Even though a baseball cap is considered an accessory and not a piece of clothing, it does get dirty and needs to be cleaned.
But the difficulty lies in the original form, which must be preserved. And for this, the product must be washed correctly.
Read the article about whether and how to properly wash a cap or baseball cap in a washing machine and by hand without ruining it, and how to dry it so that it does not lose its shape.
Is it possible?
Before washing a baseball cap, check what material it is made of . There is information about this on the product label, which also indicates the basic care rules recommended by the manufacturer.
Then it becomes clear whether the baseball cap can be machine washed or not, at what temperature, etc. To check whether the fabric will fade after getting wet, run a damp, soapy sponge over an invisible area of the cap on the reverse side.
If after drying the paint has not lost its color, then the product can be washed without fear. If stains appear, wash only with clean cool water by hand or resort to dry cleaning.
You can machine wash it if:
- the visor of the cap is made of plastic that does not deform;
- the material from which the cap is made, cotton, denim or synthetics;
- There is a permission symbol on the tag.
Alignment
It happens that the cap may become wrinkled. The bend looks unsightly and causes discomfort when worn. Changing the situation is not difficult at all.
You will need a natural cloth or towel and water. The folds of the foam sponge should be thoroughly moistened with water. This will remove any remaining adhesive on the seams and soften them. They will become more pliable. Use your hands to place the cap in the correct position. Turn the product over and place a damp cloth in it for 40-60 minutes. Then leave the cap loose or on a mannequin until it dries.
Moistening with water from a spray bottle will help correct errors after drying. Wet material should be straightened out and placed on the frame to dry.
Handy cleaning tools
To effectively clean a baseball cap, you will need some available tools:
A special sticky roller for clothes or tape . With their help, dust and fine lint are removed from fabric. Only use caution when cleaning white fabric with tape, as it may leave adhesive marks.- Soft brush . An unnecessary toothbrush can be an alternative. They easily remove stains left by detergents.
- Compact sponge . Helps remove dirt during hand washing.
Step-by-step processing instructions
The washing technology is different depending on the method. But the rules for preparing the product are universal:
- Clean the outer surface of the product, including the visor, from visible dirt with a brush. Remaining lint, hairs and animal hair are removed using tape or an adhesive roller for clothing.
- If old stains are found, first treat them with any stain remover without chlorine.
Manually
Hand wash sequence:
- Fill the container with cool water. A slightly warm one is used when the cap is very dirty.
- Mix in a little detergent (any detergent that does not contain bleach will do) - 1 tbsp will be enough. l.
- First, wash the most contaminated areas using a brush (tooth or regular). Only the cap is not completely immersed in a soap solution, but locally dipped and the stains begin to scuff.
- Then the product is soaked and left to soak for several hours.
- After which the cap is thoroughly rinsed under warm running water.
- Remaining moisture is blotted with a clean towel. Under no circumstances should they be squeezed out in the usual way (twisting, squeezing).
To prevent the soap solution from damaging the sticker on the visor (if there is one), cover it with cling film in several layers by wrapping it.
In the washing machine
Basic conditions for machine washing , compliance with which will preserve the original appearance of the product:
set the delicate mode at a temperature of no more than 40 ᵒС (for natural fabrics) and within 30 ᵒС (from synthetics);- preference is given to children's washing powder or gels;
- do not use a lot of detergent, otherwise stains will remain on the fabric;
- turn off the spin function (for woolen products you can leave it on, but at minimum speed).
In the dishwasher - so as not to lose its original appearance
Another common and effective way to wash a baseball cap is in the dishwasher. Its advantage is that the product is fixed in one position, which eliminates its deformation.
How to proceed:
- Place the cap on the top tray of the dishwasher (where glasses are usually placed).
- Add a little dishwashing liquid.
- Launch the program.
A stream of water supplied from below will gently clean the headdress.
Wash in the dishwasher
An unusual, but more gentle option for washing caps. Due to the operating principle of the dishwasher, the baseball cap will lie in one place during cleaning, and not rotate, as in the washing drum. Since the initial position of the product will be preserved, it will not lose its shape.
To wash a cap using a dishwasher, place the item in the chamber, fill the machine with detergent, and select the water heating temperature. The cleaning process will be gentle and will not damage the cap. If it is not possible to deal with the stains in one cycle, then you need to treat the stains manually and run the dishwashing equipment again.
It would be ideal to place the baseball cap on the top shelf of the machine chamber intended for mugs and glasses.
The integrity of the visor will be ensured by gentle treatment of the headgear with jets of water. To protect the product from color loss, you can buy a special cap-shaped washing cover. Also, the bag will protect the baseball cap from being crushed and will not allow the visor to bend, therefore, having purchased a protective cover, you can try automatic washing.
Nuances for products made from different materials
The rules for caring for baseball caps vary depending on what material they are made from.
Felt
Felt head accessories should be washed carefully, without creasing or stretching . Particularly stubborn stains are first cleaned with a sponge soaked in soapy water, then wiped with a clean sponge. Only then rinse successively under warm and cold water.
Wool
Woolen items require careful washing. Prolonged contact with moisture can cause them to shrink or stretch.
To clean them, use products specifically designed for this type of fabric . To make the material soft, use conditioner. Wash only in warm water, at a temperature not exceeding 30°C.
If the baseball cap stretches slightly while being worn, then soak it in hot water before washing, then place it in cool water for 10 minutes.
It is unacceptable to wring out a woolen hat - it is placed on a horizontal surface and allowed to dry naturally.
Read about the rules for washing wool products in this article.
Fur
Fur caps are suitable for dry cleaning only. If possible, it is better to go to dry cleaning.
When cleaning yourself, it is recommended to use the following available means:
- salt;
- semolina;
- baby powder;
- soda.
Sprinkle any of these products onto the lint and begin to gently comb it out with a clothes brush. And automatic washing will inevitably lead to damage to the fur headdress.
If the cap is very greasy, it is permissible to soak the cap in a soapy solution, but for no more than 10 minutes. Then it is put on the jar and dried in the fresh air, protected from direct sunlight.
Read about how to properly wash fur and products made from it here.
Leather
Prolonged exposure to moisture is contraindicated for genuine leather products. This leads to the skin becoming rough, shriveled and deformed. Therefore, such caps cannot be washed.
Onions effectively cleanse the skin . It is necessary to cut the head in half and wipe the surface with the cut. As it darkens, remove a layer of onion and continue. Then the product is wiped with a flannel cloth.
Particularly stubborn stains can be removed with a solution of ammonia (take 1 tablespoon per 200 ml of water). And coffee grounds, which are placed in woolen fabric and processed (the method is not suitable for light and colored skin), will help restore the skin to its former shine.
A suede cap can be washed in a soap solution and then rinsed . To prevent it from drying out, immediately blot it with a terry cloth and lubricate it with glycerin.
This article will tell you how to wash leather and products made from it.
Leatherette
Leatherette caps do not need to be completely wet . You can dry clean individual, particularly dirty areas using a cotton pad and alcohol. Greasy areas are wiped with a damp cloth or treated with soda.
The lining is also cleaned without resorting to washing. Simply turn the product inside out and wash away the dirt with soapy water (Vanish does this well).
Then wipe the fabric several times with a sponge soaked in clean water and dry it with a dry terry towel. In the same form, the cap is hung out to dry.
If you intend to wash a faux leather baseball cap, water should not exceed 30 ᵒC. The machine is set to delicate mode. Drying and spinning are turned off. Leatherette caps cannot be soaked.
Synthetics
It is permissible to wash synthetic hats in water at a temperature of no more than 30 ᵒC . To avoid damage to the product, avoid aggressive detergents.
Read more about cleaning methods for synthetic products here.
Cotton/linen
Natural fabric is not afraid of automatic washing and temperature increases up to 40 ᵒC. Only this applies to caps with plastic visors. Then the delicate mode is set and the spin is turned off.
You can learn about the rules for washing cotton items here, and about cleaning linen items here.
Drying and beating the headdress
Some textile hats without a rigid frame do not require special drying. Water drains off the cap itself over time. When worn, the product itself takes the desired shape. If the headdress has a straight visor and has clear lines, you should use other drying methods:
- you need to find something that resembles a head: a 3-liter jar, a small pan or a ball;
- put a washed baseball cap on what you could find and leave it to dry completely.
Another option for drying your cap is to stuff it tightly with crumpled newspapers. The process is labor-intensive, but the baseball caps are guaranteed not to lose their required shape. Newsprint also absorbs moisture faster.
The right approach will allow you to understand how to wash a baseball cap and cap so that they form part of a fashionable look for a long time. Regular simple care of the item will allow you not to resort to cleaning for a long time. If the washing methods are chosen correctly, the cap will look like new for a long time.
What should you not do when washing a baseball cap?
When washing baseball caps, the following actions are prohibited:
use a lot of detergent;- use bleaching agents for colored and black products;
- take too hot water;
- use regular washing powders;
- spin the product in the washing machine at high speed;
- rub and twist the material vigorously.
How to remove stains without ruining the item?
Ways to help deal with stains without subsequently washing the baseball cap:
- Traces of sweat can be eliminated with hydrogen peroxide. Apply it to dirty areas and leave for a couple of hours. Then remove the remains with a damp cloth. But this option is not suitable for colored material, since it will most likely fade.
- Mix salt with soda and add water until a paste is obtained. This composition is applied to the stains and rubbed with a soft brush. A mixture of only one salt does an excellent job of removing traces of grass, various drinks, food, and others.
- Several aspirin tablets are crushed to a powder and a little water is added. It is worth noting that this method will not help with old stains.
- Stubborn stains on white baseball caps can be easily removed with a mixture of acetic and citric acid. To do this, combine the ingredients in equal proportions and add 1 part of water. Apply the product to the stain.
Removing stains
As a rule, it is usually not necessary to completely wash the entire baseball cap; the corners and edges of the visor and the inner fabric are most often soiled. In this case, it will be enough to spot remove the stains. But we must not forget about the delicacy and properties of deformation:
- a baseball cap made of denim or cotton can be washed without fear of ruining the item: such material is not deformed;
- Persistent stains on light-colored fabrics can be washed with oxygen bleaches, but be careful with stain removers containing chlorine! Yellow spots or streaks may remain;
- Laundry soap will effectively remove almost any stain from colored, light and dark materials. The main task is to remove excess soap to avoid streaks;
- Kitchen dishwashing liquid, ammonia and soda slurry work well for greasy stains or traces of sweat;
- Makeup stains can be easily removed with alcohol wipes or a water-based makeup remover;
- Caps made from delicate fabrics must be cleaned exclusively using a dry method.
How to get back into shape after washing?
To ensure that the baseball cap does not lose its shape after washing, you need to stretch it over a jar or balloon.
There are several other options that you might want to consider:
- use a steamer or hold a cap over the spout of a boiling kettle;
- During drying, fill the baseball cap with clean crumpled paper, and press down the visor with something heavy so that it does not bend.
Read about how to iron a cap or baseball cap after washing here.
How to dry it properly?
Regardless of the material of the cap, it should not be twisted or compressed after washing. Excess moisture is removed by blotting with a towel (terry or waffle).
If the outfit is light-colored, then use only a white towel. After this, pull the cap onto a suitable frame (can, children's ball, balloon). As already mentioned, you can push paper inside.
You cannot dry your headdress on a radiator or with a hairdryer, only in natural conditions.
You will find maximum useful information about washing clothes and various fabric products here.
