How To Remove Stains From Your Hat

How To Remove Stains From Your Hat

An in-depth tutorial on how to remove even the most stubborn stains from your hat.

Whether it’s sweat or general dirt and grime, stains are a common issue that every hat wearer encounters. You’ve probably tried a handful of techniques with varying success. We’ll show you a few simple, foolproof ways to remove stains from your hat without ruining it.

Stain Prevention

They old adage says an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. In other words, the best way to get stains out of your hat is to prevent stains in the first place. So to start, we recommend treating your hat with a waterproofer. These sprays will repel liquids and prevent dirt from getting deep down into the fibers of your hat.

Surface Stains

The best way to remove surface stains is to use a soft bristle brush. Brushing removes lint, dust and other loose dirt. We always start with a brush because a towel or washcloth can push debris deeper into the fibers of the hat, making things worse.

Moderate Stains

For more significant stains, start with brushing to remove the surface level crud. Next use cold water and a washcloth or toothbrush, scrubbing lightly to try and remove the stain. It might take a little patience, but make sure that you are taking care not to scrub too hard and damage your hat.

Deep Stains

If you haven’t caught on yet, removing stains from your hat is a progressive process. If brushing and using a washcloth or toothbrush didn’t work, you’ve got yourself a stubborn stain. Time to step things up a level. Dissolve liquid or powdered detergent in cold water and use a toothbrush to gently scrub the stain. Carefully rinse the area after and let air dry.


Keeping your hat stain free requires a bit of tender love and care, but it doesn’t have to be difficult. Remember to start with a spray on protector so that stains are less likely. If you do get stains, follow the progressive steps above to ensure you get the best results. Once you’re cleaned your hat, hit it with another dose of waterproof spray to get the most mileage out of your elbow grease.