How to Wash a Baseball Cap

Everyone loves to sport their favorite team on a ball cap, but not everyone likes the funk that develops over time. If you can see wavy lines of stink coming from the inside of your ball cap, perhaps it's time to consider giving it a wash. Most hats today can stand up to a good washing that will keep your hat looking fresh.

Difficulty:

Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need

• Hat
• Mild detergent
• Washing machine/sink/damp cloth
• Towel

1. Find out what your hat is made of by reading the tag inside. If your hat is older and doesn't have a tag, or you've worn the print off the tag, use your judgment. Most people can tell the difference between the feel and look of cotton, polyester and wool; if you can't, find the nearest mom and she'll tell you. Newer hats have plastic inside the brim. Older hats from the 1980s and earlier are most likely made with cardboard.

2. Pre-treat any stains on cotton/polyester caps. Wash them in a cold or warm cycle with your other clothes. There are plastic forms you can purchase to help keep the shape of your hat during the washing and drying process, but they aren't really necessary. Don't put your hat in the dryer; air dry it and it should retain its shape.

3. Spot-clean older hats with cardboard brims if you simply must continue wearing them. Using a cold, wet cloth, test an inconspicuous area to make sure the colors won't run. With mild detergent, dab and wipe at older stains. Don't saturate the brim; you don't want to ruin the cardboard. Air dry your hat. This method makes stain removal more difficult. Your hat won't be pristine, but it will be cleaner than it was.

4. Hand wash wool caps in a sink with mild detergent. Rinse out all the detergent. Roll your hat between two small towels or one large folded towel, squeezing out the water as you go. Never wring woolen items. Let the hat air dry. If you're concerned about the cap losing its shape, wearing it as it dries will help it re-form to your head.

5. Washing caps in a dishwasher is a common suggestion. But since any hat that can be washed in the dishwasher can also go into a washing machine, it doesn't make much sense to stick your hat in with last night's lasagna dishes.