Hints For Cleaning Your Baseball Cap

How to Wash Baseball Caps

There are three basic concerns when washing caps:

1. Washing will change the shape of caps. 2. Washing will wreck the brim on caps. 3. Shrinkage - it's NOT funny when it comes to your favorite cap.

Before you wash a cap you need to get to know it a little better.

To start with, have a look at the little tag (usually on the inside edge) that tells all about what your cap is made of and what the manufacturers instructions are for washing the cap. If the tag is still there and you can read it that's great. Now you have some of the information you need to go ahead and wash your cap safely, without shrinking it or wrecking the brim.

But if your caps tag is gone or unreadable, or if you have some really old caps that never had a tag (pre 1983), then extra care is required when cleaning. See CLEANING OLDER CAPS below.

CLEANING NEWER BASEBALL CAPS

Cotton, wool or jersey, what are your hats made of?

*Cotton twill is strong and durable and has that "cotton" look to it - the older it is the better it looks. *Cotton polyester blends are tough, bright and usually color fast. *Jersey mesh is a durable, colorfast knit that is easy to wash. *Wool is warm but can shrink in water and/or heat situations - see CLEANING WOOL BASEBALL CAPS below.

Lets say that you have a fairly new cap made out of cotton, a cotton blend or jersey knit. Washing them should not be a problem. Most caps today use a plastic form to shape the brim, not cardboard. The plastic can withstand a wash with no deformation.

So if your caps have been made in the last ten years and are made out of one of the above materials (except wool), just spray any dirty areas with a pre-wash spray (Pre-treat the liner or headband with a enzyme based laundry pre-spray before washing) and simply toss them in to the clothes washer with the rest of your clothes (similar colors, cold water wash if possible, warm if you have to, hot - no way! ALSO NO BLEACH)

If you want to hedge your bets and be extra careful you can get one of those plastic forms for caps, strap your hat into it and then throw it into the washing machine. After the wash let your cap air dry. Couldn't be simpler.NEVER PUT YOUR CAP IN A CLOTHES DRYER!

Using Dishwashers? You may run across information that infers it is OK to wash your cap in the dishwasher.

(Including "I have also seen a cap frame which you can purchase for the dishwasher which holds the hat in place for washing in the dishwasher - again removing after the wash cycle and air dry." OR "To clean baseball caps without destroying their shape, place them on the top rack of the dishwasher and run through a complete cycle.")

This is not recommended. Dishwashers are for dishes, clothes washers are for clothes. When was the last time you ate a meal out of one of your baseball caps?

If you have a reason to doubt whether your older caps have a plastic brim and if you would be devastated if anything happened to them then err on the side of caution, see CLEANING OLDER CAPS next.

CLEANING OLDER BASEBALL CAPS

"How to clean your older caps without actually washing them."

First do a colorfast test, take a wet washcloth with a little mild detergent and a little 'Spray and Wash' on it and rub it gently on a hidden spot on your caps inner rim. Rinse by rubbing with a clean wet cloth and air dry.

If there is no change to the color then go ahead and clean the dirtiest part of your older hats, the headband, using the washcloth and detergent.

After you have sufficiently cleaned the headband of sweat stains and soil, rinse the washcloth with clear water and once again wash down the headband, cleaning up any leftover soap. Air dry and your caps will be ready to go again. Some sweat stains remain but at least the caps will be cleaner with no risk to the brim.

CLEANING WOOL CAPS (with plastic brims)

Hand wash in the sink with cool water and a mild laundry detergent meant for wool.

Be gentle with your wool cap, if you scrub, rub or twist you'll cause the natural wool fibers to matte together and you will end up with a felted cap that is a couple of sizes too small for you. Rinse well in cool water, roll gently in a towel to remove most of the water then reshape your cap and allow it to air dry over a coffee can or some other head shaped object.

If you dry your wool cap on your head, it will shrink precisely to the size and shape of your noggin.

We hope this has been useful for you.