How do you wash baseball hats?

[Sharon Kay]

My son wears his baseball hats constantly and they are dirty and smelly. We tried ONE time to put a hat in a "hat form" and put on the top rack of dishwasher with dish soap. It left a white soap film on it.

I looked at Bed Bath & Beyond and they had the same hat forms but they said DO NOT put in a front loading washer. That is what I have ... one of those large front loading washers.

So how do I wash these hats? He won't get rid of them ... and they smell. ...which makes his hair smell. He has Aspergers and is quite attached to his hats so throwing them out is not an option without a major incident here.

Suggestions? We'd like the hats to keep their shape, not have a soap residue, and to be clean!!

Hmm.... could we wash them in the sink (if so, what kind of soap?) and set them out on the deck to dry? I'd like some tried and true methods people have used...he doesn't want to ruin a hat in experimenation.

I would really really appreciate your ideas!

[anneofalamo]

oh I have two boys that wear baseball hats on a constant basis!
I seriously throw them in the washing machine!!
then dry outside..
it is 104 here in Cali right now and my boys sweat..they mow the lawn and play in them
14 year old and 11 year old
they stink
now they don't

[KimericKreations]

Eric likes his clean...LOL - and he wears them all the time. If I use the washer, it sometimes crumples them in weird ways that doesn't come out when drying - so I've tried this, works for us! I soak them in the sink in warm water and a scented dish soap - one that degreases. I SOFTLY scrub around the inner rim and any soiled spots. I have a couple bowls that fit the hats perfectly - I put the hats over the bowls for shaping, and just let them dry (inside or outside). Works perfectly for us.

[tammy1999]

Try the hat form you can buy and you wash them in an empty dish washer on the top rack. Keeps the form straight. Our neighbor says it works great on her husbands hats.

[AZK]

I've washed DH's hats in the dishwasher using the form plenty of times and never had a problem with the residue you mentioned. Maybe try a different brand of dish soap? Otherwise the soak-in-the-sink method using the form would be my next choice. Good luck!

[newfiemountiewife]

I just throw em in the washer just like they are, and hang them to dry. If the hats are cheap, they sometimes lose their shape, otherwise, they turn out fine!

[Sharon Kay]

Originally Posted by tammy1999

Try the hat form you can buy and you wash them in an empty dish washer on the top rack. Keeps the form straight. Our neighbor says it works great on her husbands hats.

Could you PLEASE ask your neighbor what brand of dish soap she uses? Ours (Electrosol) left a white residue on the hat ... and my son just about fell apart because it was the hat that his grandpa used to wear (he got the hat after his grandpa died). I would really appreciate it.

[Sharon Kay]

Originally Posted by KimericKreations

Eric likes his clean...LOL - and he wears them all the time. If I use the washer, it sometimes crumples them in weird ways that doesn't come out when drying - so I've tried this, works for us! I soak them in the sink in warm water and a scented dish soap - one that degreases. I SOFTLY scrub around the inner rim and any soiled spots. I have a couple bowls that fit the hats perfectly - I put the hats over the bowls for shaping, and just let them dry (inside or outside). Works perfectly for us.

I think we will try that for one of the hats tomorrow ... think we have Dawn and if I remember right ... it advertises degreasing dishes ... thanks for the ideas on the bowls.

[Amanda_Rockwell]

I throw them in my front loader. That's why they're worth it! I can wash so many things now without worrying about ruining them.

[taxed4ever]

My mother in law always washed them in the dishwasher on the top rack.