How to Wash a Baseball Cap, Snapback or Dad Hat

Look for a tag inside the hat that contains the fabric information and/or washing instructions and clean as directed. If your cap doesn’t have a care label, your best bet is hand washing to prevent any fading or structural damage to the brim. Keep in mind that common hat materials like cotton can shrink slightly in the washer. Also, don’t machine wash any hat that already has rips or holes, as the washer motion can make them worse. 

Next, figure out whether your baseball cap has a plastic or cardboard bill. Some hats, especially older ones made prior to 1983, have a cardboard bill that will get ruined in the washer. Simply tap or flick the brim—if it makes a hollow sound, the bill is likely cardboard. Hats with cardboard bills should be spot cleaned only—click here to learn how to clean a baseball cap with a cardboard brim. For hats with plastic brims, continue on to Step 2.

Pretreat any tough stains with a non-bleach stain remover. Place your hat inside a laundry bag or pillowcase to protect it from potential damage from the washer agitation. Add the cap to a small load of clothes to help prevent matting and misshaping. Use a gentle cycle with slow spin speeds, cool water and a mild detergent, following the detergent manufacturer’s instructions.

You’ll definitely want to skip the dryer, as the high heat and tumbling can damage your hat. Instead, after the wash cycle is done, dry your cap on a hat form or a round container (like an upside-down small bowl) to help keep the hat structure intact.

The same rules for fabric and bill type apply when hand washing a baseball cap. Check the care tag and wash according to fabric type, and determine whether your hat’s brim is plastic or cardboard. With a cardboard brim, you’ll want to spot clean only and skip the soaking—click here to learn how to clean a baseball cap that can’t be submerged.

Fill a clean sink or bucket with cool or warm water and add about a tablespoon of mild detergent. If your hat has any obvious stains, follow this guide and use a non-bleach stain remover and a soft brush to gently scrub the spot. Let the hat soak for about an hour, checking stained areas every so often to see if they need extra attention.

After soaking, thoroughly rinse the hat in clean, cool water and gently remove excess moisture with a dry towel. Put the cap on a hat form, an upside-down bowl or a balled-up towel to air dry.

Some older hats may not be colorfast, which means that the color might rub off if you use a cleaning solution other than water. Apply a dab of mild detergent in an inconspicuous spot, like under the bill, with a clean cloth. If any color rubs off, use water only to clean the hat.

Mix about a teaspoon of mild detergent with cool water. Dip a soft brush into the mixture and gently scrub the dirty areas until clean. Dampen a clean towel to remove any excess detergent.

Put the cap on a hat form, an upside-down bowl or a balled-up towel to air dry.

As in the above methods, always check the care label for specific cleaning instructions and, in the case of older hats, do a color test first.

Mix together ½ cup of baking soda, 1 tablespoon of salt and 1 tablespoon of hydrogen peroxide in a small bowl. Spot test the mixture first in an inconspicuous place on the hat, like under the bill. After spot testing, use a soft brush to carefully apply the paste to the inside of your hat, concentrating on the sweatband portion, and let sit for about 20 minutes.

If your hat can be submerged, give it a good rinse in clean, cool water. If not, use a damp towel to gently remove the paste.

Put the cap on a hat form, an upside-down bowl or a balled-up towel to air dry.