How to Get Sweat Stains Out Of A Hat

Do you wash baseball caps regularly? Here are a few tips for removing sweat stains from hats so they look better and to remove pesky sweat stains.

Before you wear your favorite hat, take a closer look at it. I’m willing to bet it’s stained with sweat. In spite of the fact that some hats are frequently worn, washing them isn’t necessarily a priority. The hats I’m referring to are baseball hats, white hats, top hats, golf hats, straw hats, cowboy hats, etc. Those that are covered in a gross sweat stain, that is.

The time has come for a change! My tried and true methods will make nasty, sweaty hats look as good as new. Taking sweat stains off your favorite baseball cap is easy with this step-by-step guide.

Sweat stains can be removed from hats with dish soap, vinegar, or sodium bicarbonate. The following 3 natural cleaning methods work well for removing many stains from clothing, including hats.

Before You Clean Your Hat

Read The Hat’s Care Label

The instructions for washing most hats can be found on the tag or somewhere inside the hat. You should carefully read the hat’s care label to determine how to clean the item. It is possible to wash many hats in the washing machine using laundry detergent (especially if the stain is large) and a gentle cycle.

While the directions below imply otherwise, if it says that you should dry-clean only or only use cold water, you should follow those washing instructions for yellow sweat stains. You may be able to find hat material options on the manufacturer’s website if you are unable to locate tags. Do not attempt any DIY tough stains removal procedure on a hat that needs to be dry cleaned.

Be Aware Of Color Detergent Mixture

Test the hat’s colorfastness (meaning that it won’t leak color when exposed to water) by dipping a white cloth or towel in warm water and wiping the surface. Colorfastness is not guaranteed if any dye rubs off on the cloth. Avoid washing it to remove sweat stains, so it should be dry-cleaned.

Inconspicuous Areas Should Be Tested

You should always test the cleaner or commercial spray stain remover you are going to use on a hidden spot of your hat’s material before you wash your sweat stained hat to avoid further ruining it.

Always Air Dry

It’s not always advisable to dry hats in a dryer. You’ll mainly want to let any hat air dry.

Watch Materials

Generally, any baseball cap made of cotton, cotton blends, or polyester mixes are machine washable and thus safe for the following treatments. They are also prone to yellow stains. It is possible to find cardboard bills on baseball caps from the early 1980s and earlier, but if they are exposed to excessive water, they may rot. A cap cage, also known as a washing cage, can help keep it’s shape.
Wool or Wool Felt: When approached with water, wool or wool felt hats can discolor easily, so follow our instructions on how to clean a colored hat carefully.
It is common to find straw hats made of a variety of materials (raffia, hemp, shantung, Panama, etc.), each of which is durable and water-resistant in its own way. You may have to gently reshape them.
There are knit hats made of natural fibers such as wool and rayon, as well as synthetic materials like acrylic and nylon.

How To Get Sweat Stains Out Of A Hat

Baking Soda As A Stain Remover

A hat that has sweat stains can be cleaned with baking soda instead of bleach, which is a much safer and more natural method. In addition to whitening and brightening headwear as a stain remover, baking soda (also known as sodium bicarbonate) eliminates odors. A spot treatment of your hat with a cleaning paste and a damp sponge is easy to do for removing sweat stains out of hats.

The dry stain treatment involves pouring baking soda directly onto the stain. Spend at least an hour allowing the powder to absorb tough sweat stains.
Wipe away the powder using a clean cloth to test whether the stain has been absorbed. Make sure all the baking soda residue is removed from the hat in order to prevent it from discoloring. Adding additional water will help the mixture to become clearer if the discoloration persists.
1 cup warm water + 1 tablespoon sodium bicarbonate. You can use a soft-bristled brush or a tiny towel to gently remove the stains by dipping them into the baking soda mixture and gently rub them.
Clean one small area at a time until all of the discolored spots have been removed. To avoid destroying the fabric neck or pattern (wool hats) or destroying the weave pattern (straw hats), scrub more forcefully for more tenacious salty sweat stains. Rinse the baking soda paste off with cool water.
To avoid discoloration after cleaning the hat, air dry completely in front of an open window but out of direct sunlight.
It is also possible to use various bleach alternatives, such as OxiClean, to brighten white or brilliant hats and remove sweat stains. If you need additional tips on cleaning a white hat, be sure to read our tutorial on how to do it.

Vinegar

A white vinegar, unlike the health world’s “it” vinegar (apple cider vinegar, we’re talking about you), can be used to clean everything, including getting stains out of hats.

Use your kitchen sink or small basin to dilute white vinegar and water equally.
Gently massage away the stains with a tiny cloth or soft toothbrush dipped in the vinegar cleaning solution.
You can remove stains from any hat’s sweatband by gently scraping them away with white vinegar. This is a great way to get sweat stains out!
Wipe away any vinegar residue using a clean, moist towel.
Before wearing the hat again, let it air dry completely.
Exposure to vinegar for a long period of time may damage hat decorations and metal accents due to its acidity.

Dish Soap

Dish soap is useful not only for to hand wash dishes, but also for removing stains. The difference between dish soap and non-bleach dishwashing detergent is that dish soap does not contain other harsh bleaching chemicals that will damage your headwear.

Use a mixture of water and dish soap in a small bowl to spot-clean the hat if you don’t want to soak it completely in the soapy water.
Dish soap can be easily added to warm or cold water by stirring a spoonful into it until it foams up. It is best to wash the hat in cool water in order to prevent the fabric from being damaged if you’re unsure and really want to get sweat stains out of your Dad’s favorite golf hat.
Use a small towel or clean soft-bristle toothbrush to gently scrub the stains away with the soapy warm water. If you need it for really bad sweat stains, add a few drops of bleach-free detergent or laundry detergent directly to the stain and scrub with a moist sponge.
The body oils and stains should be removed one small area at a time until they are all gone. If they persist, add a little laundry detergent.
If the entire hat is discolored and needs a thorough cleaning, let the hat soak in a large basin or in the kitchen sink. Submerge the hat again in hot water if it can be submerged. After cleaning the hat, rinse it with cool running water.
Keep the hat cool and well ventilated while you air dry away from direct sunlight. If you must you can use a hair dryer to speed up the process, but only with a low heating element.

Can I use the machine-washing method or dishwasher method for hats?

To avoid bending the hat out of shape, avoid washing a hat in the top rack of the dishwasher or washing machine. Hand washing in lukewarm water is helpful for preserving the specific shape of your hat, particularly the bill. While I wouldn’t recommend even the top rack of the dishwasher, even the cold water washing cycle could use excess water, and the wash cycle can ruin your accessory.

If you must use a machine, a washing cage is best to keep the shape of your hat. if it is misshapen, try the upside down bowl trick. Fit the hat around the bowl and leave it to dry.

How To Prevent Sweat Stains

Now that you know all about hat cleaning and getting stains out of hats, you’ll want to prevent sweat stains. Consider spraying a stain repellent on your hat to cut down on the amount of cleaning you do. The inner side of the hat should be sprinkled with sodium bicarbonate and allowed to sit for a few minutes in order to refresh it.

Cleaning Sweat Stains From A Hat Bottom Line

With so many options for getting stains out of hats now at your disposal, what are you waiting for? Start cleaning hats now! You’ll feel much better about your hats once those gross sweat deposits are removed.

You can restore your favorite hat’s appearance by using sodium bicarbonate, dish soap, and vinegar – all items you already use.