Content

• Steps
• Advice

Hats are easy to get dirty, especially hand-knit wool hats. Washing hats by hand is the safest option, but for more sturdy knit hats you can try washing them in a washing machine. Before washing the hat, try to determine what material the hat is made of and whether it will easily deform when washed. The easiest way is to look on the labels stitched on the hat. However, if your hat isn't branded, you'll have to make your own guess.

Steps

Method 1 of 4: Hand Washing the Hat

1. 

   Fill a small plastic tub with cold water. Warm or hot water can cause the hat to discolour and even shrink depending on the material. You just need to fill the hat with enough water. If you only want to wash 1 or 2 hats, you can use a large plastic bowl instead of a basin.
   • This works best for hand-knit wool hats or delicate caps that you fear will spoil or stretch when put in the washing machine.
   • If the hat is made by you, check the label of the wool you use for washing instructions.

2. 

   
   
   Mix mild detergent in water. Pour about a teaspoon of detergent or soap and stir in the water until it dissolves completely and creates bubbles floating on the water. The type of detergent you use will depend on the material of the hat and the type of stain you want to wash.
   • If your hat is knitted with wool, you should choose a special detergent for wool. This will help minimize the chance of fibers, fading, and other types of damage. If not, use a bleach-free cleaner and other additives is fine.
   • Never use chlorine bleach or enzyme treatments on wool fabrics.

3. 

   
   
   Use the test of stains on the hat. If you are using this method to wash your hat for the first time, you should only soak a small portion before you fully immerse the hat. Keep the fabric in the water for about two minutes.
   • Check for discoloration while the hat is still wet. You can see the color fade in the water. If you don't see it, try patting the hat on a light surface or material.
   • When patting the fabric of the hat you want to wash, be sure to pat it on something that can be easily removed or won't fade away.
   • Select a stain test area on the hat that will not be visible when you wear it. That way, if discolored, it won't affect the hat's overall look.
   • If you don't see any signs of discoloration on your hat, you can proceed to the next step.

4. 

   
   
   Dip the whole hat. If the fabric you are trying on shows no signs of damage after two minutes, the rest of the hat should be soaked. If you wash normally, you only need to soak for about 30 minutes. If there is dirt on your hat or a more stubborn stain is on, you may need to soak it for a few hours.

5. 

   Rinse through water. Remove the cap from the soapy water and rinse it under a running water, running evenly, to remove all detergent. Use cold water for best results. Continue rinsing the water until you no longer feel the oil and detergent on the hat.

6. 

   Squeeze any remaining water. Place the hat between your hands and clench your hands. Then put it in a clean towel and keep holding it until no more water drips from the hat. Do not twist or twist the hat, as doing so may deform or lint it.

7. 

   Dry the hat. Place the hat in a well-ventilated place. Lay it flat on a towel and pull it back to its normal shape. You can speed up the drying process of your hat, but only use a nearby electric fan and turn it on to a minimum, do not use a hairdryer because high heat can cause your hat to shrink. Also, do not place the hat in direct sunlight, as it may discolor. advertisement

Method 2 of 4: Washing a knit cap with a washing machine

1. 

   Place the flimsy hat in a laundry bag. Some hand-knit hats, especially those made of wool, can be damaged by motion in the washer. To prevent this from happening, put the hat in a pillow case, mesh bag or laundry bag. Close the bag by zipping or tying it to prevent the hat from falling off while the machine runs. This step is especially important if you are washing only small quantities.
   • Be careful of knits that you plan to wash with this method. If the hat is made from acrylic yarn, machine washable wool, or cotton yarn, then the hat will be fine if machine wash. However, if the wool is not labeled "machine washable", it will deteriorate if placed in the washing machine, damaging your laundry.

2. 

   Prepare plenty of laundry together. Knitting hats are often damaged if too few items are left in the washing machine. Washing a hat and some clothes will prevent it from spinning too much because there will be less free space for it to spin. Just make sure the items are of the same color and ideally wash knit hats with other knitwear.

3. 

   Start the washing machine before adding laundry. Wait for the washing bucket to fill with cold water. Pause the machine before the washing cycle begins and put clothes and hats in the washing machine.
   • If your washing machine is a front door type, follow the usual way to put your laundry in and wash it. While it's not the ideal way, your hat should be fine.

4. 

   Add a little extra laundry detergent. If your hat is knitted with wool and so does general laundry use soap specifically for wool. These soaps often contain lanolin, which loosens wool fibers, reduces static electricity and increases water resistance. If you can't wash wool or can't find specialized soap, you can use any kind of mild soap that doesn't contain detergents and other harsh chemicals.

5. 

   Soak before washing. Do not start the washing machine immediately. Let the laundry in the drum soak for at least an hour. If the item is too dirty it may need to be soaked overnight. Don't be too alarmed when your woolen emerges when you first put it in. They will slowly absorb enough water and sink.

6. 

   Run the washing machine in "rotate only.""This will cause your laundry to go through the last step of the wash cycle only. The washing machine will just gently bump the laundry in the tub and then rinse the soapy water. This rotation also helps dry the laundry one by one. part by squeezing excess water through the force of the plate. If your item is still wet, let it spin one more turn.

7. 

   Spread your hat to dry. Spread a clean, dry cloth on a flat surface and lay out your wool clothes on it. It is best to place it in a well ventilated area, such as a room with a ceiling fan. Let the hat dry naturally. This may take a few hours. advertisement

Method 3 of 4: Wash Cap with a washing machine

1. 

   Handle the inner hat liner first. This brim is the dirtiest place, as it absorbs sweat and oil from your skin. Choose an enzyme cleaner and spray it on the brim to remove this kind of stain.
   • Most caps made within the past 10 years can be comfortably machine washed.
   • It would be better if you wash your hands with a knit cap.
   • Older caps usually have a cardboard cap. These hats should never be completely immersed in water. Instead, it is best to wipe them with a spray bottle and towel.

2. 

   Put the hat in with regular laundry. Treat the hat like any other laundry. Wash with similar colors and whatever detergent you like.
   • Wash in cold water for best results. However, warm water is also okay. Do not use hot water when washing your hat.
   • Do not use detergent.

3. 

   Let the hat dry naturally. After washing is finished, place hat on a flat surface in a well-ventilated area. You can place an electric fan nearby to make the hat drier faster. Don't put your hat in the tumble dryer; Doing so will cause the hat to shrink or deform. advertisement

Method 4 of 4: Wash Papyrus

1. 

   Determine if the papyrus is washable. Some papyrus hats are too fragile to wash, even hand wash. Most papyrus caps are made from hard sedge types that allow mild hand washing. Check the hat's label. If it's made in Baku or Shantung, you can rest assured.
   • If you can't figure out what the papyrus is made of, gently curl the edges of the hat. If it resilient and quickly regains its original shape, it may be durable enough to wash. If it is bent and torn, it is not suitable for washing.

2. 

   If necessary, remove the ornament on the hat. Ropes, ribbons, buttons or other accessories are usually attached to the hat with a small piece of wire. You can easily separate it to let the trinkets fall off. If the ornament is stitched in with thread, it does not need to be removed. It is easier to damage the hat by trying to take it off and stitch it up rather than leaving it to wash.

3. 

   Gently wipe with a towel. For cleaning that cannot be brushed, use a wet cloth. Carefully wipe the cloth on the surface of the hat, wiping away the surface stains. Do not let the hat get too wet.

4. 

   Wipe the entire hat with a solution of hydrogen peroxide. If normal water does not wash, you can use hydrogen peroxide as a mild rinse. Pour half of hydrogen peroxide and half of normal water into a hand-held spray bottle.
   • Spray this solution on a soft cloth. Carefully wipe the entire hat with this towel.
   • For stubborn stains, spray the solution directly onto the hat and wipe off with a towel. Avoid exposing the hat to water, as it can deform and shrink the hat.
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Advice

• If the label on the hat says "dry cleaning only," you should take it to the dry cleaner. Sometimes it is cheaper to pay for dry cleaning than for a hat damaged by washing the machine.
• Keep linen in a separate place from other fabrics. This will prevent you from accidentally placing them in the washing machine and protect them from damage.
• Some people wash their caps with a dishwasher. However, this practice is not recommended by dishwasher manufacturers. Additionally, the high heat from the dishwasher can cause the plastic on the hat to deform and the fabric to shrink.
• Spray pre-treatment solution on stubborn stains and dirty areas before washing.