How to Wash and Clean a Baseball Cap

What was once your favorite cap to wear out on the town is now a stained, dusty, and dirty shell of the stylish cap it once was. What do you do? A lot of people will choose to bid farewell to their favorite cap and toss it in favor of a new one.

What if there was a way to give life back to your baseball cap and avoid having to buy new ones? This is definitely the more economical option and might be the only option if the hat you have is a collectible or limited edition hat that may be incredibly expensive, or downright impossible, to replace. Here’s everything you need to know about how to wash a baseball cap.

How Not to Wash a Baseball Cap

Before you roll up your sleeves and learn how to wash a baseball cap you need to know some important things to avoid if you want to ensure your cap survives the cleaning process. The first thing to avoid is machinery. Your washing machine or dishwasher may seem like convenient cleaning tools. But baseball caps are not down for either of these cleaning devices.

The threads may come loose, your cap could become warped, and the detergent used may not be rinsed away completely, which leaves a grimy film. A lot of people will recommend that you put your cap on the top rack of the dishwasher. But there is a better way to get a clean baseball cap.

Also, be sure to choose the right cleaning product. You will want to avoid anything with bleach in the ingredients. Instead, you will be using regular laundry detergent or dish detergent. Before you begin a thorough cleaning, be sure to spot test a part of your cap with some detergent mixed in water. If you notice discoloration then you should only use water to clean your cap.

Put In Some Elbow Grease

Now that you know that the washing machine and dishwasher are out of the question that only leaves one method of cleaning. That’s right! You’re going to hand wash your baseball cap! Don’t worry, this is not a time consuming task. Plus, if you really love your baseball cap, then you shouldn’t mind putting in a little bit of elbow grease to salvage it from a life in the garbage bin.

First, gather the tools you will need for cleaning. A large bucket is handy to have but you can use your sink if needed. You’ll want to choose a detergent or dish soap which, ideally, you have already spot tested as mentioned above. For scrubbing, choose an old toothbrush or a rag.

Finally, you will need a towel to dry your cap and something to sit the cap on for drying. Ideally, this drying “tool” will keep the cap elevated so air can reach all surfaces of the cap, inside and out. In a pinch, an old mason jar will do the trick.

Time to Get Scrubbing

You have your tools, you know what not to do. Now it’s time to actually begin the cleaning process. Put some detergent in your bucket and begin filling it with warm water. As the bucket fills, wet your toothbrush or rag and begin spot treating some of the really stained or dirty areas on your cap. You want to be very gentle when scrubbing to protect the threads on your cap which could break or loosen as a result of vigorous cleaning.

Once you have finished the initial spot treatment, place your cap in the bucket of warm water and detergent to soak for at least an hour. Throughout the soaking, you may want to check on the areas you have spot treated and scrub those areas a little more to help along the cleaning process.

Once you have soaked the cap and you’re satisfied with the stain removal you can rinse the cap with cold water. A complete and thorough rinsing is necessary to ensure that you don’t have a leftover soap scum feeling after drying.

When the water runs clear, and you don’t see any detergent left in the fibers of your cap, you can use a towel to pat down the excess water. Just like with scrubbing, you don’t want to be too rough on your cap. Definitely avoid wringing out your baseball cap if you want to maintain its shape and avoid warping. Once the excess water is towel-dried away, place the cap on an object to air dry.

Show Off Your New Baseball Cap

If the cleaning and drying process goes well your cap should look as good as new! If there are some leftover stains you may want to go through the cleaning process once again. Now that you know how to wash a baseball cap you can keep those beloved hats looking great for a long time and save money on buying new caps. Share this with your friends and help them to keep their headwear looking clean as well!