Best way to wash a hat??

[jayocal]

I own a standard baseball style hat.

It is dirty. I'd like to wash it.

I've ruined a hat once by throwing it in the washing machine.

Any suggestions?

[SportsJunky]

I just washed two of mine in the washing machine on delicate. No problems.

[ratech]

Wash it in the dish washer on the top shelf and then hang it on a door knob after until it is completely dry. voila

[Eddie Bronze]

Kitchen sink + lukewarm water + woolite + your hands.

[Dion]

I fill my bathroom sink with warm water and some laudry soap. Let the hat soak for an hour and then drain the sink and refill with cold water to rinse off the soap. After all that i take a hand towel and make it into a ball and put it under the head part to help the hat keep it's shape while drying. The towel also acts as a drying agent by soaking up the moisture in the hat.

[dubc80]

Wear it in the shower and clean with soap and shampoo. Hang on faucet in bathtub to drip dry.

Ive heard dishwasher works well, but haven't tried it myself. You can buy a rack specifically for this eh? I'm sure it will help it keep shape.

[Ford Prefect]

Give it to the wife and say please. If you're not married, buy a new hat.

Under no circumstances let a wife or girlfriend even suspect you might know how to or be capable of washing anything. If you ever have to run a washing machine, randomly poke a few buttons and then ask in your most annoying, helpless voice, "Which is the On button?"

You can thank me later.

[Ford Prefect]

Originally Posted by Dion

I fill my bathroom sink with warm water and some laudry soap. Let the hat soak for an hour and then drain the sink and refill with cold water to rinse off the soap. After all that i take a hand towel and make it into a ball and put it under the head part to help the hat keep it's shape while drying. The towel also acts as a drying agent by soaking up the moisture in the hat.

If I were to have to pretend I knew how to wash a hat, that sounds like what I would do. Not that I know anything about this of course and that's the story I'm sticking to.

[Dion]

Originally Posted by Ford Prefect

If I were to have to pretend I knew how to wash a hat, that sounds like what I would do. Not that I know anything about this of course and that's the story I'm sticking to.

LOL I like your style. Play stupid and let the wife do the work.

Brilliant!

[metallicat]

I vote for wearing it in the shower, although I've never done it. I have heard of people wearing a hat in the shower when they first buy it, as it forms to your head better. It could be complete hogwash, I don't know.

[octothorp]

You could wash it in a vat.
You could wash it just like that.
You could wash it in a sink,
But not with your jersey or it will turn pink.
In a tub you let it soak.
Or rub it down with fresh egg yolk.
Perhaps try boiling it with lime.
That might be the thing to remove the grime.
There are many ways to skin a cat,
And just as many to clean a hat!

[Slava]

Originally Posted by Ford Prefect

Give it to the wife and say please. If you're not married, buy a new hat.

Under no circumstances let a wife or girlfriend even suspect you might know how to or be capable of washing anything. If you ever have to run a washing machine, randomly poke a few buttons and then ask in your most annoying, helpless voice, "Which is the On button?"

You can thank me later.

I have used this strategy, combined with the accidental mis-laundering of a few items. How was I supposed to know any better?

[Ford Prefect]

Originally Posted by Slava

I have used this strategy, combined with the accidental mis-laundering of a few items. How was I supposed to know any better?

Yup, and irons are pretty tricky too. Darn things keep scorching clothes. It was a bad, bad thing when that happened to one of my wife's blouses. Alas, I have not been allowed near an iron since.

[Regulator75]

Originally Posted by ratech

Wash it in the dish washer on the top shelf and then hang it on a door knob after until it is completely dry. voila

Been doing that for years, it works.

[BOSSY]

Originally Posted by Regulator75

Been doing that for years, it works.

Agreed

[Temporary_User]

What material is the hat?
Authentic on-field 59fifty hats are polyester.
Custom/retro hats are wool.
Some hats are a mixture, some include acrylic.

How dirty is the hat?
I've worn some of my wool (or mixture) hats in the shower. A wool hat should be bought a little big, because it will shrink. If you shower with the hat on, don't take it off until it is dry (will take a few hours), or it will lose its shape permanently.
I've used those plastic racks that have already been posted. They can go in the dishwasher or washing machine. I would recommend putting it in the washing machine by itself on gentle cycle.

Do not wash a hat and leave out to dry w/out a rack or by wearing it on your head. It will lose its shape. Some people like the "slicked back" look to their hats though...

All these methods do ruin the hat though. Once a brim gets wet, it will never be as stiff as it used to be.
It is for this reason, I would recommend spot washing it by hand if possible.
Taking it to a dry cleaner would also be a good option.

[Rathji]

Originally Posted by Temporary_User

What material is the hat?
Authentic on-field 59fifty hats are polyester.
Custom/retro hats are wool.
Some hats are a mixture, some include acrylic.

How dirty is the hat?
I've worn some of my wool (or mixture) hats in the shower. A wool hat should be bought a little big, because it will shrink. If you shower with the hat on, don't take it off until it is dry (will take a few hours), or it will lose its shape permanently.
I've used those plastic racks that have already been posted. They can go in the dishwasher or washing machine. I would recommend putting it in the washing machine by itself on gentle cycle.

Do not wash a hat and leave out to dry w/out a rack or by wearing it on your head. It will lose its shape. Some people like the "slicked back" look to their hats though...

All these methods do ruin the hat though. Once a bill gets wet, it will never be as stiff as it used to be.
It is for this reason, I would recommend spot washing it by hand if possible.
Taking it to a dry cleaner would also be a good option.

When I was young and poor I sent my prized stamps hat to the drycleaner. It came back 2 sizes too small.

[GreenTeaFrapp]

What about a liberal spraying of fabreeze?

[Coach]

I've heard dishwasher as well

[moncton golden flames]

dishwasher