North America - Land of Baseball Caps Question

[Classic Finn]

Dear friends

Since North America is The Land of Baseball Caps - Well in my opinion anyway..

I thought Id ask a question concerning the cleaning of them..

I have a nice collection of Baseball Caps here at home and Ive got them hanging on the wall... Most of them are from the U.S.A. and Canada.

They are all very special to me and from use they have become dirty, salt stains from sweating and the list goes on..

Do you folks recommend washing them and what is the correct way if any?

Id like to do a major cleanup of them so they would look like new again.
But Im afraid to just whip them into the washer..

Can you assist?

Best wishes
Classic Finn

[sdtripper2]

Hi, Classic Finn

Not being an expert in hat cleaning but having one plastic frame called a Ball-Cap Buddy. Here are a couple of links for you to look at to help you in you cleaning decision.

Here is a link http://tinyurl.com/76b8h "How to wash a baseball cap".

You might try getting a Ball-Cap washer. A plastic frame that holds the shape of your hat while it is in the washing machine.

Here is and example of a Ball-Cap washer for you.> http://tinyurl.com/fk7af

Just Google Ball-Cap washer or Ball Cap Buddy as the prices vary.

It becomes obvious that to hold the shape of the hat while washing is important or you will have a matted wad of cloth if you just put a hat in the washing machine without a frame to hold its shape when it dries.

[Classic Finn]

Greetings Steve

Thank You for the Tips and info.. I,ll check this out..

Best regards

Classic Finn

[asianflava]

One that is special to me is a black cap that has "Mugen Power" on it. It is kind of like Honda's racing skunkworks. I given this cap by the parts manager of my local dealer. They campaigned a car which was driven by a local driver, Randy Pobst. Several years later he went on to win the North American Touring Car Champoinships (the defunct Us equivelant to DTM).

Anyway, one of my brother's friends decided to wear it and left mineral deposits all over it. We called him mineral boy after that.

A friend of mine who played college baseball told me that you can wash caps in the top rack of the dishwasher. It took two cycles but my cap finally came clean.

[bsandey]

I've never had a problem with just throwing in the washing machine with a load of other (similar color) clothes. I don't throw it in the drier, though. I just put it on a hanger to dry. I tried one of those "cages" to keep the shape of the hat, but didn't like it. It started shredding the inside of the washing machine (the plastic rim at the top of the drum).

The dishwashing idea is interesting. What kind of soap do you use? Do you put the cap in by itself, or run with a load of dishes?

[sdtripper2]

Bill:


On the Ball Cap Washer (Plastic Frame) there are two
sets of instructions for cleaning a Ball Cap as follows.
After putting the cap in the plastic frame.

(For extremely soiled caps, use pre-wash spray.)

Dishwasher:
A. Place in top rack.
B. Add dishwasher detergent.
C. Wash normal cycle.

Or

Washing Machine:
A. Place in washing machine.
B. Add laundry detergent.
C. Wash gentle cycle.

Good for wool caps too~
(For wool caps, use washing machine,
cold water, gentle cycle, with cold water detergent.)

[Ira]

If you're a true New York Yankee fan like me, you never wash them. You just get buried in them when you die.

However, you have to ask Tom what he does with his Red Sox hat, because maybe it's different for them. The Yankees have won more World Series than I can count, as opposed to the Sox, who haven't.

Oooops:

Did I forget to mention that once again, these two teams are now viciously battling to win the Eastern Division of the American League?

[Dean in Eureka, CA]

Ira,
I did a photo shoot at a local fair with Mickey Mantle many years ago...
He gave me three autographed baseballs and an autographed cap, signed it on the underside of the bill.
I donated two of the baseballs to local fundraising auctions, gave one to a friend and kept the baseball hat for myself.
My oldest brother stopped in for a visit from South Dakota and "borrowed" that hat... It's long gone now and he doesn't know what happened to it.

Heikki,
I've washed them in dishwashers before with that cage thing and it works pretty good...
Haven't done it in many years though... Just get new ones when they get dirty.

[Ira]

Ira,
I did a photo shoot at a local fair with Mickey Mantle many years ago...
He gave me three autographed baseballs and an autographed cap, signed it on the underside of the bill.

Wow!

I'm not up on the prices for this stuff, but I think many of Mantle's autographs fetch the BIG money. I also think it's particularly important if you can document where and when he signed it, and that autographs as an ACTIVE player, during certain seasons, are a lot more valuable than when the guy is retired.

In Mantle's case, it's kind of tragic:

He owned a restaurant in New York after he retired (I forget the name, Mickey's Place, Mantles, etc., but it was named after him). And basically, every other day in the Daily News or New York Post, there was yet another story about him doing something stupid, obnoxious or illegal while drunk. The guy really didn't age or live his post-pro life very graciously.

Anyway, he of course gave autographs to diners at the restaurant, which needless to say, aren't worth that much at all.

[JunkMan]

I always take my dirty/sweaty hats in the shower with me and hand wash them with regular bar soap. After rinsing them out good, I shake out as much water as possible, then stuff a dry towel in them to hold their shape, and set them on the vanity to dry. A little more work than the dishwasher, but I have had good results doing it this way.

[Classic Finn]

Hey there Folks and Good Morning..

I did the try of throwing them nicely into our dishwashing machine, of course with no dishes ... and also with no wife at home....
they came out clean other than the fact the ol sweaty salt stains didnt..

Any advice on them coming out? and what to use... The hats are clean and all in one piece holding the shape regardless..

The salt stains just turned color to a brownish sort of shade...


Classic Finn

[Joseph]

they came out clean other than the fact the ol sweaty salt stains didnt..
Any advice on them coming out? and what to use...

OxiClean

Joseph

[sdtripper2]

From this do it yourself thread on base ball caps read below, Please Finn. http://tinyurl.com/fcjj2

Quote for cleaning ball caps: "I would recommend the most in-evasive approach of soaking and scrubbing with soft brush. Because perspiration is organic, I might add a more modern solution of treating perspiration stains with an enzyme digester cleaner. Any body waste product is organic. You can use a pet mess cleaner from a pet store, Nature's Miracle or OdoBan from Sam's Club, or Out from Kmart/Walmart or other enzyme digester cleaner http://tinyurl.com/k4eys . The trick is to give the cleaner time to digest stains and deodorize."

Also while looking for your answer I found this link to many cleaning and stain solutions. = http://tinyurl.com/eejh3