5 Scientifically Proven Methods on How to Get Sweat Stains Out of Hats [2023 Guide]

Published by Hala Zaqqout on January 18, 2022 | Last updated on January 9, 2023

Sweat Stains!! We know how much you hate them. To see your favorite hat you used to wear with nasty sweat stains. This brings up the question: “How to get sweat stains out of hats?”.

Sweat stains around the rim of your favorite hat is a pervasive problem and unfortunately, it is more prevalent during the summer when you wear it because perspiration from your forehead can leave stains on the front inner rim.

Want to know how to get sweat stains out of hats? The good news is that, no matter what material your hat is made up of, there is a way to get out those unsightly stains.

If you want to know how to get sweat stains out of hats, we recommend three easy ways to keep them clean, fresh, and looking new. Just keep scrolling in this CleanersAdvisor article to know how to remove sweat stains from hat.


What to Consider Before You Get Sweat Stains out of Hats?

Before answering your question of how to get sweat stains out of hats, you should be aware of a few things to keep in mind.

1. Hat Material

Different materials require different cleaning methods. Generally, your hat should have both material and manufacturing material somewhere on the inside.

Always check the care label to confirm the material of the hat.

Cotton or Synthetic Materials

Hats made of cotton, cotton blends, or polyester blends are usually machine washable and are likely to be safe for the treatments listed below.

Wool or Wool Felt

Hats made from wool or wool felt react to water and can be easily discolored.

Then check out how to clean a wool hat so that you don’t cause damage to your hat.

Straw

There are multiple varieties of straw hats (raffia, hemp, shantung, Panama, etc.) and each has a different level of durability and water resistance.

Knits

Knit caps are made of various natural fibers such as wool and rayon, or synthetic materials like acrylic or nylon.

2. Washing Instructions

Washing instructions are usually found on a tag or printed somewhere inside most hats. Make sure to read the care label to find out the best method for cleaning it.

If it says to use only cold water or dry-clean only, then follow those instructions.

3. Colorfast

To confirm that the hat is colorfast (meaning the color won’t bleed when introduced to water), use a clean white cloth, lukewarm water, and rub it on a hidden area of the hat.

If any dye comes off on the white cloth, then the hat isn’t colorfast and it shouldn’t be washed in water.


A Few Tips on How to Get Sweat Stains Out of Hats

Here are some helpful hints to keep on how to get sweat stains out of hats in mind to make this process even easier:

1. Remove sweat stains as soon as you notice them. This will make them easier to remove.

2. Always follow recommended washing instructions from the manufacturer to see if there are any extra precautions you should take.

3. Don’t use bleach or detergents that contain bleach.

4. Got tough stains on white hats? Apply a few drops of hydrogen peroxide onto the stain, scrub it in and let it sit for 10 minutes before rinsing.

5. Don’t air-dry your hat in direct sunlight.

6. Don’t put your hat in the dishwasher with dirty dishes.

7. Never put your hat in the dryer.

8. Don’t chuck your hat in the laundry with the rest of your dirty clothes.

9. Vintage hats need to be treated with a little extra care and should be spot-cleaned only because they’ll become misshapen if submerged in water.

10. You can repeat any of our recommended processes if the stain persists.

11. Hydrogen peroxide is a bleaching agent. So always use it with utmost caution.

12. Never use hydrogen peroxide for colored hats. The colors will come off if you use them.

13. Don’t wash a baseball hat in the washing machine, as the agitation is likely to damage or ruin it.


How to Get Sweat Stains Out of Hats?

Wanna know how to get sweat stains out of hats? Here are several ways to get sweat stains out of hat. Choose carefully; depending on the material of your hat, certain methods will work better than others.

Stain Remover and Laundry Detergent

Many stain removers are made to get rid of a huge variety of stains, including sweat. This is a quick and easy method to clean your hats.

1. To target the stains, use your favorite stain remover. Apply the cleaner directly.

2. Scrub the stain remover into the hat’s fibers with an old toothbrush. Don’t scrub too vigorously as this can wear and break the hat’s material.

3. Leave the stain remover for up to five minutes.

4. Fill a sink or basin with cold water. Add one tablespoon of laundry detergent, then mix well.

5. Soak the hat in warm water for 20 minutes.

6. Rinse the hat with warm water.

7. To remove excess water, press a towel over the hat.

8. Allow the hat to air dry over a circular container to help it maintain its shape but keep it out of direct sunlight.

Check out this video to see how to get sweat stains out of hats.

Shampoo

Shampoo breaks down body oils so it can help to erase sweat stains from hats.

1. Mix together a good bit of shampoo in a bowl with a small amount of water.

2. Dip an old toothbrush in the solution and scrub the sweat stains with it.

3. Scrub it for a few minutes with the brush.

4. Fill up a sink or basin with cold water.

5. Submerge the hats in the water for 10 minutes.

6. Rinse the caps thoroughly.

7. Let the hats dry in the shade.

Pop It in the Dishwasher

Did you know that your hat may be washed in the dishwasher? This is a cool trick if you take the proper precautions.

1. First, spot treat any stains with your favorite stain remover. Dish soap can also be used to remove the stains. Apply it to the spots, wait 30 minutes before rinsing it away.

2. Place the hat in the top rack of the dishwasher with a plastic hat frame. If you don’t have a plastic hat frame, secure the hat to the top rack of the dishwasher with adjustable straps. Never put the hat in the dishwasher without first securing it.

3. Dishwashing detergent should be added at this point. Dishwashing detergent should be added at this point. Make sure it’s devoid of bleach and citric acid, as these ingredients can harm the fabric, as rinse aids should not be used.

4. Use a cool or warm cycle to wash your hat. You shouldn’t put it in the dishwasher if you only have hot temperature options.

5. Start the cycle.

6. Let the hat air dry.


Enzyme Treatment

Why not use enzyme cleaners on your hat? They’re wonderful for removing sweat stains.  You can use enzyme cleaners or laundry detergents that contain enzymes.

1. Follow the manufacturer’s instructions for mixing your enzyme cleaner in a bucket of water.

2. Soak the hat for 20 minutes in the solution, then soak the stain for up to 2 hours if it’s really stubborn.

3. Hand-wash the hat with lukewarm water and laundry detergent, then scrub with an old toothbrush.

4. Rinse the hat thoroughly.

5. Allow your hat to air dry over a container to retain its shape.


Baking Soda

Baking soda is the ultimate superpower to get rid of the toughest sweat stains.

1. In a bowl, combine four tablespoons of baking soda, then add a little water at a time until you reach the desired consistency to make a thick paste.

2. Apply the paste to the stain using a cloth, old toothbrush, back of a spoon, or even your finger.

3. Work the paste into the stain with an old toothbrush.

4. Allow the paste to dry for up to an hour on the hat.

5. Rinse the paste away with cold water.

6. Repeat the procedure if the stain persists. If not, let the hat air dry.


How to Get Sweat Stains Out of a White Hat?

You need special ingredients to clean your white hat from stains. Let’s see how to get sweat stains out of a white hat using a simplified method for you.

Use Hydrogen Peroxide

1. Apply a few drops of hydrogen peroxide to your white hat’s yellow stains.

2. Gently scrub the spots with a soft toothbrush in a circular motion, then allow 15 minutes for the hydrogen peroxide to soak into the hat.

3. Rinse the hat under cool running water. After the hydrogen peroxide treatment, you can either hand-wash or machine-wash the hat.

4. Once the hat is washed, set the hat to air-dry.


How to Get Sweat Stains Out of Black Hats?

It’s no longer a problem to get sweat stains out of black hats now that we’ve shown you every possible washing method.

Except for the hydrogen peroxide method, which is meant for white hats, you can wash your black hats with any of the ways listed above. But there are certain tips that you need to keep in mind when washing black hats.

1. Always wash with same Colored Clothes

If you’re doing your laundry in the machine, make sure your black hats are laundered with similar-colored clothing.

2. Avoid Detergents with Bleach

If you want your black hat to remain black, then do not use bleach. Bleaches are made to lighten and brighten the clothes and they cannot be used on black hats.


How to Prevent Sweat Stains in Hats?

Those yucky sweat stains are nobody’s favorite. But we have some good news for you! Instead of asking how to get sweat stains out of hats, there are a few things that you can actually do to prevent sweat stains on your hats. Ready to know?

1. Use Hat Liners

Hat sweatband liners are a brilliant idea. They can be worn over sweatbands to reduce the contact between your head or face and the hat.

2. Don’t Wear the Hat If Sweaty

Avoid wearing the hat If you know you’re going to sweat due to anxiety, hot weather, or exercise. You can also use an antiperspirant that is safe for the head and face to reduce head sweating.

3. Keep Yourself Clean

Make sure to wash your face twice a day to prevent sweat stains and bacteria build-up on your hat.

4. Keep the Hat Clean

Clean your hat before you notice these pesky sweat stains. This will stop them from setting and potentially ruining the hat.

5. Use Hat Sprays

You can use these products to repel sweat, dirt, and moisture on hats. This will keep it in a stain-free condition for longer between cleans. Spray a small amount of it on your hats and leave it to dry for about 20 minutes. Your hats will look fresh and clean.


How to Get Sweat Stains Out of Hats FAQ


To Wrap Up

Everything you need to know about how to get sweat stains out of hats is here! Now that you know what it takes to maintain your hat fresh and clean, it’s really not such a tough task, is it? Just make sure to be aware of the cleaning instructions on your hat.

So give this article a thorough read and choose the best way to get sweat stains out of hat.

Still have more questions, or do you want to add helpful information to this article? We want to hear it! Leave us a comment below!