Hats are great for protecting your head and eyes from the sun, but just like your clothes, they accumulate sweat, oil, and dirt the more you wear them.

Hats come in different shapes, sizes, and materials which can sometimes make washing them a little more challenging than your every day t-shirt.

If you have a favorite baseball cap or another type of hat that has seen better days, just follow the advice in this blog post to get it looking good as new!

How to Wash Hats

Actionable advice: Cleaning ball caps is not an easy task. They are usually made of a variety materials and many have different shapes that make it difficult to tell which way they should be cleaned, shrunken or stretched out during the washing process.* If you want your hat looking good as new again then follow these steps below on how best to wash your hat.

*Warning* If your baseball hat was made prior to 1983, check to see if the brim is made of cardboard. Submerging your cardboard brimmed hat in water is going to damage the hat.

How to wash a baseball cap with a cardboard brim:

1. Gently rinse the hat with cold water to remove any dirt and debris. Avoid submerging the brim.
2. Dissolve 1/4 strip of tru earth laundry detergent, or other mild detergent in a bowl of cold water.
3. Gently scrub the hat using a toothbrush or small scrub brush for best results until all debris is removed.
4. Rinse thoroughly until no suds remain.* Be sure not soak your cardboard brim!
5. Place on flat surface or towel rack to dry

How to gently wash a baseball cap in the sink:

1. Fill a sink or bucket with cold water 
2. Add 1/4 of a strip of Tru Earth laundry detergent of a few drops of mild detergent (dish soap works too) and stir gently. 
3. Place your hat in the soapy water, making sure it is completely submerged 
4. Allow hat to soak for around 10 minutes before removing from water
5. Use a tooth brush or a small scrub brush to clean off any stubborn dirt
6. Rinsing under cold running tap until all suds are gone
7. Place on flat surface or towel rack to dry

How to clean a baseball cap In washing machine:

1. Place your hat in a pillowcase 
2. Put the pillowcase inside a reusable mesh bag and tie it off with string 
3. Add 1/4 strips of Tru Earth laundry detergent to the washing machine, along with cold water. 
4. Set the washer on gentle cycle
5. Place on flat surface or towel rack to dry

How to wash your hat in the dishwasher

1. Put the hat on a rack or in a dishwasher-safe hat washing container 
2. Fill the dishwasher with water and detergent 
3. Run the cycle until clean
4. Place on flat surface or towel rack to dry

Tools for cleaning your baseball cap

1. Tooth Brush
2. Gentle laundry detergent like Tru Earth Eco-Strips Laundry Detergent
3. Reusable Mesh Bag (if using your washing machine)

As you can see there are multiple ways to wash your hats. If you are worried your hat may be too delicate to clean in the washing machine or dishwasher, play it safe and hand wash it in a sink with warm water and a mild soap.