10 March, 2022

Can I Wash My Favourite Baseball Cap?

We all have our favourite baseball cap we love to wear, but let's face it. A month into summer and all that sweat and dirt on the cap is starting to make it a little pongy. So the question is – can I wash my baseball cap? The short answer is yes, you can, but the long answer is below, as depending on the type of cap, there are several methods to try.

First and foremost, have a read of the label on the cap and see if it says whether it is machine washable or not. For the majority of baseball caps, the answer will be no. This is mainly because the inner part of your peak that keeps it stiff is made from cardboard. If it goes in a washing machine it will turn to pulp. You will find the majority need to be washed by hand, but don’t despair. It’s fairly easy to do and will only take u about 30 minutes of your time, which is a good trade-off to get your favourite cap clean and smelling good.

There are 5 steps you need to go through when washing a baseball cap

1) Mix The Ingredients: Grab a bowl and fill it with cold water. Do not use hot water as the colours of the cap may run. Add some mild detergent, or if you do not have this a gentle shampoo is just as effective.

2) Gently Scrub: Using a soft brush, toothbrush or sponge, gently scrub your cap. Don’t scrub too hard as you may mark the cap, especially with materials such as suede.

3) Colour Safe Bleach: Only for white caps, if the stains don’t come out using bleach, but make sure it says it is colour safe or non-chlorine. Spray a little on the cap ad gently scrub.

4) Rinse: Just like when you washed it, when it comes to rinsing, only use cold water. Hot water is a big no.

5) Drying Your Cap: Do NOT put your cap into a dryer. If you want a sure fired way of wrecking your cap, a dryer is guaranteed to do this. Your cap needs to air dry. Put it on a clothesline or hat stand and let it dry naturally.

After washing the cap, the next is to try and get those sweat stains removed. Again, it is a simple process with great results.

1) Mix The Ingredients: Get 4 tablespoons of baking soda & mix it with a quarter cup of cool water.

2) Apply The Solution: Make sure you use gloves for this part. Get a toothbrush and apply the mixture to the stained area with a toothbrush.

3) Patience: Let the mixture sit for one hour.

4) Rinse: Just like when you washed it, when it comes to rinsing, only use cold water. Hot water is a big no.

5) Drying Your Cap: Pat it dry with a towel.

If the above doesn’t work, not all is lost. You can also try spraying it down with hydrogen peroxide or distilled vinegar. In theory, the acidity will break down any build-up. Besides the above, we’ve got too many possible issues. First is if you have a musty smell, especially after strenuous exercise. The best is to try sprinkling baking soda on the inside, leave it for 30 minutes and then shake it out.

The last is mold. We don’t want to ask how old the cap is for this to happen but try mixing lemon juice, salt and cold water in a bowl. Soak the hat in the water and then let it dry in the sun. The sun should kill many different types of mold spores. Try not to soak the peak, especially if it has a cardboard insert.

We can’t guarantee the above will work, but it will give you the best chance of keeping your favourite cap around for longer.

Reference:
https://www.qualitylogoproducts.com/promo-university/howto-wash-baseball-cap.htm

The Caps Only Team