How to Clean Your Golf Hats Without Wrecking Them

Your hat has seen some things. Sweat, sunscreen, all sorts of stuff. After a season it stops looking “worn in” and starts looking like something you should apologize for wearing in public. Here’s how to actually clean it without turning your favorite hat into a stiff, warped mess.

Hand Washing: The Safe Bet

Anyone can do this one; I’ve tried it in the past with some success, but I’d highly recommend the dishwasher hat cleaning method.

1. Fill a sink or basin with cool or lukewarm water. Never hot, that’s how brims warp.
2. Add a small squeeze of mild detergent. No bleach.
3. If the sweatband is the worst offender (it usually is), hit it directly with a little dish soap or shampoo and scrub with an old toothbrush before it goes in the water.
4. Let it soak a couple hours if it’s really bad.
5. Rinse it out and let it air dry. Don’t rush this part with a hair dryer or you’ll regret it.

That’s it. No secret tricks, just water, mild soap, and patience.

The Dishwasher Trick – The New Way I Tested

Sounds ridiculous the first time someone tells you. It works, but only if you follow the rules.

1. Hit any sweat stains or grimy spots with OxiClean MaxForce first; I really recommend this part. Spray it on, let it sit a few minutes before the hat even goes near the dishwasher.
2. Makes a real difference on the stuff plain water and detergent won’t touch.
3. You need an actual hat cage or frame. Don’t just toss it in loose, it’ll fold in on itself and you’ll end up with a permanently creased mess.
   1. You can lock the strap to the dish rack if you dont have a cage.
4. Top rack only. No dishes or anything else.
5. Use a mild detergent with no bleach and no citrus scent, those can mess with the fabric and dye.
6. Run it on a quick or light cycle with cold or warm water.
7. Turn off the heated dry. This is the part people forget and it’s the part that ruins hats. Heat plus a wet cap equals a warped brim.

This works well for structured cotton and poly hats, trucker hats, stuff like that. Skip it for anything wool or with delicate stitching or patches, that stuff doesn’t hold up.

Getting Out Actual Stains

Sweat stains are the usual culprit. A few things that work:

1. Soak in a mix of one part white vinegar to three parts water for about 30 minutes before you wash it.
2. For stubborn spots, make a paste out of baking soda and water and gently scrub it in with a soft brush.
3. If it’s a white hat and it’s gone yellow, a diluted oxygen-based bleach applied carefully can bring it back. Go easy near any colored logos or stitching so you don’t blow those out too.

None of this is complicated; it’s just easy to skip until your hat looks like it’s been through a war. A few minutes of upkeep beats a full rescue mission every time.