How to Wash a Hat in the Sink – The Right Way to Wash

You are probably here because it’s time to wash your hat, and you don’t know how to. Well, the good news is you are exactly where you are supposed to be because, after this article, you’ll be experts in washing hats and that too the easy way! We all have sinks in our house, that’s nothing new, but did you know you could wash hats in the sink? Hard to believe? We will prove it to you.

A sink and some soap are all you need to get those nasty stains out of your hat right away! So, take out your hats and caps and rush to your sinks. We’ve got some very serious washing to do!

Let’s get started?

Can You Wash a Hat in the Sink?

YES. We’re going to talk about it in detail in this whole article.

Washing hats in the sink is the easiest and most convenient way. With a bucket, you can get your hats and caps washed, but with the trouble of having to fill and empty the buckets all the time.

What to Know Before Cleaning a Hat in the Sink?

Washing your hats in the sink is all good, but before you jump into it, we need to tell you few tips that’ll make your job safe and easy. After all, we don’t want you to get your hats ruined. So, here’s our golden checklist.

1. Check the Care Label

Before anything, you must read your hat’s care label and make sure the hat is safe to be hand-washed. It will also have information on the material of your hat so that you can pick your detergent accordingly.

2. Prepare Your Sink

Because we wash our dirty dishes in the sink, chances are there might be some left-over food particles in it. If you want to wash your hats in a sink, ensure you clean your sinks first, or else the food particles will get stuck on your hat, making them dirtier than ever. 

Not just food particles, but the bacteria from food particles will remain in the sink and can get transferred onto your hats if the sinks aren’t cleaned properly.

Also, DO NOT FORGET to check if there is any clog in the drain. You don’t want your sink to be filled and overflowing with soapy water while washing the hats.

Additionally, if you have a sink drain stopper, make sure it’s released so that the water can drain out and not get hold up in the sink when washing the hats. Close the drains with a stopper only if you are planning to soak the hat.

3. NEVER USE Hot Water

Hot water is good to wash dirty dishes but not dirty caps and hats. It will damage the fabric. So always ensure that the water you use in the sink is lukewarm to cool and not hot.

4. Check Your Hat’s Brim

If your hat or cap has a cardboard brim or bill, we are sorry to tell you that you cannot hand-wash them in the sink. Cardboard brimmed hats will disintegrate if exposed to water. 

Your best bet to clean such hats and caps is a spot treatment or to seek professional help!

5. Check for Colorfastness of Hat

The last thing you’d want is to see your hats bleeding color onto the sink. Always do a spot test to check for the hat’s colorfastness.

How do you do a spot test? 

Dampen a clean white cloth and rub it gently on an inconspicuous area of your hat, like its underside. If you see any dye on the white cloth, it means your hat will bleed color, and you shouldn’t hand-wash the hat.

If the white cloth comes out clean, you are good to go with washing your hats in the sink.

6. REMOVE All Embellishments

Last but not least, before washing your hats in the sink, you’d want to remove all embellishments from your hat or cap, if any. Some hats and caps might come with sequins, beads, or buttons. 

If your sink doesn’t have a drain stopper, the chances are that the tiniest of decorative items can come off of the hat and get drained along with water. You’ll lose the decorative item as well as block the drain in this process.

How to Wash a Hat in the Sink?

How to Wash a Colored Hat in a Sink? 

Your biggest concern with washing a colored hat is to protect the color, of course. 

While the steps are similar to the one we explained above, the important thing about washing colored hats is to always check for colorfastness first. 

Secondly, if you plan to wash more than one hat together in the sink, make sure they’re all the same in color. In short, what we’re trying to say is that if you have a yellow hat, make sure all the other hats are also yellow or similar to yellow.

How to Wash a White Colored Hat in a Sink?

Washing white hats is an altogether different ball game. White hats are extremely prone to getting dirty very quickly. So, you’ve to be EXTRA EXTRA careful while washing them in the sink.

Ensure you wash your white hats with other white hats or light-colored hats and you can follow the same steps as mentioned in the previous section.

Read our complete guide if you want to know everything about washing white hats and caps.

What Size Should the Sink Be to Wash Hats?

When buying a sink, your priority is always to get the best one for your dishes. Washing hats is just an added benefit that a sink offers. Whether you have a single bowl sink or a double bowl sink, it doesn’t matter as long as there is enough space to put your hat. 

Any standard single-tub sink should do the job for you. These are approximately 22 inches wide, 33 inches long, and 10 inches deep. If you have a double bowl or a farmhouse sink, which measures between 33-36 inches long, you can wash more hats at a time! That’s the only difference.

Is It Okay to Put Detergent in the Sink to Wash the Hat? 

Yes. It is absolutely okay to put detergent in the sink to wash hats. Always make sure you use a mild detergent for washing hats or if there is a specific detergent meant for the particular hat fabric, use that.

But whenever you choose a detergent, make sure it’s safe for your sink as well. We don’t want any low-grade detergents to damage both the hat and the sink.

Final Thoughts

If you didn’t believe us the first time when we said you could wash hats in the sink, now you do, right? We hope that the question of how to wash a hat in the sink is no longer a troublesome one for you. Washing hats in the sink is the most convenient way to get them cleaned.

With washing your hats in the sink, there is no extra investment required, and what’s more, you save on your bills by giving a rest to your washing machines and dishwashers!