How to Wash Your UPF Sun Hat (Without Ruining It)

You wear this hat a lot. To the beach, on the boat, on every morning walk with your dog, and sunny days create sweaty conditions. So let's talk about how to actually keep your UPF Sun Hat clean.

The short answer: hand wash and spot clean whenever you can. That's what keeps the original shape of the brim, the structure of the crown, and the UPF 50 fabric performing the way it should. A washing machine is a last resort, not a habit. Here's exactly how to hand wash your hat and clean your hat in a washing machine if you must.

The Best Way: Hand Wash and Spot Clean

Your GoldenOur hat is made to be spot cleaned, not tossed in with the towels. A damp cloth, a little mild soap, and a light hand will take care of most everyday marks, sunscreen smudges, sand, salt water, the usual suspects of a life well lived outdoors.

Work in small circles on the area that needs it. Let it air dry fully before you wear it again or put it away. This is the gentlest option and it's the cleaning method we recommend.

For Sweat: A Hypochlorous Acid Spray

If sweat is the issue, a hypochlorous acid spray is a good option for freshening and disinfecting the inside band of the hat, where sweat tends to sit. We love the Tower 28 SOS spray.

One important step before you spray the whole hat: test it first. Spray a small, hidden area on the inside of the hat and let it sit for a few minutes. Check that the color and fabric look the same as before. Once you've confirmed it's fine, you can treat the rest of the sweat band with more confidence.

If You Must Wash Your Sun Hat in the Machine

Our label says hand wash only, and that's genuinely our recommendation. Machine washing is harder on the fabric, the shape of the brim, and the structure that makes this hat sit the way it does. But we know life happens, so if you're going to put it in the machine, here's how to do it with the least amount of damage.

Step 1- place the hat inside a mesh laundry bag: Place the hat inside a mesh laundry bag before it goes anywhere near the drum. This protects the brim from bending, catching, or losing its shape against the machine or other laundry.

Step 2- set the machine to hand wash or gentle cycle: Choose the delicate or hand wash cycle, and use cold water only. Set the spin to minimal or low. Hot water and a strong spin cycle are the two things most likely to warp the brim or fade the color, so this step matters.

Step 3- only air dry your hat: Never put your hat in the dryer! Instead, hang it to dry, ideally somewhere with sunlight and a bit of airflow, a porch, a balcony, a spot near an open window.

Here's the detail that makes the biggest difference: tie the chin strap so the hat hangs by the strap, letting the crown fall open naturally instead of folding in half. A hat that dries folded in half will hold that crease. A hat that dries hanging open, brim spread out, keeps its shape. If you have a towel bar or hook, that works well for this.

What Not to Do

A few things to avoid, plain and simple:

• Don't put your GoldenOur hat in the dryer, ever
• Don't fold the hat in half while it dries. It will hold that shape
• Don't skip the spot test before spraying hypochlorous acid on the hat
• Don't use hot water or a high spin cycle if you do end up machine washing

Treat your hat well and it'll keep showing up for wherever the sun finds you.