 

How to clean New Era hat? 

 

New Era hats, especially the iconic 59FIFTY, are often made of wool or performance polyester. The best method is to spot-clean any stains and carefully hand-wash it in cool water to avoid shrinking the wool. Do not soak wool hats for too long. Always air dry. 

 

And that's all it takes. With this playbook, you no longer have to treat your favorite hat like a fragile piece. By understanding its material and choosing the right method, you can confidently wash away the dirt and sweat to get your drip back on. From New Era to Jordan caps, we’ve got your head covered. Cop a cap from our selection today!