How to Remove Stains from a Black Hat Without Fading the Color

Hats can come in all shapes and sizes, they’re great for keeping the sun out of our eyes, keeping us warm, or sometimes they’re just a useful accessory to look cool. Unlike t-shirts, pants, and undergarments, we don’t think to wash them frequently.

They can also be left hanging around collecting dust and dirt. This can lead to a buildup of stains, be it from a sweaty forehead or from the back of our closet.

A few things need to be considered before starting to wash your favorite hat if you don’t want to ruin it. People often think as white garments being the trickiest color to get stains out of, however a black hat can have a whole different set of problems.

Keep reading for our complete guide into cleaning your black hats and make sure you don’t ruin them!

There may be affiliate links in this article. You can read more about this in my disclosure.

What causes stains on black hats?

Black hats are particularly susceptible to a certain type of stain: sweat marks. As your forehead sweats the fabric of the hat soaks it up and over time white or yellow marks appear.

These marks are due to the high levels of sodium in the sweat and the natural oils your forehead produces. Once the water dries, the patches appear.

No need to panic as these marks can be removed and you won’t need to throw your hat away. It’s a relatively simple process involving household items and some elbow grease.

Another type of common stain on black fabric is because of bleach. Any product containing bleach will discolor fabric.

Unfortunately, once the color is gone, it’s hard to get back. A drastic option in this case would be to dye the whole hat, or just demote it to the “work clothes” drawer. 

Please check the products you use on your black hat; it cannot contain any bleach. Keep reading to find out how you can remove tough stains on your black hats…

What should I consider before cleaning?

First and foremost, find out the material your hat is made from. You can’t clean a suede hat the same way you would a cotton beanie.

To avoid damaging it, look at the label, you will find both the material the hat is made from and the washing instructions. Most people would agree that they’re not the easiest symbols to get your head around.

So let us give you a brief overview of the main ones to look out for.

Dry cleaning

If the symbol has a circle around it, it’s referring to dry cleaning. The letters refer to the chemicals used and the lines beneath indicate the level of care needed.

If there is a cross through the circle, you cannot dry clean the hat.

Drying

The symbol is a box with a circle within it. The dots in the middle refer to the temperature.

If there is a cross through the symbol, do not put it in the dryer.

Machine Wash

The symbol of a tub tells you if you can put your hat directly in the washing machine. A hand symbol in the tub means hand washing only.

The numbers in the tub refer to the maximum temperature used and a cross through the tub means you cannot machine wash the hat.  

Types of hats and their cleaning instructions

Straw hats

The most delicate material to treat is straw. You cannot put a straw hat in any sort of machine or wet them too much.

Use a damp cloth to blot out any stains and always air dry. 

Cotton hats

You’re in luck! Cotton hats are the easiest to clean.

Any of the following methods will work. Remember to use a mold to protect the hat’s shape if necessary. 

Wool hats

Caution is required for wooly hats. Low temperatures are key.

Do not put wool on any harsh wash cycle. We recommend you skip to the “Wash by hand” section nº1 for cleaning instructions.  

Synthetic materials

Make sure you don’t put the hat in a hot cycle or dryer. Apart from that, all the following options are suitable. 

Leather hats

Do not put these hats through any machines. Spot cleaning is best using products specifically designed for leather garments. 

How to wash your hat by hand

Grab your bucket and fill it with warm water and pour in half a cap full of laundry detergent. Make sure your detergent doesn’t have any trace of bleach in it or it will damage the color.

Swirl the water around to dissolve the detergent fully. You can add a little fabric softener for added perfume.

Place your hat in the bucket and press down to make sure it is fully submerged.

Let your hat soak for a few minutes. Then, with a soft bristle brush, scrub the dirtiest area and any tenacious stains.

Rinse your hat through with cool water and let air dry. Some hats deform when drying, so keep an eye on it and use a hat mold if need be.

These canny items lock your hat into shape, so you don’t get a wavy cap once it’s finished drying. 

You can repeat this process, if necessary, until the stains are removed. Also take note that this method is not suitable for suede, straw or leather hats.

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How to wash your hat in a dishwasher 

Another great method which involves less elbow grease is to simply put your cap in your dishwasher. Before doing so, make sure there are no food remains in there, nobody wants old lasagna on their favorite baseball cap.

Put the dishwasher on a normal cycle, low to medium temperature, with dishwasher detergent. 

This method reduces the risk of your hat getting damaged and deformed. Like the hand washing technique, once the cycle finishes, air dry the cap.

You can use a mold for the entirety of this technique too. Make sure you use dishwasher detergent and not washing machine detergent as this can damage your dishwasher. 

Also take note that this method is not suitable for suede, straw, wool or leather hats. 

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How to wash your hat using spot treatment

Spot cleaning is the safest way to clean your hat without damaging it.

There are a few different options, you can either use detergent, baking soda and vinegar or more specific cleaning products (for example leather hat cleaner). The idea is to clean the first spot without having to soak the hat. 

Our favorite method is with baking soda. First you must mix some baking soda (4tbsps) with ¼ cup of water.

This will form a thick paste; lather is on the dirty spot and scrub the area with a toothbrush or a thick bristle brush. Then, you must spray the area with vinegar.

The reaction will lift all the dirt, sweat and oils from the fabric. Rinse with a bit of cold water and let air dry. 

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How to wash your hat in the washing machine

This technique works for cotton or wool hats, just make sure you check the temperature requirements of each garment beforehand on the label. Make sure you set your washer to the correct temperature and spinning cycle depending on the label. 

We do not recommend this option for baseball hats, suede hats, leather, or straw hats. This option can damage the shape, so only use it for beanies for hats that don’t have a specific shape. 

Use a hat mold so protect your caps

A pro tip when washing a baseball cap is to use a mold, you simply place the hat in the plastic mold, and keep it in there until it is fully dry. Once the shape is damaged in a hat, you’re not going to be able to save it.

So better be safe than sorry and invest in one. The molds can be used in the dishwater and when air drying the hats. 

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How to dry your hats

A general rule of thumb is to always let your hats air dry. High temperature dryers can damage the hat or shrink it.

Make sure you keep the mold on if need be as it is during the drying process that most caps change shape.

To sum up

Make sure you clean your hats regularly, they build up a lot of forehead sweat, dirt and oils, which is not only unhygienic but can damage the hat. Before starting, always check the label for cleaning instructions, as every hat is different.

Your biggest enemy is changing the shape you hat, so use a mold, when possible, to have peace of mind. And last but not least, always air dry your hat.

With these tips and tricks, you’ll be a pro hat cleaner and give your garments a new lease of life!