Wondering how to wash your favourite baseball cap without ruining it? Here are my tried and tested eco-friendly tips to get stains out, so you can wear your cap again and again.
As the sun poked its head out of the clouds here in Scotland the other day, I dug out my youngest daughter’s baseball cap from storage.
Only, when I pulled it out of the cupboard, the thing was filthy. Like, not just a little bit dirty – but ‘absolutely caked in filth’ kind of dirty. I really should have washed it before it went into the cupboard at the end of summer, but life happens!
How did it get so dirty? A summer of sunscreen, playing in dusty playparks, days at the beach, nights away at Beaver’s camps, and who knows what else that 7-year-olds get up to had left it encased in a yucky mix of sunscreen, sweat, dust, mud, and sand.
I can’t quite believe I’m sharing this to everyone on the internet, but here it is in all its filthy glory:
There was no way I was putting that on my daughter’s head – it looked like a health hazard! But how do you wash a baseball cap?
Thankfully, I’ve got a few eco-friendly tips and tricks up my sleeve to get those dirty sweaty stains out. Here’s how to do it!
Before You Get Started
Before washing your baseball cap, it’s really important to check the care label to see what it’s made of. My method works well for most modern cotton and polyester baseball caps, so if that’s your cap then you can proceed happily.
However, if you have a wool cap, this method isn’t for you, as oxygen bleach can damage wool. Instead, skip the oxygen bleach completely, and use a speciality wool detergent. Don’t soak it for too long – wool can shrink or lose its shape if soaked for too long.
Meanwhile, if you have a vintage baseball cap, check whether it has a cardboard brim insert before soaking it. Many caps made before the 1980s used cardboard in the brim – rather than the plastic that is used now – and soaking can cause permanent damage. Instead, you’ll want to spot clean your cap rather than immersing it in water.
How To Wash A Baseball Cap
If you hat is suitable for washing, then cleaning a dirt-encrusted hat is easier than you might think. And for the most part, it’s a pretty hands-off process. Apart from a few minutes of scrubbing, you can just sit back whilst the cleaning ingredients do their work. Always a win in my books!
Here’s a quick visual of the process so you can see what’s involved. After this photo, I’ll talk you through each and every step. A virtual hand-holding if you will.
You Will Need
Ready to get started? Here’s what you need:
- Washing up liquid – any eco-friendly brand will do.
- A scrubbing brush
- A container, such as a large bowl or bucket.
- Oxygen bleach – often known as sodium percarbonate. This isn’t as scary as it sounds – all it does is release oxygen when dissolved in water, helping to break down stains and brighten fabrics without the chlorine bleach found in conventional cleaning products. Here’s where to buy sodium percarbonate if you’re struggling to track it down.
- Laundry detergent – use any eco-friendly liquid or powder brand. I don’t recommend using laundry pods or sheets as you can’t control the dose.
Method
- First, wet your hat, and apply a little washing-up liquid to any marks or stains. Next, give the cap a gentle scrub with the scrubbing brush. This is an important step, particularly if the stains are caused by sunscreen or mixed with sunscreen. This is because sunscreen is oil-based, and the grease-fighting power of washing-up liquid will help break down those oils.
- Once you’ve given the cap a good scrub with the scrubbing brush, rinse it with cold water and pop it to the side for a second.
- Next, fill up your container with hot water from the tap. Don’t use boiling water – it could damage any plastic components in your baseball cap.
- Add two tablespoons of oxygen bleach and half a tablespoon of laundry detergent to the hot water, and mix it well to dissolve.
- Place your baseball cap in the solution, and leave it to soak for around three to four hours. The filth it draws out is disgusting but oddly satisfying!
- After a good soak, rinse the cap clean under cold running water, and hang it outside to dry in the sun. Sun is a brilliant natural bleach and should help take care of any lingering stains. As an additional top tip, you could try placing your baseball cap over an upside-down bowl, clean plant pot, or another rounded object. This helps prevent your hat from becoming misshapen as it dries.
The Final Result
Ta-da! Here’s the baseball cap, all clean, and ready for another summer. It’s such an easy job and so satisfying! Let me know if you give it a go and if your water came out dirtier than mine!
How NOT To Wash Your Caps
You might be wondering why I don’t recommend just popping it in the washing machine.
The reason why is that all that agitation in the drum can bend the brim, rendering your favourite cap unwearable. Hand washing is generally the gentlest way to clean a baseball cap and helps it keep its shape for longer.
I’ve also heard some suggestions about popping dirty caps in the dishwasher to clean them. I don’t recommend this either.
The main reason is that I don’t know about you, but I really don’t want that encrusted muck ending up on my plates or on my cutlery. I’ve got two kids, so I know EXACTLY what kind of germs my kids can bring home. I don’t want any of that in my dishwasher!
Hygiene aside, I’m also really not convinced the dishwasher is an effective or energy-efficient method. Yes, there might be less chance of the brim warping, but I doubt it’s going to be properly cleaned.
Plus, dishwasher detergents are designed for dishes rather than fabrics, and can be harsh on colours and fibres. So, that’s another good reason I’d stick to hand washing instead.
How Often Should You Wash A Baseball Cap?
When it comes to washing frequency, I think it really depends on how often you wear your cap. If you wear your cap regularly during summer, washing it whenever you notice visible dirt, sweat stains or odours will help keep it looking and smelling fresh. Otherwise, a wee wash at the end of summer is always a good idea – I’m making a mental note to wash all of our caps at the end of the season!
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