How to wash a cap: in a washing machine, at home, so that the cap keeps its shape

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Every fan of stylish hats who does not want to part with their favorite accessory should know how to wash a cap and baseball cap. Although caps are less likely to get dirty than clothing, they should also be cleaned from time to time to remove stains of dirt, sweat and grease. Many fashionistas had to say goodbye to a branded baseball cap that was damaged after an unsuccessful attempt to remove dirt. And this happened not because the cleaning process is very complicated, but because the owner did not know how to do it correctly.

This condition of a man's favorite headdress is familiar to many

An article from our company’s specialists will tell you how to wash a baseball cap and how to clean the cap so that they can delight you with their original appearance for a long time.

Is it possible to wash the cap?

The first logical question: is it even possible to revive your favorite headdress? The answer is yes! But you need to follow a few useful recommendations.

Don't rush to get rid of your favorite headdress, because it can still be revived.

Among the primary sources of fabric contamination:

city dust (so-called everyday dirt);
accident (fell on the floor, became contaminated in some other way);
complex contaminants: glue, paint (should be considered separately, since the use of auxiliary cleaning agents is indispensable).

The reasons for a cap getting dirty can be different.
Each type of pollution has its own method of getting rid of pollution. The more complex the stain (affected area of fabric), the more sophisticated the method of eliminating it will be.

The method of removing dirt depends on its origin.

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.

Rules for washing headwear

Before choosing between hand washing or machine washing, you need to pay attention to the manufacturer's recommendations (they are displayed on the tag). So, fabric can be the main material. But the visor (base) is often plastic. In this case, it is quite acceptable to place the baseball cap in the washing machine.

Some visors are made of plastic.

But in some cases, the visor is made of cardboard, over which fabric is used. This will significantly complicate the washing procedure. Therefore, how to wash a cap with a visor is determined by what material it is made of. The main thing is not to wet the cardboard, because everyone has once observed how paper loses its physical properties when exposed to moisture.

If the visor is made of cardboard, it should not be wet.

Handwash

To maintain the natural look of your favorite cap, you need to follow some useful tips.

There are several rules for hand washing.

For hand washing you will need:

container in which washing will be done;
warm water (not boiling water);
clothes brush;
Toothbrush;
hand washing powder or grated laundry soap.

You can clean the visor using a toothbrush.
The procedure for cleaning the cap is as follows: wipe the visor with a dry brush. This will help get rid of dust. Dip the product in warm water, in which you have previously dissolved soap or hand washing powder.

First you need to wipe the visor with a dry brush.

RECOMMENDED! You can get rid of stains by following a simple rule: thoroughly dissolve soap or washing powder in warm water.

You can get rid of stains using soap or washing powder.
Without soaking the visor (if we are talking about cardboard, because plastic is not susceptible to moisture), dip the baseball cap in a previously prepared solution of water and powder/soap. To achieve maximum effect, the cap should be soaked in soapy water for at least 10 minutes.

The product must be immersed in a soap solution.

Then, by rubbing the cap fabric against each other, get rid of visible dirt. Some areas are often not visible: the inside of the baseball cap and the bottom of the visor.

Note! Rinse the item immediately after finishing washing. Leave to dry by placing a cap on a jar or other round object (this will help avoid deformation).

Mechanical wash

With the advent of washing machines, the life of housewives has become considerably simpler. But is it possible to wash a cap in a washing machine? Sometimes you can wash a baseball cap in a machine (first of all, pay attention to the label).

Is it possible to wash the cap in a machine? It is written on the label.

But the procedure in any case will differ from washing ordinary “unpretentious” things. For this:

set the “hand wash” mode (present on most modern models of washing machines);
avoid washing with other things (the headdress may lose its original shape);
turn off the spin function (it is better to let things dry naturally).

The cap must be washed by hand.

Important! Under no circumstances set the temperature in the washing machine above 30 degrees. Not every fabric is designed for high temperature washing.

The temperature should not be higher than 30 degrees.

Features of cleaning a cap

A cap is an exclusively male item of clothing. For many years it was a uniform in the armed and departmental forces of the state. Traditionally, only men were involved in cleaning it. Despite the fact that this model is made on a solid base and is equipped with a plastic visor, washing in a machine or dishwasher is not recommended. Professionals advise using a sponge or toothbrush with soft bristles for this. The process is as follows:

The cap is removed from visible dirt with a soft brush.
Prepare a solution of cool water with liquid soap or dishwashing detergent (2 tablespoons per 1 liter).
The sponge is moistened, wrung out and gently wiped over the fabric.
If not all contaminants are removed, then add another tablespoon of the product to the water and repeat the procedure. Continue this way until there are no greasy areas left.
The product is dried at room temperature in a dark, well-ventilated area.
As a rule, no additional ironing or starching is required.

This is interesting: now they are increasingly producing uniform caps with removable fabric covers. They are washed separately from the hard base, and once clean and dry they are put on the frame.

What not to do when washing a baseball cap

There are rules for washing caps with different types of visors: cardboard and plastic. And there are things that are absolutely not recommended to do.

Caps with different types of visors also wash differently. For example:

Do not use hot water. The nature of the fabric on a baseball cap does not (in most cases) require the use of hot water.
Most often, washing at 90 degrees can cause the fabric to fade.
Hot water can damage the visor. In this case, we are talking about plastic, because cardboard cannot be wetted even in cold water. Hot water on plastic will definitely cause it to lose its shape.
Do not hang dry on a clothes dryer. This causes the fabric to stretch and its appearance to deteriorate.

There are things you shouldn't do when washing a hat.
If you follow the recommendations regarding washing and drying a baseball cap, you can count on repeating the procedure many times.
Proper washing allows the product to maintain its original appearance for a long time.

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 of no more than 30 ᵒC.

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.

Rules for drying baseball caps

Not everyone has a mannequin at home, on which, by placing a cap, you can dry it as efficiently as possible and without the threat of losing its shape. One common method for drying a baseball cap is to use a regular glass jar.

You can dry your baseball cap on a mannequin or in a glass jar.

An alternative is to dry it on a clothesline. But it is not a clothespin that should serve as a retainer, but paper clips (in at least two places). When it comes to washing and then drying baseball caps decorated with stickers/tags, here are some guidelines to follow:

Apply tape to the surface of the labels. This will help avoid deformation and loss of aesthetic appearance.
An alternative to scotch tape can be an ordinary bag. It can be secured to the visor using paper clips.
If possible, avoid soaking the visor in water.

Stickers and labels must be covered with tape.

Remember! Original models of caps withstand washing and drying best. Unlike analogues, they are resistant to fading and deformation.

The original models are the most resistant to processing.

Original version

One of the most original ways to wash a baseball cap is the dishwasher. Since the mechanism is designed to wash breakable plates, the process is gentle. Most of the time the machine washes using steam and drops of detergent. For this reason, a cap can be cleaned in such a device even from the most difficult stains. All you need to do is place the product on top of the machine, add your regular dishwashing detergent and turn it on. In the device, water traditionally begins to flow from the bottom, so the washing process will be neat and delicate.

The cap is dishwasher safe

How to get back into shape after washing

Loss of shape is the result of improper washing. But not all is lost, because the shape of the product can be restored. This can be done using an ordinary jar (if you did not do this when drying).

The lost shape can be easily restored.

The most effective option is to wear a cap around the house. Those. After washing, you can simply put on the hat. A few hours are enough not only to restore its original appearance, but also to allow the product to dry naturally.

You can return the product to its original appearance simply by putting it on yourself and wearing it around the house.

Leather

Leather baseball caps are very popular. They look stylish with a sports dress or pants. Just don't wash leather caps. Only manual processing is possible.

What you can do:

Take laundry soap, rub and beat into foam. Apply foam to the product, carefully brush with a soft brush for clothes. Remove any remaining dirt with a damp cloth and wipe dry.
Rub the headdress with onion juice. This will return it to its former brightness. Cut the onion in half and rub all surfaces of the cap.
Then rinse your headdress with lemon juice. Soak a flannel cloth in it and go over the baseball cap. Lemon juice will remove the onion smell.
Dry away from sunlight. Skin does not like ultraviolet radiation.

After washing the cap this way, it will be as good as new. And in the sun it will sparkle.

Caring for a Leather Baseball Cap

For more than one season in the CIS, men and women have been choosing leather caps. Their feature is several layers: outer and inner. The latter can be wool or made of artificial materials.

The leather cap consists of two layers.

To maintain the appearance, you will need:

Follow storage rules. Leather products can last for many years. But you shouldn’t hang it by the clasp in the closet. It is best to place the headdress on the top shelf so that it does not change its shape.
Use cosmetics. Now there are plenty of them: glosses, creams, wax. Careful care will allow you to wear your cap for ten seasons!
Take the time to place the leather cap on the can. This will help maintain its shape.

You need to take care of your leather baseball cap according to the rules.
By following basic recommendations, your leather hat will retain its original appearance for many years.

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.

General cap care

Any thing that is designed for more than one season needs care. The headdress is no exception. We looked at the rules for washing, drying, and caring for leather baseball caps. Now is the time to pay attention to general recommendations for caring for your favorite cap.

For a cap to last a long time, you need to take care of it.

So, some of them:

You cannot wait until obvious traces of dirt appear on the cap; it is best to eliminate them in the first stages;
follow the rules for storing products;
Follow the washing instructions shown on the label.

It is better to remove contaminants as soon as they first appear.
All this will help the product last a long time. You don't have to spend money on purchasing a new headdress.

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.