Is It Possible To Shrink Polyester Hats?

When you wear your hat day after day… after day, several things can happen. It's likely to get dirty. It might get sweat stained, requiring a bit of pretreatment before washing. But even if you manage to keep your hat relatively clean, it may become loose from simply being worn so often. As with most pieces of clothing, hats tend to stretch out a little bit after being worn repeatedly. Let's say, for example, you have a hat made from polyester. You love that hat, and you wear it all the time. But lately, it's started to feel a little loose on your head. Oh no! What can you do?

Is it possible to shrink polyester hats? Let’s take a look at several methods through which you may be able to successfully shrink your polyester hats.

Take a Shower

We know it's not exactly a shower cap, but for the moment, it will be. Chances are, where shower taking is concerned, you don't need any pointers. You're simply going to plop the hat on your head and go ahead and wear it in the shower. Completely soak the crown, and allow it to stay wet at least five minutes. You don't have to, but you might want to consider washing your hat gently while you shower. Once you're dried off, so that it's not dripping wet, dab the hat carefully.

While the hat air dries, wear it on your head. This will make it fit more perfectly. The process can be sped up by using a hairdryer.

Hand Wash Your Hat

If a lot of shrinkage is not needed, you may consider a gentle hand wash. With hot water, fill the sink or a tub. Not boiling! Non-bleach detergent can be added – maybe a tablespoon. Swish around the mixture. Since the water is hot, either wear insulated gloves or use tongs to immerse the hat and let it sit for about half an hour.

Use running water to remove any suds. Excess water should be dabbed away with a clean towel. For a perfect fit, wear the hat on your head while you let it dry. For further shrinkage, try using a hairdryer.

Using the Washing Machine Method

This is faster than handwashing, but you have to be careful the hat doesn't get ruined. Consider using a garment bag to protect your hat. The detergent must be non-bleach. For the best shrinkage, use hot water, but warm water will suffice.

Once washed, throw the hat in the dryer at the medium setting – not hot – if a lot of shrinkage is necessary. Make sure to check it about every 10 minutes. Otherwise, wear the hat until it dries.

Polyester and More!

Hat Heaven carries hats in different materials and blends. Regardless of the material you're looking for, we have a vast array of choices involving sports logos, catchy sayings, cartoon character caps, camouflage hats for hunting, and much, much more. Don't look for your new baseball cap anywhere else until you check out our impressive inventory.