The hat you wear in your daily routine or sports activities will get dirty anyway. Washing your hat in washing machines will ruin its shape. Thus, washing it in a dishwasher is a good option for sure. But, you should know the proper process of washing a hat in the dishwasher. If you don’t know how to clean your hat in a dishwasher properly, you may ruin it.
Things you will need
- A dishwasher
- Dishwasher detergent (should not contain bleach)
- Stain removal (optional)
- A hat frame or adjustable straps
- Cloth pins or clips
Steps included in washing a hat in the dishwasher
You can wash your hat in the dishwasher quickly by following the given easy steps.
1. Spot Cleaning
If your hat has any stains, you should go for a pre-treatment. Take your laundry stain removal for this purpose. Soak your hat in warm water and apply stain removal over it. Follow the instructions on stain removal for how long you will have to wait after using it. After the mentioned time, remove the stain removal and rinse the hat with warm water.
You can also use dishwashing liquid if you don’t have commercial stain removal. Apply a few drops of dishwashing liquid to the stain. Use a soft scrub brush or an old cloth for scrubbing. Wait for 30 minutes, and then rinse away.
2. Putting the Hat in the Dishwasher
It is better to put the hat in the plastic hat frame. It helps keep the hat in the correct position during the washing cycle. Secure your hat by using the cloth pins or clips from falling in the dishwasher.
You can also use adjustable straps if you don’t have a hat frame. It’s mandatory to secure your hat in place because it will easily fall during the washing cycle. So, using hat frames or adjustable straps will keep your hat secure.
3. Add Detergent
Now add a suitable detergent to your dishwasher. But make sure that your detergent doesn’t contain any bleach. It should also be free from citric acid. Both citric acid and bleach will damage your hat’s fabric. You can use any good powder or liquid detergent for hat cleaning. Besides this, dishwasher tablets or pods can also be used. You don’t have to add any rinsing aid.
4. Select a Dishwashing Cycle
Now it’s time to select the wash cycle. Use a warm cycle but avoid using hot water. If you use hot water, it will damage the plastic of your hat. Carefully turn off the heated dry cycle. This cycle could also ruin your hat. So, please turn it off also. But if your dishwasher lacks a warm cycle, you have to wash your hat manually.
5. Drying
After completing the washing cycle, you have to dry your hat. Put your hat on a drying rack for this purpose. Let it leave overnight to air dry. After drying, you can stuff it with a paper towel or a newspaper. If your hat is flimsy, you should put it over an upturned bowl to dry.
Washing your hats in the dishwasher is completely safe, but you have to wash them in the correct way. Always put your hat in the plastic frame in the dishwasher and use a good bleach-free detergent for cleaning. Also, you should avoid using hot water to keep your hat’s fabric secure.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. Is it safe to wash the hat in the dishwasher?
Yes, it’s completely safe to wash your hat in a dishwasher. You have to use a good bleach-free detergent and place your rat in the dishwasher’s rack securely. Use a plastic hat frame to retain its shape and run a normal wash cycle for its cleaning.
2. Which cycle is to select for washing hats in the dishwasher?
Always choose a warm cycle to wash hats in the dishwasher. Remember, you don’t have to use hot water for hat washing because it will damage the plastic present inside the hat.
3. What are the best dishwasher detergents for hats?
For pre-treatments and stain removals, liquid detergents are best to use. You can use any powder or liquid detergents for washing hats without bleach and citric acid. Other than this, dishwashing tablets and pods are also safe to use for hats, but they must not contain bleach.