Can You Tumble Dry A Baseball Hat? (is it safe or will it damage it)

You should never tumble dry a baseball hat unless you want it to shrink or become damaged.

The heat and tumbling action of a tumble dryer can distort the hat’s shape, make it shrink and damage the bill (peak).

The safest way to wash a baseball hat is to hand wash it in warm water as long as it has a plastic bill.

If it has a cardboard or stiff paper bill, you should never wash it ,only spot clean it.

What The Tumble Dryer Symbols Mean On A Baseball Hat

There should only be one symbol relating to tumble dryers that you’ll ever find on a baseball hat which is the square with white circle and a black x on top which is used to indicate that the hat should not be tumble dried.

Below we have included all of the symbols related to tumble dryers which are used on UK care labels for your information.

• Square With A White Circle ; This is the symbol used to indicate that you can tumble dry this item. You will never find this symbol on a baseball hat.
• Square With A White Circle, One Black Dot In Circle; This indicates you can dry on a low heat setting. You’ll never find this symbol on a baseball hat.
• Square With A White Circle, Two Black Dots In Circle; This indicates you can dry a medium heat setting. You will never find this on a baseball hat.
• Square With A White Circle, Three Black Dots In Circle; You can dry on a high heat setting. You will definitely never find this symbol on a baseball hat.
• Square With Black Circle; You can dry on the no heat setting. You should never be tempted to dry your baseball hat on this setting as the tumbling motion could damage your hat.
• Square With White Circle And A Black X On Top; Do not tumble dry. This will most likely be the symbol found on all baseball hats.

How To Dry A Baseball Hat Without A Tumble Dryer

You should never tumble dry a baseball hat, to do so could seriously damage your baseball hat. There is really only one recommended way to dry a baseball cap which you will find below. We have also included two hacks to speed up the drying time on your hat.

Air Dry Your Baseball Hat

The recommended and best way to dry a baseball hat is to air dry it. This should be done by placing the baseball hat over an upturned bowl, small saucepan, jug or other head-shaped object.

This will ensure that your baseball hat maintains its shape as it dries and help to prevent distortion and shrinkage.

Speed Up The Drying Process Using An Electric Fan

If you direct an electric fan towards the drying baseball cap the cool air will simulate a gentle breeze. This will help to speed up the drying process.

Especially if you have a window open to allow adequate airflow.

For recommendations on the top bladeless fans you can buy right now, check out this page.

Achieve A Faster Drying Time Using A Dehumidifier

If you place a dehumidifier in the same room as your drying baseball hat you can reduce the drying time. This is because the dehumidifier will remove excess moisture from the room.

This allows the baseball cap to release moisture at a faster rate. Which will result in it drying faster.

What Happens If You Tumble Dry A Baseball Hat?

The wash care label will give you all of the information you need to ensure your baseball hat lasts for many years.

If you decide to go against the advice on the care label you can expect;

Your Baseball Hat To Shrink

If you subject a baseball hat to high temperatures it is likely to shrink. This is because high heat can cause the fibres of the fabric used to make your baseball hat to shorten.

This shortening of the fibres will cause your hat to shrink.  This shrinkage is often permanent. So unless you want to give your favourite baseball hat to your baby, you should keep it away from the tumble dryer.

The Baseball Hat Will Distort

As the shrinkage caused by heat in a tumble dryer is unregulated, it can cause the hat to become distorted and lose its shape.

This could result in the hat never fitting you correctly again.

The Bill Could Become Damaged

Due to the rough tumbling action of a tumble dryer, the bill or peak of your baseball hat could become damaged.

It could bend out of shape or in some cases it could snap completely.

Frequently Asked Questions