How to Clean a Baseball Cap Without Ruining It?

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When baseball players are on the field, they work hard to give their best performance so that their team can win the match. In the process, baseball caps become dirty and grubby. So, you should know the process of washing your baseball cap.

You can’t expect a player to give their best performance unless his lucky and comfortable baseball cap is clean & dust-free.

Therefore, it is extremely essential to know how to correctly wash a baseball cap without destroying it.

Below, I’m sharing the best way for cleaning & washing your baseball cap.

So, let’s get started.

Washing a Baseball Cap without Ruining It

Washing a Baseball Cap

2 Ways of Washing

If you want to wash a baseball hat, then you have two ways to do that.

Washing & Cleaning of Cap
  1. Washing your hands
  2. Washing with Dishwasher or Washing Machine

You can use any method for cleaning your baseball cap, but washing it using your hands is a more effective and safer way to do that.

I recommend that you wash your baseball cap with your hands because you have more control over the washing.

Along with that, if your cap has a cardboard brim or if it’s made of wood, then you can ruin your baseball cap by washing it in the dishwasher.

Whether your cap is made of wool, contains a cardboard brim, or any other hand-stitched design, in that case, you should wash your cap with your hands.

Note: In the process of washing your cap, do not use a detergent that contains bleach. It can harm your hat.

The best tip to find the most suitable way to wash a hat is just by looking at the tag. In most cases, you can find the washing instructions on the hat. Don’t ignore that.

Washing a Baseball Cap with Hands

Hand washed baseball cap
Step 1: Take Cold Water

First of all, take a small tub, and fill it with cold water. If you use warm or hot water, then it can fade the color of your cap, and the hot water can also shrink your hat, but that depends on the material.

Step 2: Add Detergent

After filling the cold water, add a tablespoon of soap or detergent, and stir it until it’s dissolved.

If you’re washing a wool cap, then take a detergent that is primarily made for woolen fabric.

If you don’t find that, then any mild detergent should work, but make sure it should not contain bleach in it.

Step 3: Soak the Baseball Cap

Put the cap into the water, and soak it for around 1 to 2 hours.

Step 4: Washing

Take the cap out of the water, and rinse it under the running water to remove the detergent from it. Don’t use warm or hot water because this can lead to discoloration and shrinking of the cap.

Keep using the water until all the detergent or soap is completely out of your cap.

Step 5: Removing Excess Water

Put the cap on a towel, and keep patting it until there is no extra water in it.

Step 6: Drying the Cap

Do not place the cap in the sunlight because this can fade the color. To speed up the drying process, you can place the cap in front of a table fan.

After drying, your baseball cap will be clean and ready to use again.

You can also watch this short video so that you’ll get more clear about the approach.

Washing a Baseball Cap in Dishwasher

If you checked all the steps mentioned above and found that your cap is not made of wool or cardboard brim, and it is suggested that you can wash it in the dishwasher, then go ahead.

For that, you just have to put a little detergent in the dishwasher, but make sure it doesn’t contain bleach.

Wash your hat, but do not dry your cap in the washer.

After washing it in the dishwasher, let it dry in the open air, not in direct sunlight. You can also check this short article about washing a cap using the dishwasher.

I suggest, Using a table fan if required.

Common Baseball Cap Cleaning Mistakes

One of the most common baseball cap cleaning mistakes is not pre-treating the stains. This is especially important if the stains are set-in or if the fabric is delicate. Pre-treating the stains will help to remove them more easily and prevent them from setting further into the fabric.

Another common mistake is using hot water to clean the baseball cap. Hot water can actually set stains and make them more difficult to remove. It’s best to use cold or lukewarm water instead.

If you’re hand washing your baseball cap, be sure to use a mild detergent and avoid scrubbing too vigorously. Scrubbing can damage the fabric and cause fading. It’s best to let the detergent soak in for a few minutes before rinsing it off.

Finally, avoid using bleach when cleaning your baseball cap. Bleach can damage the fabric and cause it to fade. If you must use bleach, be sure to dilute it with water first and test it on a small area of the fabric before applying it to the entire stain.

Final Words

Sometimes, your baseball cap can get wrinkly and dirty. If your baseball cap is dirty and contains grime & dust, then washing it is necessary.

But, keep in mind to not start washing it blindly. It is very important that before washing it, check the instructions that are given on the tag attached to the cap.

Washing a cap in the wrong way can ruin it, and trust me, this is a very bad feeling.

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Author

James Arnold
I'm James, and I live in Stanislaus County, California. I'm playing Baseball for many years, and I love this sport so much that I also encourage my kids (Danny and Sara) to play Baseball & Softball.

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