How to Wash a Bucket Hat & Clean Buckethat ?

When washing a bucket hat, the most important thing is to make sure it keeps its original shape after washing. Improper handling can lead to wrinkles and deformation of the hat. Most bucket hats are machine washable, but for extra care, I suggest washing them in a mesh laundry bag.

Or washing the hat in a dishwasher using a holder is an option, but always heed the specific washing instructions of the hat. Generally, it’s best to wash in cold water on a gentle cycle, and I recommend using a mild, unscented detergent.

Do not put your bucket hat in the dryer after washing, as the heat can damage it. Instead, wrap it in a breathable fabric that cushions the inside of the hat, helping it maintain its shape as it dries.

How often should Bucket hats be washed?

It’s really up to you how often you wash your bucket hat, but if you want to keep it safe from the smell, you should wash it at least 5-6 times a season. However, if you love to wear the bucket hat all time, you should increase its cleaning and washing time to at least once a week. Washing the hat on time will remove sweat stains easily.

Things to consider before washing the bucket hat

Are you a bucket hat enthusiast and don’t want to ruin it with an incorrect cleaning method? It would help if you considered the following checklist before cleaning the bucket hats.

•  First, you need to know what type of material your bucket hat has because they often come in cotton, nylon, fur, knitted, and wool fabric. There is also a different washing way for every type of bucket hat, like cotton and wool.
•  When you purchase the bucket hat, save the care label and read it carefully because they contain every DO’S & DON’T’s.
•  Check the hat’s bleeding color! If it has, then do not wash it on your own, though take it toward any professional.
•  Direct sunlight may cause damage to fabric and fade of hat color, so you should only air-dry the hats.
• Wool tends to attract skin cells or dandruff particles. Before washing the hat, use your handheld vacuum to remove the maximum particles from it.

How to Clean Sweat Stains off of your Bucket hat?

You can remove the sweat stains from bucket hats by hand-washing, and soaking in the dishwasher. You can also do this through the washing machine, spot treatment, enzyme treatment, and even dry claiming.

However, the easiest and smart solution to getting sweat stains out is to clean by using the following material:

•  ARM & HAMMER Baking Soda
• Multipurpose cleaning spray with lemon +Vinegar
• The laundress stain brush
• Cold water

How to do: Step-by-step

• Apply the mixture of baking soda with water and then apply it to the sweat stain area and scrub the area with a bristle brush gently.
• Let the scrub absorb on the sweat-staining area for half an hour
• Next, spray  a multipurpose cleaning spray  vinegar onto the hat and then scrub it
• Then scrub it for a few minutes, rinse the bucket hat under the cold water
• Avoid twisting & wringing, and let the hat air-dry completely or dry the excess water with a clean towel.

Hand-Wash Guide: Step-By-Step

Hand washing is the best method of getting the spotless bucket hat with little or no investment instead of machine washed. The required material is the

•  Laundress stain solution
• Soft brush
•  Natural laundry detergent liquid soap
• Cold water
• Bucket or tub

Now Let’s move toward the washing instructions and care instructions:

1: pre-treat the stain

This step is crucial for getting the spotless bucket hat, and you shouldn’t skip it. Apply the small amount of laundress stain solution to the area where the sweat stain is prominent on the bucket hat, and then leave it for 15 minutes. It will break down the excess dirt particles and makes them easier to wash later from the whole hat.

2: Gently Scrub & Soak

Take a natural laundry detergent liquid soap and water, use a soft brush to scrub over the stains, and soak the stained area in the mixture. Also, leave the heat in the mixture solution for 20-25 minutes or even more time if the hat is more stained.

However, after 20 minutes of leaving the mixture, you should scrub the stained area once more to clear the spots clearly. Now, once again, put the bucket hat in the mixture solution for 5 minutes as part of the wash cycle.

3:  Rinse in Cold Water

As the sweat stains get blurred, rinse the hat in cold water. Avoid using hot water, especially for cotton or wool fabric, because it will cause the shrinking of the material.

4: Let the Hat Dry

Find a good air circulation or well-ventilated area and let the hat air-dry for a few hours on a flat surface. Do not twist or wring the hat because it will damage the hat shape, and maintain the hat color for a long time. Don’t expose it to direct sunlight or high heat in the drying process.

Machine-Wash Guide: Step-by-Step

Some sturdy hat fabrics, like cotton or nylon, may require machine-wash to remove all stains. However, for machine-washing, you need the same material as hand-wash, but one more thing is required.

•  Mesh bag
• Soft brush
• Stain remover
•  Gentle laundry detergent

1: Pre-treat with Stain Solution

As you did in the hand-wash, you should treat the sweat stain before cleaning the bucket hat in the washing machine. Add a small amount of laundress stain solution to the specified stained area and then leave it in a bucket for 1-2 hours. If you noticed the blur or dissolved stains, it means your remover is effective.

2: Put the hat in Mesh Bag

Have you felt worried about whirling the bucket hats in the washing machine? Take them in a mesh bag before tossing them in a washing machine. However, it is optional to put them in a mesh bag; throw your hat directly in the machine for cleaning in circular motions.

3:  Set your Machine

After tossing the hats into the washing machine, set the speed of the washing machine to delicate wash and use the cold water in the machine. Put the white hats in the washing machine and add separately colored clothes in the next wash cycle. Furthermore, add similarly colored clothing in one wash cycle.

4:  Dry the bucket hats

Let your bucket hat dry naturally in a well-ventilated location but avoid direct exposure to the sun. Hand-knit hats need more time to air dry.

How to clean the hats that say do not wash?

Simply clean those hats using the “No sweat premium hat cleaner kit.”  This premium kit contains a microfiber cloth that can be used to remove the stained area or get rid of dirt or dust. You can use this kit for straw hats, baseball caps, and sun hat. Furthermore, You can get them dry clean them from a professional.

How to wash a bucket hat in washer

Are you wondering how to wash a bucket hat without ruining its shine and functionality? Cleaning and washing bucket hat is another major concern after wearing them.  This is why because it sits for a long time on your head and accumulates dirt. You must know how to clean and wash the stubborn stains bucket hat without damaging its fabric.

If you wear your favorite bucket hat for almost two weeks or more days, it will take 1-2 hours. Here we got you covered with the best possible way of cleaning the bucket hat.

If you are a great wearer of hats but don’t know how to clean them properly, read these possible ways of cleaning them because it is not an arduous task!

How to Get Musty Smell out from hat?

Sprinkle the baking soda inside the hat, leave it for 15 minutes and shake it out to smell the hat. The use of baking soda hides the smell, and you can also add white vinegar to remove stains, especially on non-washed hats.

However, the more we wash these hats with water or backing soda, the more we damage the fabric. So, in order to protect the fabric from damage, you can simply leave your hat in an open space when the hat is naturally aerated.

FAQ with Bucket Hat

Q1.  Can I wash my hat with warm water?

No, in order to preserve your fabric and maintain the bucket shape of your cap, you should always wash it with cool or normal water. And dry the bucket hat in natural air.

Q2. How can I freshen up my hat?

Simply you can aerate it. Use a good perfume spray bottle or hat conditioner, or soak it in cold water with some fabric softener.

Q3. Why does my bucket hat smell so sad?

The smell can be due to your sweat, dirty hair, body or hair oils, skin cells, and dryness. The conditions, and factors around you when you’re wearing the bucket hat affects the smell of hat. So you should consider all these factors before deciding whether to wash it or dump it.

Q4. Can you Give me a tip for maintaining my wool hat shape after wash?

First of all, you should take extra care when you wash a wool fabric bucket hat. Since the fabric is more prone to losing its shape. Use a mild detergent specially designed for wool, dilute it with some cold water and scrub gently. Reshape the hat either by wearing it until dry (which isn’t easy) or placing it on something that mimics the shape of the head.

Q5. Can I wash my hat with the dishwasher?

Technically, it should ‘be able to handle it. But you should always check the care label first. If the label says it’s okay, then you can wash it off.

Wrap up

There are various categories of hats, including the straw hat, delicate knit hats, baseball caps, sun hats, and wool hats. However, we only discussed the bucket hat cleaning process in this only. You can select hand wash or machine wash your hat based on the odor smell of the bucket hat and its material.

If the hat is new and has a weird odor, you should avoid washing it and just aerate it in an open space or use perfume to freshen it up. And if your hat has a bad smell but no strain on it. Then try to soak it in cool water with a mild laundry detergent or baking soda and dry it afterward. You should treat the hat in the washing process quite delicately. We hope that this guide was helpful. Keep reading our articles to keep your expensive clothes fresh!