I have the most amazing thing to share with you! A friend told me recently that to clean a ball cap, he simply puts it in the dishwasher. I was instantly intrigued, as it never occurred to me to use my dishwasher to clean anything other than dishes! If I’ve ever thrown a ball cap in the washing machine, I’ve dealt with the issue of it losing its shape. So, I just avoid cleaning caps and they stay dirty! But not anymore!
This method of washing a ball cap ensures that the ball cap
- maintains its shape
- cleans up built up dirt
- eliminates sweat stains and smells
This method is ridiculously easy. Ready?
How to Clean a Ball Cap in the Dishwasher
Step One: Brush off excessive dirt (ie. clumps of dirt, pieces of hay or grass, etc)
Step Two: Place in the top rack of your dishwasher, with the opening facing down. You can choose to run it through an empty dishwasher, or with other dishes. That choice may depend on if you rinse your dishes before you put them in your dishwasher 😉
Step Three: Run the dishwasher as usual.
IMPORTANT: avoid using a dishwasher detergent that contains chlorine, as this will cause your ball cap to fade or become discolored! Norwex has a dishwasher detergent that does not contain chlorine, and would be a great solution for you! (*This detergent is really really effective at cleaning the dishes AS WELL as the dishwasher itself. It’s one of my top fave Norwex products!*)
Step Four: Go read a few chapters of your latest fiction obsession while you wait for your dishwasher to finish. You could go clean something else, but a book will make you happier, so go do that.
Step Five: When the dishwasher is done, remove the hat. Marvel at how clean it is. Run around the house and show all the members of your family so they too can marvel at its like-brand-new look. Allow to dry by hanging it up or leaving it on the counter.
Step Six: Once dry, wear it. Or give it to its owner to wear, and accept their many thanks for making their favourite hat sparkle, shine, and maintain its shape!
Cleaning a ball cap in a dishwasher is truly that easy! Now, if you don’t own a dishwasher, and are mad that you wasted your time reading this post – don’t fret! I have an easy and effective solution for you too! This will also allow you to maintain the shape of the ball cap, while effectively getting rid of the dirt and stink {and no scrubbing required}!
How to Handwash your Ball Caps
- Put warm water in a sink (enough to cover a hat).
- Put 1/2 scoop of Norwex powder Laundry Detergent in the water, and stir in. This detergent is great for regular and deep cleaning, and a deep cleaning task like this shows off how effective this detergent is!
- Place the ball cap in the water, and let it soak. How long depends on how good your latest book is (leave it for at least 30 minutes though).
- Drain water, rinse hat, hang to dry.
- Tell all of your friends you’re amazing, because you just hand washed a hat, and it was so much work, but you prevailed.
And that, my friends, is the ridiculously easy way to clean your ball caps!
Happy Sporting!
~Suzanne
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The links I have read about cleaning a hat do not encourage the dishwasher method. You also need to determine if the bill is plastic or cardboard, which will denigrate when it gets wet in a dishwasher.
Try first with a hat you are willing to lose.
Thanks for that. I wasn’t aware of that and learned this from friends. I’ll keep your tips in mind.