A quick look at how to clean a white hat:
- Before You Wash: Look at Labels, Bye-Bye Bleach, Ditch the Dishwasher
- Methods for Cleaning a White Hat: Hand-Washing, Spot Cleaning, Brushing, Machine Washing
A white hat can often be washed by hand using a few straightforward materials. As soon as you’ve decided whether your hat can be washed, you can clean it with water, cleaning supplies, and a toothbrush or dish brush. The white hat can then be allowed to dry in the sun or indoors.
To restore your favorite chapeau or take care of your collection, read the cleaning instructions for a white hat below.
Table of Contents
Before You Wash
Before getting out the soap and water, there are a few things you need to know. It is essential to your hat’s survival.
Look at Labels
Reading the label on your hat will inform you of what you are wearing and how to care for it, just as it is important to read food labels to know what you are eating.
Examine the material, then wash it according to the directions. Make sure your old baseball cap doesn’t have a cardboard visor; only more recent baseball caps have plastic brims or are made of washable materials.
If the label says “dry clean only,” take the hat to the dry cleaners and let the professionals handle it.
Bye-Bye Bleach
Whether you decide to wash your hat by hand, give it a little spot cleaning, or throw it in the washing machine, one thing remains the same: Do not use bleach. The bleach might not only cause the fabric to fall apart, but it might also change the color of the hat and leave stains rather than removing them.
Ditch the Dishwasher
Despite the numerous online articles that advise against doing it, washing a hat in the dishwasher is a safe and simple alternative. Dishwashers are high-intensity devices that use hot water and hot drying cycles, which will cause your hat’s fabric to discolor, deform, and shrink. In addition, bleach is a common ingredient in dishwasher detergent.
Methods for Cleaning a White Hat
A white hat can be cleaned or removed from stains in a variety of ways, depending on what the tag says. The best place to start when removing stains or cleaning your hat is with gentle methods. Then, if necessary, progress to other techniques if they are appropriate for the subject. Here are a few different ways to clean a white hat.
Hand-Washing
The best way to wash a hat is by hand. The effort is well worth it, but it does require some planning and patience.
Works best for: White hats made of cotton, cotton blends, synthetic materials, wool
Required Supplies
- 1 cup of hydrogen peroxide
- 1 tablespoon of non-bleach dish liquid, laundry detergent, or Woolite
- One scoop of baking soda or OxiClean White Revive
- One soft-bristle brush such as a toothbrush
Instructions
- Fill a sink or big bowl with warm water before washing a cotton, cotton blend, or synthetic hat. One cup of hydrogen peroxide, one tablespoon of detergent, and one scoop of baking soda or OxiClean White Revive should all be added to the sink as the water begins to fill. With a spoon, combine the ingredients.
- Pour cool or cold water into the sink and add one capful of Woolite or another high-quality material-specific soap when washing a wool hat.
- Put the hat in the soapy water and let it soak. Try soaking hats made of cotton or synthetic materials for 30 minutes. Soak wool hats for around an hour.
- Sweat stains and other gunk can be removed with a gentle scrub from a soft-bristled brush. Be especially careful with wool hats and follow the napto avoid pilling.
- Use warm water to rinse away the cleanser from cotton, synthetic, or synthetic-blend fabrics, and cool or cold water to rinse wool.
- To prevent the hat from being dripping wet, dab away any excess moisture with a fresh, white towel.
- Allow the hat to air dry indoors in a well-ventilated area away from direct sunlight as this could unevenly fade the hat.
Spot Cleaning
It’s not always necessary to wash a white hat from top to bottom to remove stains, particularly if it has a delicate design. Small marks might be removed using spot cleaning. A white hat could be spot cleaned using only a few products, all of which are commonplace. To make sure the cleaner won’t damage or discolor your accessory, be sure to test a small area first.
- Apply hydrogen peroxide to the stain using a cotton swab, cotton ball, paper towel, or white cloth. Utilizing a soft, clean toothbrush, work the hydrogen peroxide into the material. Let it sit in the hat for approximately 10 minutes, then rinse, let it air dry, and check to see if the stain is gone.
- Vinegar that has been through the distillation process: Use white vinegar after hydrogen peroxide. Work it into the stain, let it sit, rinse, and let it air dry.
- Dish soap: Dilute a few drops of mild dish soap in water. After that, spot-clean as you would with vinegar or hydrogen peroxide by dipping a clean, white cloth into the solution.
- Shampoo: Try spot cleaning with a mild, dye-free shampoo if you have one. Make a spot test by diluting the shampoo in water. After cleaning, let it air dry like you would with other cleaners.
- Baking soda: Combine baking soda and water to make a thin paste. Spread the mixture over the stains using a soft, clean toothbrush, and then leave them for 10 to 15 minutes to dry. Rinse the paste off, let it air dry, and check to see if the stain is gone.
Using a fresh, white cloth will stop your white hat from getting any more stains. A vibrant piece of clothing, particularly one that is brand-new, may stain your white hat by transferring its color there. Your hat might pick up the grease or dirt from a dirty cloth.
Some stains might require additional hand washing. If possible, wash your hat in warm water and mild detergent. Use the techniques listed above to remove sweat-related yellowing, or try an enzyme-based stain remover. If you don’t want to soak the hat, mix the stain remover with warm water and blot it with a paper towel. Otherwise, spray it directly onto the stain.
Brushing
The majority of the time, woven materials like toyo or paper-braid hats and other types of hats do not fare well in water. To get rid of dust and dirt, you’ll have to brush the surface. You might have an easier time removing tough dirt if you use a brush with stiff bristles. Don’t press too firmly or you might bend, scratch, or otherwise harm the hat. If the dust and dirt are only surface-level, a brush with soft bristles will also work in place of one with stiff bristles.
Remove hatbands or other embellishments if you can before brushing a white hat to prevent crushing them. Use a hairdryer on low and cool settings to blow away dust and dirt if you are unable to remove the decorations from your hat.
You might think about using a cleaning solution if your straw hat has noticeable stains that are difficult to remove with brushing. Use a mild dish soap and water solution along with your hat after checking the tag to see if it is safe to use liquids to clean it. Do not soak a clean cloth in the mixture; just dip it in. Utilizing the pattern of the straw material as your guide, gently rub the stain with the damp rag.
Sprinkle cornstarch on your hat and let it sit for a few hours if it is made of white leather or if the interior band is leather. If the fabric feels stiff after brushing the cornstarch away, use a leather conditioner.
Machine Washing
You might wonder if you can wash a hat in the washing machine because hand washing and spot cleaning take time with difficult stains. Cotton fabrics may be machine washable, but not all styles hold up to washing. Baseball caps with shapers and hats from the Tilley brand can both be machine washed because of their lifetime warranties. Other designs, such as unformed choices or bucket and boonie hats, might also be appropriate.
Not sure if your hat will hold up in the washer? To maintain the shape of your hat, use hand washing and spot cleaning instead. If you can machine wash your white hat, follow these tips:
- Use a stain remover (not bleach! ), if necessary, prior to washing your hat by machine.). Make sure that whatever you use is color-safe.
- A small load of white laundry should be washed along with the white hat. Your hat may be better protected as a result. Make sure to use cold water and your washer’s delicate setting.
- Hang dry.
Professional Care
It’s not always best to wash a white hat using household remedies. Thereafter, experts are available to assist. Research options for professional hat cleaning and maintenance in your area and see if they could help you with things like:
- Deep cleaning
- Set-in stains
- All-over stains
- Dingy appearance
If your other hats have stains, you might as well bring them along since you’ll need professional care for your dry-clean-only hats anyway.
What Not to Do When Cleaning a White Hat
In addition to knowing how to wash and remove stains from a white hat, it’s important to understand what not to do. You might want to know what to avoid when cleaning your hats because you may have previously encountered incorrect cleaning advice. Here are some dos and don’ts to remember when caring for and cleaning a white hat.
- Unsurprisingly, your dishwasher is for dishes, not for washing your hat. No matter how sturdy you think your hat is, the high water pressure will inevitably ruin it. This only holds true if you use a baseball cap shaper, which is made to keep a ball cap’s shape even in a dishwasher.
- White hats that have colorful stitching, hat decorations, or hatbands should be bleached. If you use bleach to clean these styles, the details may become discolored. Pick detergents that are safe for both whites and colored fabrics.
- Ignore the care instructions on the tag: If your hat specifies that it should only be hand-washed or dry cleaned, heed that advice. If you ignore the tag, you risk ruining your hat and possibly never getting the stains out.
- Check that your hat is of good quality before washing or soaking it. Do not wash without first checking your hat. Make sure the stitches are secure and not coming undone because rough washing may do so.
- While some hats can be washed in a machine, it is never a good idea to dry them in one. Placing your hat somewhere well-ventilated is preferable. An air circulation system provided by a drying rack promotes even drying of the hat.
- Dry in direct sunlight: Even white hats will become faded in the sun. Avoid hanging your hat outside to dry when the time comes. However, you don’t have to dry it in a pitch-black room in your home. As long as it is not directly in the path of the sun, air dry your hat indoors.
- You shouldn’t store any clothing before it is dry, including your hat, which should be stored while it is still damp. The same goes for your hat; they’ll get wrinkled or start to smell musty. Prior to placing it in storage, let it completely dry by air. Move and flip flat-lay hats and beanies as they dry to ensure even drying.
- Plastic isn’t breathable, so keep your hat in a plastic bag. Moisture will accumulate as a result, endangering fabrics like leather or suede. Because of this, mold or mildew can also grow, ruining your hat. If you do decide to shield your hat from dust, use cotton or another breathable material.
How to Keep Your Hat Clean in the First Place?
In many situations, it may be simple to clean a white hat, but if your hat is delicate or you want to prevent stains, learn how to keep it clean in the first place. You could avoid the hassle of cleaning stains from a white hat by taking a few precautions.
- Pack it carefully because if you drop your hat while traveling, stains may result. It’s important to do it correctly to ensure that your hat is safe in your suitcase. While some hats can be rolled, others must keep their shape. Put clean socks or rolled-up shirts inside the crown in those situations. For added protection, ship your hat in a hatbox if it won’t fit in a suitcase.
- Don’t sweat it: Many people wear hats in the summer, but heat causes sweating, and sweating stains a white hat. Try hat liners if you want to wear a hat in the sun, during exercise, or if you want to protect your hat. These items are sticky patches that stick inside your hat and are usually disposable absorbent products. They can catch the sweat and keep it from seeping in and discoloring your hat.
- Consider wearing a darker hat if you’re going somewhere dusty or muddy. You wouldn’t want your white hat to fall or get covered in dirt while you’re out and about. Additionally, keep windy conditions in mind, especially if your hat doesn’t fit snugly. You don’t want to run around after your white hat only to have it get covered in mud.
- Make sure your hands are clean before putting your white hat on or taking it off. It wouldn’t be a good idea to put on your hat only to discover after the fact that you have something on your hands that will leave a stain. Before putting your hat away, make sure the area where you keep it is clean.
- If you think you didn’t sweat or get any dirt or dust on your white hat after wearing it, wipe it off anyway. If the fabric of your hat allows it, take a white, damp, clean cloth. If the fabric shouldn’t get wet, wipe it with a dry cloth. The hat’s interior should then be gently cleaned.
- Dry the interior band. Sweat or moisture may accumulate on the hat’s interior band after wearing. If you can, turn the band down after wiping it with a dry, white cloth. If you don’t have on your hat, this allows it to dry and air out.
Final Thoughts
The idea of successfully cleaning your white hat should no longer be intimidating after reading this article. Once you have the required knowledge and materials, the task is not too difficult. Congratulations on your new, pristine white hat!
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