How to clean a cotton cap?

[Buzz]

While I'd rather wear a wide brimmed panama hat, I tend to wear fitted, light colored, cotton baseball caps because they don't hit the door opening while getting in and out of the car. IOW, I'm kinda lazy in that regard. Therefore, my cotton baseball caps get a fair bit of wear, plus I've been a sweat hog forever (TMI), and the crease where the the brim hits the body of the cap(s) tends to get discolored from the dust at the baseball fields that Baby Buzz plays on being attracted to the sweat in said crease. I've tried soaking, brushing, spraying, etc. w/ various liquids, soaps, and solvents, and have yet to find a household remedy that really gets the job done right. The dirt/dust gets embedded in there, and just won't all come out... I know I'm missing something; so what's the trick for cleaning the hat, or is it a "hat trick" ?

Thanks,
Buzz
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[WHiiP]

1. http://www.tourstop.com/istar.asp?a=6&id=DCC001!20228


You need one of these and then you wash the hat in the top rack of the dishwasher. I used a couple of strong rubber bands to create and hold the curve of the bill.

2, Get a new hat.

3. start with #2 and use #1 as often as necessary!

[Jem]

I've got the same problem. Curious to see if someone has a tried and true solution. Will try Bill's dishwasher trick on one of my less "special" hats. :confused:

[iaJim]

I take my white caps into the shower with me. I scrub them with the bar of soap, and rinse them. Next, I put shampoo on the areas that are soiled, scrub and rinse. I hang it over the shower nozzle when I'm done showering. Works really well.

[DaviDC.]

I rub a bit of laundry detergent on the stains then throw mine in the washing machine.
I have a formerly navy blue Gap cap for over 20 years that's been washed countless times.

[Buzz]

The dishwasher thing, and even using it in the big commercial washer at the laundromat sorta works... but the caps never come out looking good enough to pass off as anything other than "it's been washed..." I've given up paying premium prices, and shop the clearance racks at Lids, so Bill's #2 has been the recurring solution. I'm still thinking there's gotta be some cleaner I haven't tried, that w/ the proper brush and rinse, will allow caps to lead a longer, fuller life. Mrs. Buzz bans the caps when they get too bad for her discriminating taste... which means most people still can't even see any discoloration, so I have to wear those when she's not around, to prolong the use of the newest caps when she is in town. Maybe I can get Baby Buzz and his classmates to create the proper cap cleaner for the world as a school science project...

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