How to Wash a Baseball Cap by Hand

Co-authored by Susan Stocker

Last Updated: May 24, 2024 Approved

Whether you wear your baseball cap to keep the sun out of your eyes, to bring your favorite team luck, or simply to hide a bad hair day, chances are you will need to wash it at some point. It's often best to play it safe by washing caps by hand. You wouldn't want to ruin your favorite one, right? Whether made of cotton, wool, or something else, most baseball caps can be cleaned with just a bit of detergent, some water, and a cloth. Let the cap air dry when done, and it’ll be ready for another day!

Method 1

Method 1 of 3:

Washing Newer Baseball Caps

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You can use a clean bucket, but a kitchen or bathroom sink is also fine. Fill it with water. It’s best to use cool water. If the cap is really dirty, you can use slightly warm water. Definitely avoid hot water, however, since this can damage the hat. ^{[1]
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Any type of non-bleach detergent normally used for clothing should work. You don’t need much of it - about a tablespoon should be plenty. Make sure it is thoroughly mixed into the water. ^{[2]
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If there are any especially soiled spots on your hat, like clumps of mud or stains, you can pre-wash those. Take a clean cotton swab or an old toothbrush. Dip it in the detergent you are using, and gently spot-clean. ^{[3]
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4
Let your hat soak. ^{[4]
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Expert Source

Susan Stocker
Professional Cleaner

Expert Interview. 8 November 2019.} Plunge your hat into the mixture of cool water and detergent so that it is thoroughly wet. Then, just walk away! Let it soak for a while, preferably for several hours. This will gently clean your hat. ^{[5]
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- You can periodically lift your hat out of the water to check and see if dirt and grime are soaking off.
After your hat is done soaking, drain the water from your bucket or sink. Place the hat under warm (not hot) running water. Rinse away all of the suds. This should also help remove any lingering traces of grime. ^{[6]
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6
Pat your hat dry. Grab a clean towel and dab at the hat. This will wick away a lot of the water. Just make sure to be gentle, and not scrub. ^{[7]
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Expert Source

Susan Stocker
Professional Cleaner

Expert Interview. 8 November 2019.} Once the excess water is gone, just leave your hat out to air dry. ^{[8]
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- Placing your hat on top of a melon, ball, or other rounded object will help it keep its shape while it dries. You can also just wear the hat until it is dry.
- Do not put your hat in a clothes dryer. This will damage it.

Method 2

Method 2 of 3:

Washing a Wool Baseball Cap

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The fibres of wool are durable and long-lasting, but they also require different sorts of cleaners. Look for a detergent that says it is meant for wool, or can be safely used with wool fabrics.
2
Let your hat soak for several hours. Mix a small amount (about a tablespoon) of wool-safe detergent into a bucket or sink filled with cool water. Let your wool baseball cap soak in this mixture for about an hour.
- If your cap is especially dirty, you can spot clean it by dunking the hat in the water, then rubbing any trouble areas with your hands or an old toothbrush. Just don’t scrub hard, since this can damage the wool.
Empty your bucket or sink after your cap has had a chance to soak. Hold the hat under cool running water until all traces of suds and grime are gone.
4
Dry your cap on a rounded surface. Wool fabric is especially prone to losing its shape if not dried properly. ^{[9]
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Expert Source

Susan Stocker
Professional Cleaner

Expert Interview. 8 November 2019} Set the cap on top of a melon, ball, balloon or other rounded object about the size of your head, and let it air dry. ^{[10]
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- In a pinch, you can even let your cap dry on top of a round coffee can.
- It may not be comfortable, but you can also wear your until it is dry to help it keep its shape.
- Never place a wool cap in a clothes dryer.

Method 3

Method 3 of 3:

Cleaning Older Hats

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1
Test old hats for color fastness before cleaning. Older baseball caps are great collector’s items, but it’s sometimes hard to tell what they are made of or how to best care for them. Generally, you can wash older caps with a mixture of a little detergent and cool water. However, use a cloth to dab a bit of the mixture on the hat in an inconspicuous spot (like the inside of the band) before starting. ^{[11]
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- If the color of the hat comes off on the cloth or seems to run, don’t clean the cap yourself. Either take it to a professional cleaner or leave it as-is.
- If the color seems to hold, you can clean the cap with water and detergent.
2
Spot clean old baseball caps. Older caps tend to be more delicate, so you don’t want to dunk them into water. Instead, use a clean soft cloth or an old toothbrush dipped in a mixture of cool water and a small amount of detergent to gently spot clean any areas that are dirty. ^{[12]
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- Once the grime has been lifted off, dip your cloth in clear, cool water and dab at the cap to remove the detergent.
Lay the cap on top of a rounded object like a soccer ball or honeydew melon. Look for something that is approximately head sized. Leave the cap alone until it has thoroughly dried.

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Can you wash a hat in the shower?

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This answer was written by one of our trained team of researchers who validated it for accuracy and comprehensiveness.

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You could wash a hat in the shower but if it requires more than simply wetting it and a quick scrub, it’s going to be wasteful of water and it’d be better to hand wash it in a tub. Also, if you like hot showers, this isn’t good for your hat. Since it’s just easier to concentrate on cleaning yourself in the shower and on the hat in a tub, wash the hat out of the shower.

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How do you get sweat stains out of a hat?

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To remove the sweat stains from a hat, choose the method that works best for you––you can wash by hand, wash in the dishwasher or simply spot treat a particular stain. Each of these washing methods can be found in full detail here: How to Get Sweat Stains Out of Hats .

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How do you wash a hat in the dishwasher?

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You can wash a baseball cap in the dishwasher, provided it is suitable for washing. If it says "hand wash only," don’t use the dishwasher method. Empty the dishwasher of any dishes, and ensure it’s clean, then place the hat into the top shelf of the dishwasher. The best cycle to use is the cold one. For help on which detergent to add and how to run the cycle for cleaning your hat properly, see How to Clean Baseball Hats with a Dishwasher .

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Tips

If you’re not sure what your cap is made of, look for a label inside the band. If there is one, it should specify the material.

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Warnings

Don’t use bleach on a baseball cap, since this will ruin its color.

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Some new caps can be cleaned in a washing machine. Check the label on your cap. If it doesn’t say that it’s safe to put in a washer, clean it by hand. ^{[13]
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Never clean a baseball cap in a dishwasher. ^{[14]
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How to Wash a Baseball Cap by Hand

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Washing Newer Baseball Caps

Washing a Wool Baseball Cap

Cleaning Older Hats

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