Today I’m going to share with you a foolproof trick to clean your hats without losing their shape, as part of my “Loving Cleaning” series.
This simple technique was passed down to me from my mother. When I was little, I noticed that my dad loved to wear hats, especially baseball caps. However, wearing them often meant having to deal with the inevitable: a plethora of dirty caps or a single well-loved cap that simply could not escape dirt and grime.
One would think that since caps are made of fabric, the washing machine would be the natural choice for cleaning them. However, the rough and noisy nature of the washing machine can easily distort the shape of the hat.
Fortunately, there is an effective and hassle-free way to wash hats without compromising their shape or resorting to tedious hand washing.
Here’s what you need to wash your hats effectively:
A dishwasher
Dishwasher detergent (I prefer this one)
White vinegar (optional)
Baking soda or Oxiclean
Cleaning Guide:
Start by removing hardened dirt from the hat with warm water and a wipe.
If the hat is heavily soiled or gives off an unpleasant odor, pre-treat the affected areas by spraying them with white vinegar and letting them soak for about 10 minutes.
For stubborn sweat stains on the brim of the hat, clean the stained areas by sprinkling them with baking soda, an excellent stain remover that I use frequently. If you don’t have baking soda, you can use Oxiclean as a substitute.
After sprinkling the baking soda, spray the hat with vinegar or hot water if you don’t have vinegar on hand. Next, gently scrub the hat with a toothbrush or other soft bristle cleaning brush.
Once the hat is pre-treated, place it on the top rack of the dishwasher. I usually run the caps through a full cycle at the same time as the pre-rinsed dishes. But if you’re not comfortable with this arrangement, simply load the top rack with the hats and put them in a separate cycle.
Use your usual dishwasher detergent; it’s very effective for cleaning hats. You can also use vinegar if you are reluctant to use detergent.
Once the dishwasher cycle is finished, remove the hats and let them dry.
