That sweat-stained, slightly grimy golf hat on your passenger seat has been through a lot. Before you toss it in with your next load of laundry, let's talk about the right way to get it clean without destroying its shape and fit. This guide will walk you through everything you need to know, from identifying your hat's material to the exact steps for both machine and hand washing, so you can get your favorite cap back in game-ready condition.
Here’s the short answer: Yes, you can often put a modern golf hat in the washing machine. However, it comes with some serious warnings. The washing machine can be a brutal environment for something as structured as a hat. The aggressive agitation can warp the crown, bend the brim, and cause the entire hat to lose that perfect shape you've spent dozens of rounds breaking in. The heat and harsh detergents can also cause colors to fade and fabrics to shrink, especially in older or more delicate caps.
Hand washing will always be the safest, most recommended method. It gives you complete control over the process, ensuring a gentle touch that preserves the hat's integrity. Think of it like chipping versus blasting a bunker shot - both can get the job done, but one offers far more finesse and a lower risk of disaster.
However, if you're set on the convenience of a machine, you need to do it correctly. The rest of this guide will focus on how to do it safely, but first, you have to play diagnostician and understand exactly what kind of hat you're dealing with.
Just like you wouldn’t use a driver from the sand, you can't use the same cleaning method for every hat. The construction and material are the two biggest factors that determine how you should wash your cap. Before you do anything, take a minute to inspect your hat.
This is arguably the most important element. For decades, hat brims (or bills) were made with a cardboard insert to give them their shape. As you can imagine, submerging cardboard in water turns it into a mushy, warped mess.
How to tell the difference? Do a simple bend test. A plastic brim will feel sturdy and will spring back to its shape easily. A cardboard brim feels stiffer, flimsier, and may even make a sight cracking and crinkling sound when flexed. If you tap on it, plastic has a light, solid sound, while cardboard sounds more dull and hollow. When in doubt, assume it’s cardboard and proceed with caution.
If you've determined your hat has a plastic brim and is made from a durable performance fabric or cotton blend, you can proceed with machine washing. Follow these steps precisely to protect it.
The grossest part of a well-worn hat is the sweatband. These stains need to be addressed before the main wash. Create a simple paste using a small amount of mild, bleach-free laundry detergent and a little water. Using a soft-bristled brush (an old toothbrush is perfect), gently scrub the stained areas, paying close attention to the sweatband on the inside. Let it sit for about 15-20 minutes.
Never throw your hat directly into the washing drum to be battered by other clothes. You need to protect its shape. The best tool for the job is a plastic hat cage (also called a hat washer or baseball cap frame). This tool snaps around the hat, holding its form throughout the wash cycle. If you don't have one, placing the hat in a delicates laundry bag or even a tied-off pillowcase is a decent alternative, though it won't protect the shape as well as a dedicated cage.
This is where many people go wrong. The settings are not suggestions, they're rules.
Wash your hat with a small load of similar colored, lightweight items like t-shirts, socks, or athletic shorts. Do not wash it with heavy towels, jeans, or sweatshirts. A heavy, water-logged piece of denim can easily crush the crown of your hat, even inside a hat cage.
For your most treasured hats, for wool hats, or for anyone who wants to be 100% safe, hand washing is the way to go. It’s gentle, effective, and only takes a few minutes of active work.
Start with a clean sink, basin, or bucket. Give it a quick wash to make sure there's no leftover residue from other cleaning chemicals.
Fill the sink with cool or lukewarm water. Add a small drop (a teaspoon or less) of mild, bleach-free detergent and swish the water around with your hand to create some light suds.
Just like with machine a washing, use a soft brush and a bit of detergent to pre-treat the grimiest parts, especially that inner sweatband. Then, fully submerge the hat in the soapy water. Let it soak for at least 30 minutes, or up to a few hours for seriously dirty hats.
After it has soaked, use your hands to gently agitate the hat in the water. Use your soft brush to gently scrub any remaining problem areas. Focus on the fabric and avoid scrubbing any embroidered logos too aggressively, as you could snag the threads.
Drain the soapy water and rinse the hat thoroughly under cool, running water. Gently squeeze the fabric (don’t wring or twist it!) to help work the soap out until the water runs clear and there are no suds left.
You can do everything right up to this point and still completely ruin your hat in the final step. Heed this warning: NEVER, EVER PUT YOUR HAT IN THE DRYER. The high heat from a machine dryer is the number one cause of ruined hats. It will shrink the fabric, warp the plastic brim into a permanent, awkward curve, and cook any remaining sweat stains into the material for good.
Here’s the right way to dry it:
Cleaning your favorite golf hat is entirely doable as long as you respect its material and construction. While hand washing is the safest route, you can use a machine for most modern hats by using a hat cage, a delicate cycle with cold water, and most importantly, letting it air dry on a form to preserve its shape.
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