How to wash a ballcap without damaging it

Ballcaps are accessories or complements which are used for different purposes depending on the time of year, from doing sport to covering our heads to protect us from the sun or the cold, or simply as a fashion accessory to complement our look. The truth of the matter though is that they are hard to clean, and we often dispose of them because we don’t know how to clean them properly to get rid of stains. 

Can ballcaps be washed in the washing machine?

Washing them in the washing machine is not ideal, since the peak and the front part can deform from the physical action of the washing machine. If we do decide to wash them in the washing machine though, either because they have sweat stains or simply because they are worn and dirty, we should follow some important steps to prevent them losing their shape.

We can find “hat washers” today in the shape of a cap, so that we can put our caps in the “rigid frame” and then wash them in the washing machine. If we do choose this method, we should also choose a very mild detergent and a cold wash cycle, to avoid damaging the structure of the hat as far as possible. 

How to wash a sweat stained ballcap and remove stains

Whenever possible, we should wash them by hand, and we will therefore need the following items: 

• Soap, whichever one we have at home, liquid, washing powder, flakes or a bar of soap
• A brush with soft bristles to scrub the cap
• Water
• If we are trying to clean a coloured ballcap, we should avoid whitening detergents

Steps to get rid of stains from ballcaps: 

• The first thing to do is to brush off any dust and easy to remove dirt from the cap.
• We should use a soft bristle brush such as a clothes brush, and brush the cap well inside and out.
• After removing any dust, take a little lukewarm water and dissolve the soap in it. A coffee spoon of soap should be enough. Mix well.
• Now, using the soft brush again (we can use a toothbrush), we should brush the cap in circular movements taking care at the seams and embroideries to avoid damaging them.
• After brushing all the cap, rinse off the soap using cold water. We should clean the peak using a damp microfibre cloth, wiping the visor and then rinsing the cloth as many times as necessary.
• Then get rid of any excess moisture from the cap using a clean, dry towel.
• Afterwards, take another towel and roll it up into a ball to make the shape of a head, and place it inside the cap to make sure it doesn’t lose its shape.
• Finally, place the cap on a flat surface to dry.