First few minutes
Just happened? Do this first
- Brush off any loose residue.
- Rinse under cold running water. Higher pressure helps.
- Don't let it dry into the fabric.
- Blot rather than rub.
Sunscreen on a hat leaves an oily mark, and some formulas add an orange, rust-colored one from avobenzone reacting with iron in hard water. How you treat it depends on the cap itself, since structured caps, wool blends and cardboard visors need gentler handling than a plain cotton cap. Synthetic fabrics hold the orange part more than cotton, so expect that mark to be the slowest to fade.
Getting sunscreen stains out of a hat begins with a prewash stain remover spray or stick, tried on a hidden spot first. Soaking can warp a structured cap or a wool blend, so keep the moisture to the stain itself. If the orange still shows after a couple of gentle rounds, an enzyme laundry pretreater is worth trying before you call in a cleaner.
Before you start
What hats & caps can take
Use with care5
- Water
- Soaking
- Enzyme cleaners
- Acids (vinegar, lemon)
- Scrubbing and abrasives
Avoid3
- Hot water
- Chlorine bleach
- Heat, once the stain is out
5 items
What you'll need
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- Liquid hand dishwashing detergentLifts the oily part of the stain in the soak. (opens Amazon)
- White vinegarGoes into the soak. Use white only, since colored vinegar can leave a stain. (opens Amazon)
- Commercial pre-wash soil and stain removerTreats what the soak leaves behind. (opens Amazon)
- Soft-bristled brushBrushes off residue without snagging knit yarn. (opens Amazon)
- Clean white clothSponges and blots the stain without spreading it. (opens Amazon)
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6 steps
Step by step
Step 1 of 6
Brush off and rinse the cap
Brush off any dry residue lightly with a soft-bristled brush, working from the edge of the mark toward the middle. Then hold the stained area under cold running water, since higher pressure helps lift the oily film. Keep the stain wet so it doesn't dry into the fibers.
Step 2 of 615 minutes
Soak an unstructured cap
Mix 1 quart of lukewarm water, 1/2 teaspoon of liquid hand dishwashing detergent, and 1 tablespoon of white vinegar. Soak only unstructured caps in this solution for 15 minutes, with the stained area under the surface. If the cap is structured, skip the soak and go straight to the rinse-and-sponge step.
Careful. Never submerge a structured cap.
Step 3 of 6
Rinse and sponge with water
Rinse the cap with lukewarm or cool water, then sponge the stained area until the soap is gone. Blot rather than rub, so the mark doesn't work deeper into the weave.
Careful. Hot water can affect the dye on mesh caps.
Step 4 of 61 minute
Treat with a pre-wash remover
Apply a commercial pre-wash soil and stain remover directly to the stained area and let it stand for 1 minute. Rinse it out during the hand wash that follows, so none is left in the fibers.
Step 5 of 6
Hand wash the cap in cool water
Wash the cap by hand in cool water, using a damp cloth to work the remover out of the fibers. Rinse until the water runs clear and no soap or remover is left in the weave.
Careful. Never put structured caps, wool-blend caps or caps with cardboard visors in a washing machine.
Step 6 of 6
Air dry away from heat
Gently squeeze out the water without wringing, and reshape the cap while it's still damp. Lay it on a towel or rack to air dry, away from any heat source.
Careful. Heat sets the oily part, so keep the cap out of the dryer and away from hair dryers.
If you'd rather buy than mix
Best products for sunscreen on hats & caps
Choose a commercial pre-wash soil and stain remover, and read its label to confirm it suits your cap's fabric. Test it on an inconspicuous spot before using it on the stain.
Utopia Kitchen White Flour Sack Towels
How we picked these: each product is made for this type of stain, its maker doesn't warn against using it on hats & caps, and its directions fit the steps above.
Finished the steps? How does it look?
Nice work. Let it dry completely and check it again in good light. Here is what done looks like:
How to tell it's really gone →A faint mark usually needs one more round, not a stronger product.
If the stain was already dried or set, the method changes.
Old, dried or set-in stains →When to call a professional →How to tell it's working
A good result looks like a faint shadow that fades as the cap dries, with no dark edge left. Check the mark in good light once the cap is fully dry, since damp fabric can hide what's left. If it still shows clearly, the set-in option below is the next step.
What changes for yours
Adjust for your hats & caps
Structured caps
Structured caps keep their shape with a stiff front and brim, and a soak can warp that. Skip the vinegar soak entirely and sponge the mark with cool water and a damp cloth instead.
Use the pre-wash remover and a hand wash only if the cloth alone doesn't lift the mark. Air dry the cap on a rack so the front keeps its shape.
Mesh caps
Mesh caps have an open weave, so the mark can work deep into the holes. Use lukewarm or cool water for every rinse and wash, and sponge rather than scrub.
Air dry the cap flat so the mesh keeps its shape, and keep it away from heat.
Wool-blend caps
Wool-blend caps need the gentlest handling of any hat, so keep to cool water and light sponging. Hand wash only, and let the cap dry naturally.
If the cap holds a stiff shape, sponge the mark rather than soaking it.
Caps with cardboard visors
A cardboard visor can soften and warp when it gets wet, so this cap needs the most careful handling. Never put it in a machine, and keep the visor as dry as you can.
Sponge the stain with cool water and a damp cloth, then let the cap air dry with the visor facing up.
Knit beanies
Knit yarn snags easily, so brush gently with a soft-bristled brush and avoid scrubbing. Blot the mark instead of rubbing it, so the loops stay in place.
Hand wash in cool water, rinse well, and lay the beanie flat to dry away from heat.
Old, dried or set-in stains
An old sunscreen mark that survived a wash but was kept out of the dryer can still come out. Dab a little liquid dishwashing detergent onto the stain and leave it for 5 to 10 minutes.
Rinse it under cool water, then air dry the cap and check the mark in good light. If the cap went through a dryer, the heat has probably set the oily part, so expect a longer job and repeat the detergent dab once.
If a faint orange mark remains, stop there, because scrubbing harder wears the knit and fibers. Rust marks are harder to remove from synthetic caps than cotton ones, so a faint shadow can be the realistic result.
Vinegar, baking soda, peroxide and more
Do home remedies work on sunscreen on hats & caps?
Plenty of home remedies float around for sunscreen, but most don't suit a hat. The only ones in the steps are dish soap and white vinegar, and the rest are either skipped or ruled out.
Works2Skip3Avoid1
What makes it worse
Mistakes to avoid
Don't use chlorine bleach on the orange mark
Chlorine bleach sets rust and makes the mark worse. It must never be mixed with vinegar, which releases chlorine gas.
Don't use enzyme cleaners on wool caps
Enzyme cleaners and bleach are both off limits on wool caps. Stick to the cool-water methods above for any wool cap.
Don't use a rust remover without reading the label
Rust removers are strong acids, so use one only as the label says and wear heavy-duty rubber gloves. Never mix one with bleach.
Don't use a strong dish soap mix
A high concentration of dish soap can discolor some materials or strip natural oils. Keep to the mild mix in the soak.
When to call a professional
Professional cleaning isn't usually needed for this, so work through the steps first. If a structured cap still shows the mark afterward, a cleaner can help, but ask them to keep it out of the washer and dryer.
Questions
Will sunscreen stain a hat permanently?
Not usually, if you act while the stain is still fresh. The oily part lifts fairly easily, but heat or drying can set it, and the rust part can linger on synthetic caps.
Why did my sunscreen stain turn orange?
Some sunscreens contain avobenzone, which can react with iron in hard water and leave a rust-colored mark. That rust part is harder to remove than the oily part, especially on synthetic fabric.
Can I put a sunscreen-stained hat in the washing machine?
It's safer to hand wash. Structured caps, wool-blend caps and caps with cardboard visors should never go in the machine, so wash them by hand.
What if the stain is still there once the hat is dry?
Don't reach for anything harsher. Use the set-in option with a light detergent dab, and accept a faint mark if it's the best you can get.
Can I wear the hat once the stain is gone?
Yes, once the mark has faded and the cap is completely dry. Check it in good light first, because a mark can look different once the fabric is fully dry.
Should I test a cleaner on a hat first?
Yes, especially on a colored cap, since dyes can change under some cleaners. Try any product on a hidden spot, such as the inside of the brim, and wait for it to dry before you judge.
Sunscreen on other materials
Other stains on hats & caps
Start from the bigger picture
How we know this
Every method, amount and warning here comes from university extension services, industry bodies and product makers. We read them, check every step for unsafe combinations and changed amounts, and write it up so you can follow it.