Get sweat stains out of hats

It has happened to all of us! Suddenly your favorite golf hat is not what it used to be. The sweat stains look too embarrassing to even think of wearing it.

Maybe what comes to mind is pitching it or tucking it away somewhere to remind you of some good golfing days. Before you give up on your prized golf hat, you should know there are ways to get rid of those stains.

Before we proceed with the tips and tricks on how to remove sweat stains from your hats, let’s make sure you realize where they come from. You see, these are nothing more than salty dried sweat that makes darker hats particularly vulnerable.

Those of you who sweat profoundly will find this article useful as we’re not only going to discuss how to remove the yellow sweat stains, but we’ll discuss how to prevent them from happening.

How to remove sweat stains from a hat

1. Hat sweat liner

They say prevention is better than treatment, so instead of dealing with tough sweat stains, make sure they don’t appear. The NoSweat Golf Hat Sweat Liner could help you deal with excessive perspiration by absorbing the sweat into it instead of allowing your hat to absorb the moisture. 

Plus, it is incredibly easy to use it, you peel it and stick it inside any hat, lid, or cap. It wicks the sweat away and prevents the sweat from dripping down your eyes and face. 

2. Waterproof coating

Another preventive method to protect your golf hat from sweat stains is to use a waterproof coating. These sprays, such as Hat Saver, create a waterproof coating on the lid. This aerosol fabric protector prevents sweat, or any moisture, such as rain or even oil from penetrating the natural fabric.

Hat Saver works on all types of fabrics, including leather and straw, and allows the hat to breathe. However, not all comparable products can boast breathability, so make sure you choose the one that allows regular airflow. This is important because if your favorite baseball cap can’t breathe, you will retain more heat and actually sweat more.

3. Stain removers

If you didn’t use preventative measures and ended up having stains, then a high-quality stain remover will do the job efficiently. Take, for example Shout Advanced gel spray. It is a multifunctional stain remover that allows pre – treatment of the stain now and machine washing it later. 

Shout works on tough stains such as grass stains, oil stains, blood stains, coffee stains, and collar stains.  Plus, it’s simple to use!

4. Dishwasher method

If you haven’t tried your dishwasher for sweat stain removal, get yourself a cap washing cage NOW!  We love our Yeenor, and it’s suitable for caps of all sizes, including kids’ ones. (This is probably the most popular method to clean a sweat-stained hat, and it works miracles!)

Start by spraying the stains with stain remover, let it work for about five minutes, brush it gently with a toothbrush or scrub with a clean cloth, and then place the cap inside the cap cage. The cap cage retains the shape of your lid and prevents it from twisting.

If you keep wondering why the dishwasher, well, it will do the job equally well as the washing machine, but you’ll spare it from the spinning and drying process. Be sure to place your hat on the top rack away from the heating element and use your favorite non-bleach dishwashing detergent.

5. Use the washing machine

If the idea of the dishwasher didn’t appeal to you, or you don’t think it’ll work, then take advantage of the cap washing cage and clean your hat in the washing machine. Generally, a hat made of cotton, or a cotton and polyester blend are washing machine safe. Before you do, apply the same routine as with the dishwasher – spray-on stain remover, brush it gently and wait for a while. 

Choose a low spin, cold water washing cycle to retain the shape of your cap and to prevent shrinkage. Avoid using the dryer as it can damage your hat. Instead, let it dry on its own while still inside the washing cage so that it maintains its original shape. 

6. Handwashing

Although this method might look like your grandma’s advice, it is highly recommended if you are worried about damaging your cap’s structure. The most effective way to do this is to soak your golf cap in your kitchen sink and let the soapy water do the work. Before that, it is also a good idea to spray stain remover and brush it gently with a soft toothbrush. 

After the stains have been removed, rinse it thoroughly and let it air dry, preferably in a washing cap cage to keep its shape, or use a hair dryer.

7. Alternatives to soaps and detergents

There are various reasons why some golfers decide to use alternative methods to spot clean their yellow stains from their golf hats. Some hats can be made from delicate fabrics that easily damage or fade the color when using laundry detergent. Others can damage the logo or deform the hat. So before you start cleaning, read the washing instructions outlined on your hat’s care label.

Some alternative cleaning solutions to use include:

• White Vinegar: soak your hat in a  cleaning solution of vinegar and water overnight.  White vinegar is also great for spot treatment.  Apply diluted vinegar directly on the stain. Clean it gently in a circular scrubbing motion until the sweat and body oil stains disappear and then rinse it thoroughly.
• Baking Soda – Make a cleaning paste of baking soda and clean water.  Apply the baking soda paste to the stain. Add a few drops of vinegar and scrub with a clean soft-bristle toothbrush. Rinse the baking soda mixture completely with warm water to remove the baking soda residue.
• Lemon juice – Add tablespoon of salt, lemon juice and cool water to a bowl.  Let your cap soak until you see the tough stains disappear.  This is also the safest method for removing tough odors. Rinse thoroughly.

Conclusion

Seeing all those stains on your hat can cause frustration especially if the cap is new or if it is your favorite hat. Fortunately, these seven methods have been proven to work efficiently in getting rid of stubborn stains and extending the lifetime of your golf hats.