How to properly wash your beanies, baseball caps and other hats, according to experts
How to wash hats
How to machine-wash beanies
- Read the manufacturer’s instructions on the best way to care for that particular hat. The label will usually say whether to machine or hand-wash.
- Place the beanie(s) in a laundry garment bag, such as ones you’d use to clean delicates or shoes. This will help them maintain their shape while they wash and dry, according to Rodriguez.
- Wash them with a mild detergent on a gentle cycle, using cold water only, to prevent damage, tears or warping. Let them air-dry outside of the bags in a ventilated area by laying them flat. Don’t hang them, as this will deform them.
How to hand-wash beanies (wool, cashmere, etc.)
Both Rodriguez and Dulude agree that hand-washing beanies, especially ones made of wool or cashmere, is the best way to clean them. These materials shrink a lot in the wash and can get stretched out in the process.
- Fill a sink, bathtub, bowl or basin with cold water mixed with a splash of mild laundry detergent, just enough to soak the beanie.
- Dunk the beanie in the water just enough to fully saturate it with the soap and water. Outside of the water, use your hands and fingers to work the mixture into the fibers of the beanie.
- To spot clean, use a super-soft bristle scrub brush to scrub stains in a slow circular motion. Be careful not to scrub too fast, as it could tear the beanie.
- Wring out the water from the beanie very thoroughly, getting as much out by hand as possible. Lay it out to dry instead of hanging it to prevent it from getting misshapen.
How to wash baseball caps
On most occasions, you should hand-wash baseball caps, according to Will Cotter, founder of cleaning company FreshSpace Cleaning. Plus, hand-washing is a more thorough way of cleaning the outside and the inside of the hat. “If you’re the type that always wears them, for sure, there’s grime in the sweatband area,” he says. “I think a good hand scrub or spot-cleaning targets those areas better without drenching the entire item.”
- It’s best to hand-wash baseball caps because they’re much more structured than beanies, and the agitation from a washing machine, along with the detergent and water, can cause them to lose their shape, according to Rodriguez.
- Soak a sponge or soft-bristle brush in lukewarm water mixed with mild detergent and scrub all over gently, including around the headband where sweat accumulates. Avoid submerging the hat in water if the brim is made of cardboard, as this could cause it to warp. Let it air-dry.
- Alternatively, if your baseball cap doesn’t have a cardboard brim and you want to wash multiple caps at once, you can try “stripping” it: Add the caps to a bathtub filled with cold or lukewarm water, around a cup of Borax or baking soda and a splash of mild laundry detergent. Let it sit for at least a few hours, swishing them around each hour. Drain the water and let air dry.
- If you want to wash your caps in a washing machine, use a hat frame or “cage.” These are baseball cap-shaped structures you’ll place over the hat to ensure it maintains its shape. Still, it’s important to use the most gentle cycle on your machine.
How to wash structured or delicate hats
- To wash more fragile structured hats, such as cowboy hats, berets and fedoras, Rodriguez recommends hand-washing using cold water, mild detergent and a gentle washcloth.
- Dampen the cloth with a mix of the water and detergent and use it to rub the surface of the hat and let air-dry.
- If your hat is made of a particular difficult material and/or are afraid of messing it up, consider taking it to a professional cleaner.
The best products for washing hats
All of the products below are either direct recommendations from experts I spoke with, ones NBC Select staff members have used themselves and/or have at least a 4-star average rating from more than 500 reviews on Amazon.
Combat Cleaner Store Ultimate Hat Cleaner Kit
- Comes with a brush
- Includes a deodorizer
- Best for baseball caps
This set comes recommended by Kadi Dulude, the founder of home cleaning company Wizard of Homes, based in New York City. It has a brush, cleaning spray and a scented deodorizing spray. You can dip the bristles in water and then spray them with the cleaning solution before scrubbing the hat. You can also use a cloth or towel to wipe it clean.
Baseball Cap Washing Frame
- Has a secure zipper cover
- Not for beanies or other hats
Dulude recommends using these plastic and mesh baseball hat frames to prevent your washer from deforming your hats. Since they have hooks, you can hang them up to dry afterward, since they have loops and clasps. You can also use them to simply maintain your hat’s shape as they sit on a shelf or in a drawer, preventing them from being compressed by other clothing.
Honeycomb Mesh Laundry Bags (3-Pack)
- Good for all delicates
- Can use for shoes too
- Nothing to note at this time
These laundry bags, which are 16 inches long and 12 inches wide, can help keep delicates, such as silk, undergarments, socks, shoes and hats separated from your other clothes while in the wash. The bags, which have a 4.7-star average rating from 33,126 ratings on Amazon, have anti-rust zippers with a cover on the end or prevent it from coming undone while in the machine, according to the brand.
OxiClean Max Force Laundry Stain Remover Spray
- Good for spot treating stains
- Travel friendly
- Can also use on clothing
- Nothing to note at this time
Rodriguez also recommends OxiClean for any hats you need to clean by hand. This travel-friendly sized spray is ideal for spot-treating grease, food or mud stains, according to the brand. To use it, the brand recommends spraying the stain directly and then waiting for at least five minutes before putting in a washer or using other tools, to scrub away the stain.
Arm & Hammer Super Washing Soda
- Ideal for soaking
- Can use it to clean silver
- Also cleans upholstery
- Best for hand-washing
You can use washing soda, also known as sodium carbonate, similarly to baking soda when it comes to cleaning, though the two are not the same and you shouldn’t use washing soda while cooking. You can use this washing soda, which has a 4.8-star average rating from 46,932 reviews on Amazon, to clean hats by mixing it with water to make a paste to scrub on your hat. You can also use it or Borax to strip your hats in water, as described above.
The Laundress Laundry Brush for Stain Removal
- Safe on delicates and bedding
- Ideal for food stains
- Nothing to note at this time
Similar in shape to a toothbrush, you can use this laundry brush on T-shirts, bedding, knits and more, according to the brand. You can apply it directly to a stain and scrub the stains in slow circular motions.
Can you wash hats in the dishwasher?
Yes, you technically can wash hats in the dishwasher, according to Rodriguez, but you should do it carefully and with a mild dishwasher detergent without bleach. Also place the hats (by themselves) on the top rack of the dishwasher — doing so on the bottom may damage it — with cold water.
Meet our experts
At NBC Select, we work with experts who have specialized knowledge and authority based on relevant training and/or experience. We also take steps to ensure all expert advice and recommendations are made independently and without undisclosed financial conflicts of interest.
- Jennifer Rodriguez is the chief hygiene office at ProHousekeepers, a housekeeping services company.
- Kadi Dulude is the founder of home cleaning company Wizard of Homes, based in New York City.
- Will Cotter is the owner and founder of cleaning company FreshSpace Cleaning.
Why trust NBC Select?
I’m a commerce editor at NBC Select, where I cover home and kitchen-related topics, including explainers on how to clean your mattress and the best way to clean grout. For this story, I spoke with two cleaning experts for their guidance and recommendations and kept in mind different circumstances for cleaning winter hats, baseball caps, fedoras and more.
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