Always check for a label first. Most caps made in the last 10 to 15 years are a combination of cotton and polyester with a plastic brim. Some of these might be comprised of cotton twill or a jersey mesh, both of which tend to be durable and colorfast. Newer cap materials can better withstand temperature and agitation and plastic brims will hold their form. More care is needed for older caps because their wool fabric can shrink easily and their cardboard brims are easily corruptible. Always follow the manufacturer's cleaning directions stated on the label since, uh, they made it.
Before you clean a baseball cap, test for color fastness. Apply a small amount of mild detergent to a wet cloth. Rub this gently onto a non-visible spot on the inside rim. Rinse the spot with cool water and dab at it with a clean cloth. If there is a change in color or color transfer to the cloth, you may not want to risk fading the colors. Instead, try using cool or lukewarm water with a soft-bristle brush to get the problem spots. If there is no color transfer, the cap will be fine to use with this detergent and you may proceed.
Use a washing machine to clean a baseball cap. Often, the sweat and oils from your hair and scalp slightly stain the inside rim. If your cap passed the color fastness test, use a stain remover or an enzyme-based laundry spray on problem spots as a form of prewashing. Let the cap sit for a few minutes before simply adding it to like-colored laundry. To avoid damage and shrinkage to the cap, use a delicate cycle with warm or cool water.
Clean wool baseball caps by hand. If your wool cap is older, it will have a cardboard brim that could be weakened or dissolve if it gets too wet. Brush the cap first with a dry clean cloth. Then wash your Wooly gently with cool water (not the brim), a clean cloth, and, if necessary, a wool-designated detergent applied to the cloth. A soft-bristle brush for gentle washing is also helpful. Next, rinse out the cloth with cool water and use the cloth to rinse the cap clean. Afterwards, carefully use a towel to absorb some of the moisture from the cap.
Now let the clean baseball cap air dry.Do not use a clothes dryer! Some people use a wig holder for the drying process, but really, anything somewhat spherical should work fine. There are also plastic cap molds that work great and are not expensive. You may also use your own head as this object, given that your unique melon is what you want it to form to anyway. Wool caps especially will form to your head's exact circumference. But beware; there are few things that are as distracting as wet wool on your noggin.
Many people suggest cleaning baseball caps in a dishwasher. Dishwashers tend to be too hot and most dishwashing detergents contain bleach and other harsh chemicals. This combination would inevitably send your cap into early retirement. If you are intent on using a dishwasher, use a non-bleach detergent and place the cap on the top rack to avoid over-agitation. Never use the dishwasher's drying function—this could cause the ever-feared shrinkage.
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