How to Shrink a Polyester Hat [2 Methods]

Published by Ahmad Jamal on June 5, 2023

Feeling that your polyester hat is starting to get a little bit loose, and you lost the comfortable feeling it used to provide?

Don’t worry, this CleanersAdvisor guide will provide you with all the information you need to know on how to shrink a polyester hat.

You’ll have a closer look on the fact that people discussed if you can shrink (or not) a polyester hat in the first place, then you can enjoy a showcasing of 2 different yet effective methods on how to shrink a polyester hat.

But first of all, can you really shrink a polyester hat, and shrink it down to the perfect fit size?


Can You Shrink a Polyester Hat

Polyester hats require more special care than regular hats made from natural fibers.

The speciality comes due to the fact that it requires a special amount of heat,, if it’s a bit less it won’t shrink effectively, and if it’s way more than that level, it’ll be damaged instead of shrinking safely.

Therefore, always check your hat every 10 minutes whenever you’re shrinking them, to make sure the current heat level is shrinking it effectively, and not ruining it.

Every hat is made of different amounts of polyester, some are 100% polyester, others are 80% and 20% made of other fabric.

Therefore, before deciding to move forward with shrinking your hat, it’s always important to read its label to know this important piece of information before moving forward with shrinking.

Can You Shrink a Polyester Hat

How to Shrink a Polyester Hat

To shrink a polyester hat, first you need to put it in a garment bag to protect against potential ruining of the hat, then put it inside the washing machine, and choose warm/hot water and a full wash, then wait until the washing is done, then try your polyester hat and see if it fits.

Here’s a step by step on how to shrink a polyester hat:

1. Protect your hat by covering it in a garment bag so as to protect it against any potential damages that may occur during the step where you wash it inside the washing machine.

2. Put your hat among other similarly colored clothes to speed up the shrinking process, as the other pieces of clothes will create enough pressure on the hat to hasten the shrinking.

3. Select hot water settings on your washing machine to shrink your hat as much as possible, or select warm water to shrink it to half the size possible.

4. Turn on the washing machine and let it complete the full washing cycle.

5. Get your hat out and try it on once the washing machine has finished its cleaning cycle for the polyester hat.

6. If it fits the size you need, then well done, but if not, you’ll need to put the hat in the dryer for further shrinkage. Choose the settings explained on your hat’s label for further instructions.

Here’s a video that can help you with mastering how to shrink a polyester hat:


How to Shrink the Crown of a Polyester Hat

To shrink your polyester hat’s crown, you should prepare a pot with steaming hot water, add a tablespoon of laundry detergent that’s non-bleach, put your polyester hat inside the soapy pot of warm water and let it soak for 30-40 minutes. Rise the water off and try the polyester hat on to see if the crown has shrunk to the perfect size you need. If not, then use a hairdryer to increase the shrinkage afterward.

Here’s a step by step explanation on How to Shrink the Crown of a Polyester Hat:

1. Prepare a pot with hot water that’s steaming but not boiling, as we’ll soak the hat inside it.

2. Add a tablespoon of a non-bleach detergent or your regular dish soap to create a soapy reaction in the steaming water.

3. Soak your hat in the steaming soapy water for 30-40 minutes.

4. Remove the wet hat off the water afterward, and try it on.

5. If the hat fits well and the crown has shrunk to the size you’re looking for, then it’s a job well done.

6. If you need further shrinkage, you can use a hairdryer to help shrink the crown a little bit more, but make sure the hairdryer isn’t too close to the polyester fabrics, so as not to damage it unknowingly.

How to Shrink the Crown of a Polyester Hat

How to Shrink a Polyester New Era Hat

New era hats have been famous for quite some time already, they are modern, they are fit, and they provide a durable hat that is as stylish as other hats.

However, with constant use, even the most durable hats can become a bit loose, that’s why you should visit this guide to learn how to shrink a polyester new era hat.

Or watch this video that’ll help you out too.


To Wrap Up

Mastering how to shrink a Polyester hat isn’t easy, but it’s as helpful as you’d love it to be, especially if you have not one or two hats, but a collection of good looking ones.

We provided you with a couple of effective methods that you can use to shrink your polyester hats, choose the one that fits your cleaning or shrinking style.