How many sweat-stained hats do you own?

[SoCalPutz]

My wife asked me the other day to clean out the closet and "get rid of those 50 nasty, sweat-stained hats in there."

As usual I agreed.  It made me wonder though how many other guys have collected a bunch hats or am I the only one?  I must go through a half dozen hats a year.

Does anyone have a line on a good hat that I won't go through like a sleeve of ProV 1's?

[Double Bogey]

I collect hats like most houses collect dust... but I have a white Callaway mesh flex fit hat which I have had for about 4 years.  It has been washed on the top rack of the dishwasher once and is still in good shape.  It has not stretched out and  still wears great.  And the best part is that it does not stink.

[newtogolf]

If they get too sweat stained or dirty to clean they get tossed out which doesn't take much since the lighter colors show dirt and sweat more easily and I usually avoid the darket colors on hot days as they cause my head to bake.

[jamo]

When my hats start looking like they took a dip in the Dead Sea, I wash them. They make these plastic hat holders (they look like a plastic wire outline of a hat) that let you wash them in the dishwasher. Yes, the dishwasher, not the washing machine. You run them through a cycle and let the hat air dry for a day or two (depending on the temperature, they can dry in a few hours on a hot, sunny day). Usually they come out as good as new.

[Gioguy21]

my baseball coach in college (word for word): "it takes no talent to keep a clean hat, clean jersey or clean pants...not expecting you to wash your sh*t like martha stewart, just make sure you're not slobs." lol this was in regards to our practice gear since our game jersey's and whatnot were washed by our equipment coordinator....either way...just keep it clean and you won't have to worry about how many you have to count that are dirty ;)

[dhanson]

for some reason i've kept just about every hat i've had since i was 8. most of them just sit in the closet in 2 rubbermaid boxes. i've noticed some hats won't wash up. i have a dark blue titleist hat that somehow turned a maroonish color underneath the titleist logo, and then the white lettering turned blue. the dish washer didn't touch any of that color bleeding. when it's 102*, i usually just wear that hat.

[iacas]

I have a hard time throwing out hats I won't wear again.

But this thread might just make me do that... tomorrow.

Maybe. :-)

[Shanker]

LOL...I just cleaned out my hat collection last weekend...

[boogielicious]

What I do is take the hat in the shower and rinse it with water and let hang to dry.  If it need a little scrubbing, then I use a sponge.  Cotton hats will shrink, but if the hats are synthetic or have some wool, then they will look like new.  I sweat a lot, so I clean them at least once a week.

[Kieran123]

I have 2 white Nike One hats that are stained up. I out them in the dishwasher on the cup rack and they came out clean, but sorta out of shape.

I have 3 baseball hats that are dark blue that I now wear all the time that don't show staining as much. I also have a white Puma hat that will go the way of the stain eventually

My forehead has its own gravitational pull - so finding hats that fit is like finding sense in OPIRIPS posts.

[KYHook]

I recently chucked all of my sweat stained hats (some from '77).  My wife bought me a new golf hat just for guys with short or no hair. It really wicks the sweat away.  No more drips on my glasses when I putt. You can throw it in the wash.  Comes out like new.  I even wear it when I mow the grass.

[glock35ipsc]

Originally Posted by jamo

They make these plastic hat holders (they look like a plastic wire outline of a hat) that let you wash them in the dishwasher. Yes, the dishwasher, not the washing machine. You run them through a cycle and let the hat air dry for a day or two (depending on the temperature, they can dry in a few hours on a hot, sunny day). Usually they come out as good as new.

That what I do too.  If it's sunny and warm out, I'll set it out on the deck in the sun to dry.

[lville lefty]

Best hats on the market now are machine washable.  No need for frames or the dishwasher strategy.  checkout 4headwear hats - machine washable, super moisture wicking.  SoCalPutz, buy one of these  and you won't miss those hats your wife made you throw away.

[lumpuckeroo]

I wash my hats in the dishwasher, that helps some, but doesn't get them perfectly clean.  Also, I just bought a hat at Dick's, an Adidas hat that I wore for 3 days of 90+ temperatures and 50%+ humidity and no sweat stains.  I couldn't find the hat anywhere on the internet but looked similar to this running hat.

http://www.shopadidas.com/product/index.jsp?productId=11160757&kwCatId;=&cid;=Q06310&shopGroup;=R

[Pope33]

Do you guys add soap in the dishwasher when you wash them? I have before and it gets them clean, but the next time I start sweating in my washed hat, it feels really greasy and my head will start breaking out.

[TourSpoon]

I live and play golf in South Florida...all my hats get sweaty. I usually rinse them, but will try the dishwasher method. I have had moderate success with the clothes washer and then just stuff them with newspaper and let them air dry. They never are quite the same.

[glock35ipsc]

Originally Posted by TourSpoon

I have had moderate success with the clothes washer and then just stuff them with newspaper and let them air dry. They never are quite the same.

I use to drape a towel over a coffee can then pull the hat over it, then it set out in the sun.  They always kept their shape that way.

[Stretch]

The best hat I ever found was a Srixon cap with some kind of activated charcoal lining that just magically ate up sweat. It was like new after dozens of rounds here in the summer time. Then my son "borrowed" it and that was all she wrote. Never seen it again in the stores or online. Sadness.