How to Wash a Trucker Hat (Without Ruining It)

A good trucker hat earns its stains. Sweat from summer hikes, dust from back roads, a little sunscreen, maybe a splash of lake water. At some point, though, it needs a wash. The good news: cleaning a trucker hat is easy if you skip the washing machine and the dryer. Here's how we clean ours so they keep their shape for years.

Before you start: two quick checks

Check the brim. Most modern hats, trucker hats included, have a plastic insert in the brim that's fine to get wet. Some older or vintage caps use cardboard, which falls apart when soaked. Tap the brim: if it sounds hollow, or it bends easily and stays bent, assume it's cardboard and spot clean only.

Test for color. Dab a little of your cleaning solution on a hidden spot, like the inside of the back strap, and blot it with a white cloth. If color comes off, stick to plain water and a gentle spot clean.

What you'll need

A clean sink, bucket or dishpan
Mild detergent or dish soap
A soft brush (an old toothbrush works)
For deep cleaning: powdered OxiClean (or another color-safe oxygen bleach), Borax and baking soda
A clean towel
Something round to dry it on: a bowl, a coffee can or a rolled-up towel

Option 1: Spot clean (5 minutes)

Good for light dirt and a quick refresh between deep cleans.

Mix a few drops of dish soap into a bowl of cool or warm water.
Dip your soft brush and gently scrub dirty areas, working in small circles. Spend the most time on the sweatband inside the front of the hat, where most of the grime lives.
Go easy around the patch and any embroidery so you don't fray the stitching.
Wipe away the suds with a damp cloth, then let the hat air dry (see drying below).

Option 2: Deep clean soak (about an hour)

For sweat stains, ring-around-the-sweatband and a full season of adventures, this is our go-to soak. You'll find the short version on our Product Care page.

Fill a clean sink or bucket with warm water.
Stir in 1 tablespoon each of powdered OxiClean, Borax and baking soda until dissolved.
Submerge the hat and let it soak for about an hour. Check on it, and give the sweatband a gentle scrub with your brush. Very stained or light-colored hats can soak a little longer.
Rinse thoroughly under cool, clean water until no soap remains.

Skip chlorine bleach. It can fade colored fabric and leave yellow spots on white hats. Color-safe oxygen bleach like OxiClean does the job without the risk.

How to dry a trucker hat

Gently press the hat between the folds of a clean towel to soak up excess water. Don't wring or twist it, and don't fold the brim.
Reshape the front panels and the curve of the brim with your hands.
Set the hat over a bowl, coffee can or rolled-up towel so the crown keeps its shape while it dries.
Let it air dry completely, out of direct sun and away from heaters. This usually takes about a day.

Mistakes that ruin hats

The dryer. High heat and tumbling can warp the brim, shrink the crown and crack the front.
The dishwasher. You'll see this hack online, but the heat and harsh detergents are tough on fabric, patches and colors.
Folding or bending the brim while it's wet. It will dry that way.
Chlorine bleach on colored hats.
Soaking a leather patch. Leather and water don't mix. On a hat like our Leather Patch Trucker Hat, spot clean the fabric and sweatband only, and keep soap and water off the patch. A little patina on leather is part of the charm.

How often should you wash your hat?

There's no set schedule. If you wear your hat for workouts, hikes or hot days, a quick spot clean every few weeks keeps sweat from setting in. Save the deep soak for when stains show up or the hat starts to smell. The less often you soak it, the longer it will keep its shape and color.

Ready for a fresh one?

Sometimes a hat has had its run. Our best-selling TriPine Patch Trucker Hat and the rest of our trucker hats are built to take a beating and come back clean. Every order plants three trees.

Got a question about caring for your TriPine gear? Reach out, we're happy to help.