Baseball caps are for more than just baseball players. Sure, they’re part of the standard baseball uniform, but some people who have never touched a ball or bat I their lives consider a baseball cap is standard daily attire (especially in the summer months!).
However, whether you wear your cap on the field or during regular daily life, it’s eventually going to get dirty. So, here’s how to wash a baseball cap the right way.
Quick Wash Guide
If you have just returned home from a hot day in the sun and your hat is looking a little worse for the wear, this quick wash guide will breathe some life into that trusty old cap:
- Hand wash. Hand washing is best for your baseball cap, as it’s less damaging than running it through the machine. To get started, fill up a clean bucket, sink, or other container with cool water and add a small amount of detergent.
- Cold or Warm Water. It’s best to use cool water to avoid shrinking the fabric or damaging the hat’s graphics. Avoid hot water.
- Detergent. When adding detergent, add about 1-2 oz of detergent per 1 gallon of water. A plugged sink and a capful of WIN Activewear Detergent works perfectly.
- Soak. After scrubbing, you can walk away and just let the hat soak for a few minutes.
- Scrub. Place the hat in the water and gently move it around to build up some suds. Use your hands to lightly scrub the hat all over. This will help the detergent work into the material and eliminate the sweaty stink.
- Rinse. After soaking, retrieve the hat and run it under cold water until all of the detergent is gone.
- Air dry. To dry your hat, use a towel to pat off excess moisture before setting it in a safe spot to air dry. Avoid putting it in the dryer, unless you are in a big hurry, as this can harm the hat’s materials and alter its shape. Setting the hat on a towel is a good option, but you can also hang it up if the structure of the hat won’t deform as it hangs.
The Dishwasher Method
You may have heard before that you can simply place your baseball cap in the dishwasher and it will come out looking great time after time. While this might yield decent results for some hats, it’s not a method we would recommend in general.
There are a few problems with this approach. First, the dishwasher is a pretty harsh environment for your cap, so you run the risk of having it come out looking ragged. Also, dishwashing detergent is meant to clean plates and cups—not hats. Thus, that detergent will likely be ineffective at removing any sweat odor that’s built up.
A Perfect Tool
Before washing, if your baseball cap has any stains that you need to treat, try using a toothbrush for the job. With a small amount of water and a bit of detergent or spot cleaner, you can scrub the affected areas with a toothbrush to work the stain out of the material. The effectiveness of this approach will depend on the stain in question, but in most cases you should see good results.
The Problem with Machine Washing
Most people toss nearly all of their dirty laundry directly into the washing machine without a second thought. That will work just fine for many of your garments, but there are certain items that shouldn’t go into the washing machine—and hats are in this category.
The problem with using laundry machines to clean your baseball caps is the rough treatment they will get inside the machine. Even when set on a gentle cycle, your hat will be still be tossed around as it is submerged in water for an extended period of time. Considering how easy it is to just wash your hat by hand, there is no reason to risk damage in the machine.
Try WIN Activewear Detergent
If you are tired of a sweaty stench following you around all day when you wear your favorite baseball cap, order a bottle of WIN Activewear Detergent today. Using our specially formulated detergent will make it easy to wipe the stink out of your hat. Where other detergents may have failed you in the past, WIN is up to this challenge. Order today!