washing hats

[Jason Musgrave]

Is it possible to wash a ball cap without destroying it's shape? I've never been successful at this thought I've tried many different methods.

[boots2000]

My experience with most/all hats. Baseball, cycling, etc. is that when they need to be washed, they need to be replaced.

[Mr B]

I can't be the only guy on here who throws his cap in the wash with the rest of his kit after a 60+ mile ride?

[Matthew Strongin]

For my cycling caps, and I used to do this with baseball caps back when I played, I usually rinse them out in the sink after a sweaty ride and then let them air dry. They don't lose their shape and getting the sweat out of them helps hold the nastiness at bay. Eventually they'll need to be tossed, which is the point I start putting them in the wash with the rest of my clothes since I'm past the point of caring if they get bent out of shape. Never in the dryer, though. That usually gets a bit more use out of them before they're really ready for the trash.

[Auk]

^^^ this

[deluxerider]

I put my baseball caps in the dishwasher.

[BShow]

^^^ this

Very occaisionally, I'll wear mine in the shower and give it a good rinsing but I just throw mine in the laundry when the're too funky. Technically though, you're supposed to hand wash - especially if it's a wool cap (using wool appropriate detergents). Air dry no matter how you wash it.

[Brandon White]

Baseball caps - they have plastic structure keeper thingys that keep the shape while washing.

For cycling caps - in the wash after every ride.

[Jason Musgrave]

We're talking ball caps not cycling caps here. I wash my cycling caps all the time.

I've tried the dishwasher - my deal is that the inner structure/support shrinks at a different rate than the outer portion so it wrinkles funny.

[CJones]

Here is the thing velobran mentioned:

Blue | Lids.com

[ldamelio]

Dishwasher top rack, no heated drying for ball caps. Only do this rarely and doesn't affect shape/longevity. As others have said, cycling caps go in the wash with the rest of the kit. I also put my helmets in the dishwasher top rack, rinse cycle only, no heat periodically when they stank up.