Trucker hat offers a great protection against sun’s rage on hot summer days. However, its daily use makes it dirty and sweaty which places the need for a regular cleaning routine. The bad news about trucker hat care is that you can’t simply throw it in the washing machine. The washer can distort the hat’s form and make the embroidery fray. But worry less, as there are other ways you can wash your hat in a few easy steps. Read on to learn how to wash a trucker hat.
Light dirt removal
The cleaning method will depend on how dirty the hat is. Removing the light dirt is easier and less time-consuming. There are a few easy steps to follow to ensure your trucker hat is as clean as new. Please note that the cleaning methods presented in this article will only refer to hand-washing. You may be in a big trouble if you decide to throw your trucker hat in the laundry, so we invite you to err on the side of caution and safety.
Heat and spin cycle are the main threats your hat is exposed to when machine-washed. They can warp and discolor your fancy headgear while reducing its durability and lifespan. In case of an extremely stubborn stain, you can defy the recommendations and use a washer cycle, but be very careful. Never use hot water, warm water or high spin cycle. Go for low and delicate cycle to minimize the fabric damage.
Step 1. Soak the hat
First of all, fill the sink with lukewarm water. Make sure the sink is clean before you run it with water. Refrain from using hot water as it can severely affect the shape of your headwear. Add a small quantity of laundry detergent to the sink. Then, take the hat and submerge it, moving it back and forth to allow it soak well and create suds. Let the hat soak for 15 minutes. This is the optimal time for the insignificant stains to come off.
Step 2. Rinse the hat
Rinsing has an important role in cleaning the trucker hat as it helps remove some remaining traces of the most resistant grime. Drain the sink water. Remove the hat and place it under cold running water. Don’t be afraid to use a powerful jet to force the last particles of dirt out of the fabric. After the deep rinse, squeeze the hat gently to drive the excess moisture out. Keep yourself from vigurous squeezing as it can deform the hat’s shape.
Step 3. Dry the hat
The last step is drying. Even if you need the hat dry right now, do not resort to artificial heat devices, like hair dryer. It’s just a sure way to shortening the lifespan of your trucker hat and making it less appealing. Use a towel to pat dry the hat. Once the towel has absorbed as much moisture as possible, allow the hat air dry. You are best off putting the hat to dry on a round container so that it doesn’t lose its shape.
If getting your hair slightly wet is not a problem for you, you can put the hat on your head while drying. This will make it take your head shape and eventually make your experience of wearing the trucker hat more comfortable.
Tough dirt removal
Even if your hat never gets seriously stained, it’s good to know how to wash a trucker hat affected by tough grime. Here is how you do it.
Step 1. Dip the hat in cool water
First things first, put protective gloves on your hands, as you will have to deal with bleach and scrubbing. Fill a small tub with cool water and add color-safe oxygen bleach according to instructions. Then dip the hat in the bleachy water.
Step 2. Scrub clean
Dillute some laundry detergent in a bowl and apply it on the areas of the hat where embedded dirt is found. Take a toothbrush and scrub the spot until the stain gets out. Alternatively, you can dip first the brush in the detergent solution, then proceed with scrubbing. Make yourself work with the brush gently and carefully.
Excessive gentleness is not recommended as there is high risk of the tough spot remaining in place. Some vigor and pressure are welcome, just don’t overdo. A too violent rubbing can damage the embroidery of the hat and cause the headwear to fray.
Step 3. Soak the hat
Drain the bleachy water and fill the sink or tub with cold tap water. Add some drops of detergent, squish it with your hands to make suds, then add the hat. Let it soak for 2-3 hours. This length of time is enough for the detergent to penetrate the fabric fully and lift any stubborn particle of dirt.
Step 4. Rinse and dry
Once the stains have gone out, remove the hat and rinse it under a cold jet of water. Make sure all detergent is rinsed off the fabric. Then, gently sqeeze the hat to rid it of excess moisture. When it comes to drying, pat the hat with a towel, afterwards put the hat on a container that imitates your head shape and let it air dry.
You may hang the headgear on a clothing line as well, but as it fully dries, it can adopt an unnatural shape that creates you a little discomfort while wearing it. Keep in mind that natural drying is the only safe way of drying a trucker hat. Do not attempt to use the clothes dryer or hair dryer as they can make the headwear fabric upset.
To sum up
This article explains how to wash a trucker hat without damaging it. To keep the hat’s fabric safe during the cleaning session, wash it only by hand. Luckily, if using proper products and techniques, hand-washing proves highly effective at removing dirt from a trucker hat. Make sure you choose the quickwash or the hardwash method depeding on how dirty the hat is. For that, inspect your headwear in the first place to understand which guideline of two available to follow.
