How to clean a baseball cap (without ruining it)

A hat you love gets worn a lot. Coffee runs, long drives, sunny afternoons. So at some point it'll need a clean. The good news: a gentle hand clean is quick, and it keeps a hat looking good for years.

The short version

  • Spot clean with a damp cloth and a little mild soap.
  • Blot, don't scrub.
  • Air dry it in shape.
  • Never the washer, the dryer or the dishwasher.

Step by step

1. Brush it off first

Dust and crumbs come off with a soft clothes brush or a dry cloth. Often that's all a hat needs.

2. Spot clean the marks

Mix a drop of mild soap (gentle dish soap or a wool wash) into a bowl of cool water. Dip a soft cloth, wring it out well, and dab the mark. Work from the outside of the mark in, so it doesn't spread. Rinse the cloth in clean water and dab again to lift the soap.

3. Give the sweatband a little love

The band inside does the hardest work. Dab it with the same soapy cloth, then a clean damp one. A soft toothbrush helps along the seam.

4. Dry it in shape

Stuff the crown with a rolled-up towel, or rest it over a bowl or a coffee can, and let it air dry away from direct heat and sun. Keeping its shape while it dries is the secret to a hat that still looks right.

What to skip

  • The washing machine. It can crush the crown and bend the brim.
  • The dryer. Heat can shrink a hat and warp it for good.
  • The dishwasher. It's a popular tip, but hot water and harsh detergent are hard on any hat.
  • Bleach and strong cleaners. They can fade the color.
  • Soaking it. A good spot clean does the job without waterlogging anything.

Caring for an INTO hat

Every INTO hat is one big word in thick, raised chenille on a soft cream crown, with a vegan suede patch at the back. The same gentle routine works for all of it.

  • The chenille word: blot it, never rub. Once it's dry, a light brush with your fingers fluffs it right back up.
  • The cream crown: catch marks early with a damp cloth. Cream shows off, and a quick dab keeps it that way.
  • The vegan suede patch: keep it dry. Clean around it.

Treat it well and it'll keep getting asked about for a long time. Not sure it'll fit? Read how a baseball cap should fit.

Be proud of what you're into.

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