How to Wash a Wool Hat Without Damaging It

Have you ever washed something made from wool and shrunk it to five times its original size? This mistake is all too easy to make, and it's almost like it needs to happen for you to understand the importance of careful washing.

If you've been holding off washing your wool hats because you're scared about causing irreversible damage, don't panic! There is a way to safely wash your hat, so you don't have to simply avoid washing it altogether.

Keep reading for a quick guide on how to wash a wool hat.

Why Washing Wool Hats Needs Extra Care

Wondering why wool can't take a whirl in your washing machine like the rest of your clothes? The main reason is that wool is a delicate material that reacts badly to heat, friction, and rough handling (basically everything it can expect to face during a standard wash cycle).

If you toss your wool hat in a washing machine, there's a good chance that it'll shrink, or at the very least lose its shape or get fuzzy. You might get away with putting it in a garment bag and washing it on a gentle cycle (such as one for delicate fabrics) with cold water, but you're still taking a risk by doing so.

That’s why it's best to learn how to hand-wash a wool hat, which will significantly reduce the likelihood of the wool fibers stretching or felting and help the hat keep its original shape.

Step-by-Step: How to Wash a Wool Hat

So, how do you clean a wool hat manually? You'll just need a sink, some mild detergent, and a cloth or soft-bristled brush.

Fill your sink with lukewarm water (not hot water) and add a small amount of non-bleach laundry detergent. Give the water a swirl to mix the detergent in, then pop the entire hat in the water and gently press it down to get it to soak evenly. Let it sit for about five minutes.

Ideally, this is all the cleaning your hat will need. But if necessary, you can use a soft brush or clean cloth to gently dab at any lingering dirt or sweat stains (don't rub!).

Once it's done soaking, carefully rinse the hat using clean lukewarm or cold water. Gently squeeze the hat to remove any excess water and place it on a clean surface. It might need another rinse to remove all the detergent.

Dos and Don’ts for Wool Hat Care

Here's a quick-fire list of dos and don'ts for washing and caring for your wool hat:

• DO use cool water to wash your hat, lukewarm at most. Letting the hat soak in hot water will cause the wool to shrink.

• DO use a mild, wool-safe detergent. Regular soap or laundry pods might be the easier option, but these can damage the fibers.

• DO gently press out the excess water using a towel.

• DON'T use a washing machine (or a dryer, for that matter). Machine washing is always a risk, and even the wool cycle can be too harsh.

• DON'T hang the hat up to dry while it's still wet. This can stretch the fabric and ruin the shape, so dry it on a flat surface instead.

• DON'T wring the hat, even if it feels heavy with water, as this could distort its shape.

By the way, these tips apply no matter what kind of wool hat you have (wool caps, baseball hats, beanies, etc.). Once you hand-wash a wool hat for the first time, you'll find it pretty easy to repeat the process whenever needed.

How to Dry and Reshape a Wool Hat

So what happens once you've washed your hat? Well, knowing how to wash a wool hat means knowing how to dry it properly, too. The way a wool hat dries is just as important as the washing process itself, and there are a few helpful tips you'll want to follow.

After you've pressed out the water with a clean towel, lay your clean wool hat flat on another dry towel in its natural shape. Leave it to air dry in a well-ventilated area that's away from direct sunlight or heat sources like radiators.

Flat air drying usually takes around 24 hours in total, so you'll need to wash your hat when you don't immediately plan to wear it!

And that's it—once your hat is dry, put it in a hat box or somewhere safe until you want to wear it.

Now you know how to safely clean a wool hat without damaging it, you might be keen to build your own hat collection with a few more unique styles. Check out our selection of premium baseball caps, available in a range of styles, here.