Hats are great for those hot road trips, beach days and sports games.
However, loving them as much as we do for shading us from the hot scorching sun, we end up hating them after the fact because they smell dank and are just plain disgusting to wear when seat and oils line the inner part.
Have you ever thrown away a hat or stopped wearing a favorite one because you could not stand the sweat accumulated or the stains that do not come off?
Well, here are some simple methods that have proven to solve this hat-sweat problem that many seem to struggle with.
You will be surprised by how easy it actually is.
Hand Washing Method of Hats
First things first, there is a reason why caps and clothes come with a little tag that has washing instructions on them. Right?
These are not decorations but are meant to help keep the cap or hat in tip-top shape longer. Therefore, check the washing instructions. If none are available, mix some warm water with laundry or mild dishwashing detergent.
Care should be taken not to use a detergent that has bleaching agents as they can stain the hat’s fabric. With a clean white cloth, dip it in the solution and spot clean the exterior.
For stubborn stains on the inner brim, rub with shampoo to loosen body oils. Rinse the hat in cool water and let it air dry away from direct sunlight to avoid ageing or fading.
Another way to hand wash is by immersion. First, check if the fabric is colorfast. You can do this by rubbing a wet white cloth in a conspicuous area of the cap.
If it comes out with the die, do not immerse it. If it does not, fill a bucket with warm water and 1 tablespoon of laundry detergent.
Again, avoid detergents with bleaching agents. Spray a stain treatment product like shampoo to loosen sweat and grime. Also, concentrate on areas that soak up a lot of sweat.
Then dip the hat in the soapy solution and allow it to soak for 4 hours. Use cold running water to rinse the hat and squeeze out the excess water, taking care not to misshapen the hat.
Roll up a little towel and put it inside the hat to keep its shape while air drying. Near a fan or an open window is an ideal place to air dry the hat and this should take about 24 hours.
The Dishwasher Method
Everybody knows how washers shrink up your clothes made from a material that is not washer safe such as wool. Therefore, check the label to know what materials the hat is made from.
Also, make Google your friend if no information but the manufacturer's name is available. Afterwards, put the hat on the top rack as this avoids the heating element to avoid the cap shrinking or the plastic brim from warping.
Next, use non-bleaching dishwashing detergent. Set the dishwasher to cold on a cycle without heated drying. Additionally, use cold water as opposed to warm or hot to avoid shrinkage of the fabric and warping of the plastic brim.
If the hat became misshapen, reshape it using your hands and roll up a small towel to be placed beneath it to allow for air drying.
How to Get Sweat Stains Out of Hats
How To Remove Stubborn Stains
Hats have got to be the hardest items to clean. This is why many people wait until it is too late to wash them.
However, some methods have been proven to kill off those stubborn stains that make you just want to lock up that hat and throw away the keys. LOL.
To start off, make a paste using four tablespoons of baking soda and ¼ cup of warm water. Using a spoon, apply this paste to the stained area(s) and let it soak for an hour.
After, run cool water over the paste-covered areas and do so until all the baking soda is gone. Once again, air dries the hat as above in a shady place with lots of air flow.
To conclude, hats are fashion accessories that turn an outfit from one of cool sophistication and comrade bonding to utter and pure disgust.
The sweat and stains these fashion accessories have to accumulate over time of neglect and not washing may make you want to throw away a perfectly good hat that would only need a bit of love and care.
The best method to use that saves both time and effort and is the dishwasher method. You only need to place the hat on the top rack and use a detergent that does not have bleaching agents, then let the machine do all of the work.
Once done washing, air drying is the second most important step as it prevents the hat from fading and ageing.