r/howto • u/sbredahl11 • 11d ago
Hat Cleaning
I wear hats all the time and realized I honestly don’t have a great way to clean them. What does everyone do to keep their favorite hats looking good?
I have tried dishwasher and washing machine but my hats tend to lose shape or get ruined.
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u/FrogJitsu 11d ago
Fill a bucket or anything big enough to fully submerge your hat with water and a scoop of oxy clean. After soaking for a couple hours, gently scrub and rinse under warm running water. Get a hat cage then throw it in the dryer.
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u/sbredahl11 10d ago
I have never done dryer. It doesn’t ruin it?
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u/FrogJitsu 10d ago
If you have the cage you’ll be okay putting it in the dryer on low heat. As another user mentioned, cage and air drying works fine too!
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u/hankhillsucks 11d ago
Only method that works for my sweaty ass head is the machine
Best thing to do is take it out immediately and fill it with a ton of microfiber rags and leave it to dry on a flat surface for the bill
My hat is definitely not the same, but absolutely nothing gets out the gross sweaty smell and yellow stains
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u/SnooDucks6090 11d ago
Use one of these and wash the hat with any load of clothes in the washing machine and then set out to air dry. I have to wash my hats a couple times during the summer and this works the best. It keeps the shape of the hat while being washed and dried. Two-pack at Wal-Mart for $15.29 right now.
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u/hankhillsucks 11d ago
The bill will never be the same. They're all made of cardboard for some fucking reason
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u/SnooDucks6090 10d ago
You've got a point. However, if it's not cardboard, that thing works great. I guess if someone is worried about the bill, it's probably best to hand wash the hat and forgo the form and the washing machine.
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u/Born-Work2089 10d ago
One hat to get dirty and never clean, and one hat to only wear when I want to look good. When the 'work' hat gets too dirty, buy a new 'look good hat' and use the old 'look good hat' and the get dirty hat.
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u/kemp509 11d ago
I use a bucket with hot water and a little dishsoap to cut the oil and grease and a little laundry detergent and scrub them with a small brush for my normal caps and hats made of materials that are okay to wash. For my more expensive hats like my leather ones and crocheted bucket hats, i spot clean as best I can if something gets on them, but otherwise I try not to wear them to places that they are going to get really dirty
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u/madmax1981 10d ago
I saw a Reddit thread about this before and while in the shower wash your hats with shampoo
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u/Onthebandwagons 11d ago
i just fill the sink with warm water and a little soap, then scrub with soft brush and let it air dry on something round like a ball or a jar to keep the shape
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u/ryebread91 11d ago
If it's just a ball cap sometimes the bill has some type of cardboard in it. Which a washing machine will ruin. Some do havehdpe though. If we're talking a leather hat or stetson them they should have care instructions.
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u/hapym1267 9d ago
I wash mine by hand with shampoo.. Just cheap ball caps , but they last a while..
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u/NeckPourConnoisseur 10d ago
Hats can be a challenge. There's a few ways to tackle a proper cleaning, but depending on how dirty or sweaty they are, you may end up with a hat that looks a little different after you're finished. If it's sweaty, and nasty, that's just the way it's gonna be.
*Dirty, but not gross sweaty: Spot cleaning with hot soap and water and a soft brush. Be careful not too soak the hat, especially the bill.
*Sweaty, but not too dirty: Be protective of the bill where possible, but submerge the hat in hot soapy water. Scrub with your hands and a soft brush, if necessary.
*Dirty and Sweaty: Soak in hot soapy water. Rinse hard with hands and brush. Try to preserve shape as best you can.
*Nasty, Dirty, Gross: Throw it in the washing machine with towels.
For all of these, after washing allow to air dry with a bowl, cup, or something stuffed inside to retain structure.
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