Laundry guide
How to wash a hat
One test decides everything: press the brim. Plastic can be washed. Cardboard cannot, and water will turn it into a wavy, collapsed mess that no amount of drying will fix.
The method
Check what the brim is made of
Press it. Plastic flexes and springs back; cardboard feels stiff and creases. Cardboard brims — most hats made before the 1980s and some cheap ones today — will bubble and collapse in water. Those get spot-cleaned only.
Pre-treat the sweatband
That is where the stain actually is. Work a drop of detergent or a little stain remover into the band with a soft brush or an old toothbrush, and leave it ten minutes.
Hand wash in cool water
A sink of cool water and a teaspoon of mild detergent. Submerge, swish, leave for 20–30 minutes, agitate gently with the brush where it is dirty.
Rinse until the water runs clear
Detergent left in the fabric dries stiff and attracts dirt faster.
Press out the water, never wring
Squeeze between two towels. Wringing is what puts a permanent twist in the crown.
Dry on something head-shaped
A canister, a bowl, a folded towel, or a purpose-made cap form. Air dry only, away from direct heat, and it will hold its shape.
If you would rather use a machine
A modern cap with a plastic brim can go in a cold, delicate cycle, alone or with soft items, inside a mesh bag or a rigid cap cage. Do not wash it with towels or jeans — the weight is what crushes the crown. Never tumble dry it afterwards.
At a laundromat, use the smallest machine on delicate rather than sharing a family load, and take the cap home damp to dry on a form. The care label, if there is one, overrules all of this.
Hat types, quickly
- Cotton or poly baseball cap, plastic brim: hand wash or gentle machine wash, air dry on a form.
- Vintage cap, cardboard brim: spot clean only, never submerge.
- Wool beanie: hand wash cool with wool detergent, press dry flat, never hang.
- Straw hat: wipe with a barely damp cloth; water ruins the fibres.
- Leather sweatband or trim: keep water off it entirely; clean the fabric around it.
Frequently asked questions
Can you put a hat in the washing machine?
A modern cotton or polyester cap with a plastic brim will usually survive a cold, gentle cycle inside a mesh bag or a cap cage. A hat with a cardboard brim, a wool or straw hat, or anything with a leather sweatband should never go in.
How do I know if my cap has a cardboard brim?
Press the brim and bend it slightly. Plastic springs back with a smooth curve; cardboard feels dead and creases where you fold it. If in doubt, assume cardboard and spot-clean instead.
Can I put a hat in the dryer?
No. Tumble heat shrinks the crown, warps the brim and can melt the plastic insert. Air dry over something shaped like a head.
How do you wash a sweat-stained baseball cap?
Pre-treat the sweatband with detergent or an enzyme stain remover and a soft brush, then soak in cool water for 20–30 minutes. Salt rings often need two rounds; repeat rather than scrubbing harder.
Does the dishwasher work for hats?
It is a popular trick and a bad one. Dishwasher water is hot enough to distort the brim, and detergent tablets contain bleaching agents that fade coloured fabric. Use cool water.
How do I wash a wool or straw hat?
Do not submerge either. Brush a wool hat, spot clean with a damp cloth, and let it dry on a form. A straw hat is wiped with a barely damp cloth and never soaked — water breaks down the fibres.