How To Wash A Bucket Hat (Everything You Should Know)

August 3, 2021
Greg Palmer
Blog

To wear or not to wear a bucket hat has never been a question. We love our bucket hats. They are for everyone and every season. Along with protecting you from the sun, they make sure you look the most fashionable anywhere you go. But, yeah, we know, there’s always a “but.” But ever thought about how to wash a bucket hat? It sits on your head for a long time, accumulating all the dirt and grime. So, you must know how to wash a bucket hat without ruining them!

It’s not an arduous task! If you are wearing your bucket hats around for most of the day, you can spend 1-2 hours to keep them clean. And we are here to make your lives easier by guiding you on how to wash your bucket hats in the best way possible.

Let’s get started!

Can You Wash Bucket Hats?

If you are a hat enthusiast and have a collection of hats, you’d know how easy it is to wash a bucket hat compared to any other hat. So, it’s a yes, YOU CAN WASH THEM.

What to Know Before Cleaning a Bucket Hat?

There are rules to everything we do, right? And washing your bucket hat is no exception. We know you are desperate to get them clean, but hey, you don’t want to ruin your bucket hats, do you? Below is a small checklist for you before you jump in to wash your bucket hats.

1. Know the Material

The most common kind of bucket hat is made of cotton or nylon. And we know these are the easy to wash. But with the popularity of bucket hats, they come in a variety of materials right now. You have faux fur, fleece, straw, knitted, etc. You name the fabric; you have a bucket hat!

The washing methods would always differ with material, so you need to understand what your bucket hat is made up of!

2. Read the Care Label

Care labels are like your hat’s bio. They’ll have the DO’s and DON’T’s of washing and cleaning your hats, and ignoring them can cost you your hat’s life.

3. Check for Color Bleed

Whether you choose to opt for a hand wash, machine wash, or any cleaning that involves water, it is important to do a spot test to check for colorfastness. It’s just a minute’s task!

Dip a clean cloth in a mild soap solution and scrub it on an inconspicuous area of the hat. If the cloth has any color on it, DO NOT proceed to wash on your own. Your hat is bleeding color, and you need to take it to a professional!

4. Dry Under the Sun? NO WAY

Direct sunlight can be your hat’s worst enemy; it’ll fade the color and damage the fabric. You should only air-dry your bucket hats.

How To Wash A Bucket Hat

How to Hand-Wash Bucket Hat?

You might not like getting your hands dirty, but trust us, handwashing is the safest method to get your bucket hats spotless. Let’s see how.

Materials Needed:

Stain Remover
Soft brush
Mild Laundry Detergent
Bucket, sink, or tub
Cool water

Instructions:

Step 1: Pre-treat the Stain

Many people often skip this step. But pre-treating is one of the most important things to do to get rid of any stains. Apply a small amount of stain remover on specific stain areas. The remover will help break down the dirt particles making it easier to remove them in the wash. Leave it for about 15 minutes.

Step 2: Scrub and Soak

Gently using a soft brush, work on the stains and soak them in a mixture of mild laundry detergent and water. Leave them in soap solution for another 20-25 minutes. You can keep it longer, depending on how stained your hat is.

Step 3: Work on the Stains Once More

With the same brush, work on the stained areas again to have no traces of any stain left. After scrubbing, submerge them in the water again for 5 minutes.

Step 4: Rinse the Hat

By this time, all the stains should have said goodbye to the hats, and you are good to rinse them using cold water. NEVER use hot water, especially for materials like cotton or wool that will shrink.

Step 5: Air-Dry the Hat

DO NOT TWIST OR WRING your hat. Find a spot with good air circulation and let the hat dry naturally. Keep away from direct sunlight.

How to Machine-Wash Bucket Hat?

Fabrics like cotton and nylon are super sturdy so that you can toss them in a machine without a second thought. But we’d always suggest you go through the care label and decide what’s good for your bucket hats!

Materials Needed:

Instructions:

Step 1: Pre-treat the Stains

Like we always say, pre-treating is the ultimate key to getting your hats cleaned up. Add a small amount of stain remover to specific stained areas and keep them for about 1-2 hours or more, depending on the stain. Once you see the stains dissolving or blurring, it’s a sign that your remover is working.

Pre-treating is more crucial for machine washing because your machines cannot get out stains from specific places.

Step 2: Put them in a Mesh Bag (optional)

If you are super worried about all the spinning and whirling that your hat might be subjected to in a machine, you can always keep them in a mesh bag before tossing them in a machine!

Step 3: Adjust Your Machine Controls

Set your machine to a delicate cycle and use ONLY cold water.

Step 4: Let your Bucket Hats Air-Dry

Once the cycle is over, either place your hat in a clean towel to remove all the excess dripping water and air-dry them in a well-ventilated area or directly air-dry them.

How to Get Sweat Stains Out of Bucket Hats?

One answer – Baking Soda and Vinegar mixture!

Sweat stains are gross; we know that! But can you avoid them? Only to an extent, that is, if you use accessories like sweat liners. But even then, your bucket hats are going to have these nasty stains no matter what you do.

But we have a solution for every hat problem, that’s our job. So right now, we will show you how ridiculously easy it is to remove sweat stains for your bucket hats.

Materials Needed:

Instructions:

Step 1: Apply the Baking soda paste

Mix 4 tbsp of baking soda with ½ cup of water. Apply this paste on the sweat stains, and using a soft-bristled brush, scrub these stains in a gentle, circular motion. Leave the paste on the hat for about an hour.

Step 2: Treat with Distilled White Vinegar

Spray a small amount of distilled white vinegar and gently scrub it onto the hat.

Step 3: Rinse and Dry

Once the sweat stains are removed, run the hat under cold water, do not twist or wring the hat. Let it air-dry.

Can you Wash Bucket Hats in the Dishwasher?

No. It’s simple logic, right? Dishwashers are meant to clean dishes and hence use hot water. Your hat fabrics will get damaged if you apply the same to your delicate hats.

How to Wash Dark Colored Bucket Hats with Other Clothes?

We understand that washing your hat alone is an expensive, energy-consuming process if it is getting machine washed. If you are washing your bucket hats with normal clothes, pick the same colored clothes to that of your hat.

If your bucket hat is black, but only black-colored clothes with it. Easy-peasy?

How Do You Clean a Cotton Bucket Hat?

As we said earlier, cotton material is very sturdy and can withstand both machine wash and handwashing. Once you have checked the care label, you can do either of the methods at your convenience.

Can You Wash Bucket Hat with Chin Strap?

YES. A lot of times, chin straps are made of strong materials like nylon. And hence you can easily wash your bucket hats with chin straps in the ways we have mentioned above.

How to Care for Bucket Hat?

1. DO NOT Leave Your Hat Out

Most of us take our hats for granted. Once we are back home, the first thing we do is toss them just about anywhere in the house. That’s the worst thing you can do to your hat.

Get a hatbox and keep your bucket hat in it. It is the best investment for your hats!

2. Say NO to Plastic Bags

If you can’t or do not own one, make sure you store them in breathable garment bags and not plastic. Plastic doesn’t allow any air movement, which will cause yellowing and mildew growth. So, it’s good for the hat and the environment!

3. DO NOT Crush Your Hats

We know you don’t crush your hats on purpose, but they might get distorted and lose their shape if you don’t keep them well. One thing our bucket hat is favored for is obviously its shape!

4. Use Hat Liners

If sweat is your ultimate enemy, you can always get hat liners. They act as a barrier between you and the hat.

Final Thoughts

Bucket hats are our friends for life – they protect you from the sun and save you from a bad hair day! But if you don’t find the time to keep them good and clean, you might end up spending money and this best friend. From can you wash bucket hats to how to wash them, we have covered everything that you need to know about them.

All you need to do is follow the rules, and you’ll be good to wear your favorite bucket hat for a lifetime!

How To Wash A Bucket Hat (Everything You Should Know)

Can You Wash Bucket Hats?