How to Wash a Baseball Cap by Hand

Everyone asks how we wash our hats

It's one of the questions we hear most at events, in our DMs, and in the comments: how do you keep your hats looking so good? The honest answer is that we wear them constantly, and we wash them almost every day. A great cap should go everywhere with you, from a morning at the track to a late dinner in the city. That means it is going to see sun, sweat and the occasional spilled drink.

The good news is that caring for your Siegelman Stable hat takes about five minutes and nothing you don't already have at home. No special kit, no dishwasher tricks, no trip to the dry cleaner. Just warm water, a little shampoo and some patience while it dries. Here is exactly how we do it.

How to wash your hat by hand, step by step

Bring it into the shower. The easiest place to wash a cap is under running water. We literally get in the shower with ours, or use an outdoor shower in the summer. A sink works too.
Use warm water, never hot. Warm water loosens sweat and dirt without shrinking the fabric or softening the brim. Let the whole hat get soaked through.
Add one pump of shampoo inside. Regular hair shampoo is gentle enough for fabric and made to lift oils, which is exactly what builds up in a hat. One pump is plenty.
Add one pump on the outside. Then swirl it around with your hands so the lather covers the crown, the panels and the embroidery.
Focus on the inside band. The sweatband along the inside of the brim is where most of the buildup lives. Work the shampoo in gently with your fingers, paying extra attention to the forehead area.
Wash the outside. Go over the outside of the cap so you get it all, using your hands rather than a brush. Be gentle around embroidery so the stitching stays crisp.
Rinse it a bunch. Keep rinsing under warm water until the water runs clear and there are no suds left. Leftover shampoo can leave marks as it dries.

Drying: let it air dry

Once it's rinsed, gently squeeze out the extra water. Don't wring or twist the hat, since that can bend the brim and crease the crown. Then simply let it air dry.

To keep its shape, set the cap on something round while it dries, like a rolled towel, a bowl or a coffee canister. Keep it out of direct heat and skip the dryer completely. High heat can shrink the fabric, warp the brim and fade the color. In a few hours it should be dry, and you can wear it again feeling brand new.

Everyday care between washes

A few small habits keep your hat looking sharp for years:

Let it breathe. After a long day, hang it up or set it on a shelf instead of tossing it in a bag, so sweat can dry out.
Spot clean small marks. A damp cloth with a drop of shampoo handles most spots without a full wash.
Store it with care. Keep it out of direct sunlight to protect the color, and don't stack heavy things on the crown.
Travel smart. Stuff the crown with socks or a T-shirt in your suitcase so it holds its shape.

Hats that need a gentler touch

The routine above is made for our cotton caps. A few of our styles need a lighter hand:

Suede hats: Don't soak them. Brush gently with a suede brush and use a suede eraser for marks.
Linen hats: Hand wash in cool water with very little shampoo, and air dry away from the sun to avoid shrinking.
Ivy caps and wool blends: Spot clean only, or take them to a trusted cleaner.

When in doubt, check the care label inside your hat first.

Hat care FAQ

Q: Can I put my hat in the washing machine? A: We don't recommend it. The spin cycle can bend the brim and crush the crown. Washing by hand takes five minutes and keeps the shape intact.

Q: What soap should I use to wash a baseball cap? A: A regular hair shampoo works well. It's gentle on fabric and made to lift the oils and sweat that build up in a hat.

Q: How long does a hat take to dry? A: A few hours in open air. Set it on something round so it holds its shape while it dries.

Q: How often should I wash my hat? A: As often as you wear it hard. We wash ours almost daily in the summer, but once every week or two is fine for most people.

Q: Will washing fade the embroidery? A: Not with warm water and gentle hands. Avoid hot water, scrub brushes and the dryer, and the stitching stays crisp.

Made to be worn

We design our hats to be lived in, not kept on a shelf. A little care goes a long way, and a cap that has been worn, washed and worn again only gets better with time. Watch the full routine on our TikTok , and when you're ready for a new favorite, explore our full collection of Headwear.