How to Wash Caps in a Washing Machine

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Unlike shirts, pants and socks, caps tend to get forgotten, becoming grimy, smelly and sweat stained until you remember to clean them. Although you can launder certain caps in the washing machine, you should handwash others or have them professionally cleaned. And some are barely worth the detergent or your time.

To Machine Wash -- or Toss

Many caps come in common washable materials similar to some clothing -- khaki shorts, jeans or heavy-cotton work shirts, for instance. Generally, you can wash quality caps the way you'd wash cotton, twill or polyester clothes accordingly, such as in cool or warm water, using mild laundry soap. But always refer to the cap's care and laundering label. Pretreat stains -- sweat stains on a ball cap, for example -- with a good stain remover; never use bleach on caps.

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Some caps stretch for comfort, such as Flexfit hats -- touted by the manufacturer as "durable and easy to wash." This cap and others like it may be woven with polyurethane spandex. Handwash or machine wash in cold water, avoid bleach and air dry.

A cheap or flimsy cap often is poorly stitched and may have cardboard parts in the visor or band; if you plan to wash a budget-brand cap, do so by hand, or, if you plan to put in the washing machine, also plan to replace if it falls apart.

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Using a Cap Cage

To keep your washable cap and its shape protected in the washing machine, place it in a cap cage:

Step 1

Open the cage.

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Step 2

Place the cap inside, positioning it evenly with the cap-shaped device.

Step 3

Close the cage.

Step 4

Place the caged cap in the washing machine; launder it as instructed on the hat's care label, which may suggest using cold or warm water, a gentle wash cycle and mild detergent.

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Step 5

Air dry the cap before removing it from the cage.

Staying in Shape

To keep the hat, its band and bill from warping, after washing it -- if you don't plan to dry it in a cap cage -- support it on a circular form, such as an upturned bowl, coffee can or your head, while it air dries.

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Handwash or Dry Clean Only

Some caps are not made for laundering in a washing machine. Wool caps and polo hats with an attached leather strap, for starters, must be dry cleaned or handwashed, using an appropriate detergent, such as one designed for wool or delicates; some specialty caps, such as the Nike Dri-FIT hat, should be hand-washed; again, refer to the care tag for cleaning instructions or the manufacturer's website for product details, including fabric type and laundering advice.

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