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Baseball caps have become a mainstay of street culture and can be seen worn for both fashion and functional purposes. However, they stain easily and improper washing can ruin the structure and feel of the cap. With 15 years in the streetwear accessories industry and having served customers in over 65 countries and regions, and coupled with ISO9001 textile care standards, these cleaning tips address the care needs of street fashion and will help your baseball cap look great.
Cleaning baseball caps safely involves understanding the specific materials and care requirements of each cap
Care requirements are consistent with ISO9001 textile care guidelines. The most common materials used are cotton, polyester, and mesh. Cotton is soft, sweat absorbent, and prone to shrinking/fading. Cotton CAN withstand mild alkaline detergents and soft scrubbing. Polyester is tough, and durable, and dries quickly. Washing polyester materials should NEVER exceed 45 degrees celsius. Strong alkaline cleaners should also be avoided as they quicken the aging of polyester. The mesh in trucker caps is very prone to fraying/loosening and therefore requires light brushing/soaking to avoid loosened mesh and stitching. 15 years of manufacturing and talking to customers has shown that the biggest reason hats are damaged is due to not understanding the materials that each hat is made of, resulting in cotton caps shrinking and polyester brims cracking.
The Safe Core Method of Hat Washing
Cleaning a hat with soap and water is one of the best ways to maintain its shape, especially with a button and fitted hat. Optimal hand washing involves using water less than 30 degrees Celsius, along with a soap that is mild and neutral. Mix the soap with a bit of water, and then start to wash the sweatband, which is the dirtiest part of a hat. Dip a soft brush in the water, and then gently scrub the area in a circular motion. Because of the build up of sweat over time, the area can harden and become discolored. For the brim and crown (the top part of the hat) do not scrub it aggressively; lightly wipe the area, and then rinse everything off under the tap to clear all suds. When done rinsing, try to remove the excess water without wringing it, as this can become damaging to the internal structure of the hat and can warp the brim. This method has been done by customers all over the world, and many participants have been able to keep the hats structure after a lot of washing.
Hat Washing Protective Measures
Last-minute washing is always an option, and can be done by taking specific measures for washing unstructured, soft-crown baseball hats only. Place the hat in a laundry bag and wash it in the gentle cycle with cold water and a small amount of detergent. Do NOT wash the hat with jeans or towels, as they will cause pilling and loss of shape. Once the washing cycle is complete, take the hat out of the bag immediately and follow the drying steps for hand washing. Manufacturing fabric tests show that washing hats in machines without any protective measures cause 80% of the shape loss of the hat. Hot water cycles cause cotton and poly-cotton blends to fade and shrink permanently.
Best Practices for Drying and Shaping Your Hats
Once cleaning has been completed, drying begins, and it is possibly the most important part of the entire procedure. Every expert in the textile care industry warns against direct sunlight, tumble drying, and hanging baseball hats. Direct sunlight will weaken the shaping material in the brim of the cap and cause the fabric colors to fade. Tumble drying will melt the foam or plastic in the brim, and hanging will cause the crown and sweatband to stretch because of gravity. A proper drying method is to stuff the crown of the hat with a clean dry towel, so it will keep it’s shape. Then smooth the brim to it’s original position, and lay the hat flat in a cool, well ventilated part of the area to air dry for a full 24 to 48 hours. Global customers have provided annual feedback, and it has been a well refined method for years, customers living in humid areas have reported placing the hat by a fan (not a heater) drys the hat faster.
Cleaning and Stain Treatment
Routine light cleaning and stain treatment saves you from full washes, prolonging the life of your hat and saving you from buying a new one. To treat a fresh stain, make a baking soda paste (baking soda and a few droplets of water), let it sit for about 10 minutes, and baking soda will do the trick. Epic hack for removing and cleaning dust and pet hair is to use sticky tape (masking tape, or packing tape work very well), and just dab the hat. For very soft and clean oil stains, just use a dish soap and water mixture, smear it on the stain and brush it out, and rinse with cold water. Most important daily maintenance is to never place your hat anywhere wet or dirty... because it will seep into the fabric and leave permanent marks. It is very important to do all of the above to make the accessory more cost effective, and just three minutes of your time to prolong the lifespan significantly and to keep your hat looking fresh, perfectly matching all of the bold styles of street culture.
In street culture, baseball caps are not just a fashion accessory. The main rule is to understand the material of the hat, gently clean the hat, and air dry the hat while shaping it. These techniques not only help keep the baseball cap clean and structured, but also make it a lasting accessory for your street style, and help it maintain practicality while being known for its bold appearance in street fashion.
