Cleaning Baseball Caps Part 2 - Deep Clean

Several methods for cleaning your caps, including suggestions for removing stains, dirt and grease from the exterior and interior. Also offers a technique for detailed cleaning of embroidered logos.
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[@aaronrodriguez550]

Love your videos and love your channel! Always nice to watch a true aficionado of ball caps.

[@dreinthe616]

Cool, man - I really appreciate the comment!

[@SlumRonnie]

I just came across your channel & it has been a life saver for me since I wear a 59fifty every single day! Thanks for sharing your knowledge!

[@dreinthe616]

Right on, that is great to hear - welcome and thank you!

[@travmasters4231]

Great vid, keep em' comin', I really do appreciate the time that u take out of ur day to share ur collection and knowledge

[@TatyanaHallMusic]

Thank you so much for making this video! It was very helpful, concise and informative.

[@dreinthe616]

You are welcome, thanks for the great feedback!

[@medicinauds6789]

thank u Mr. Dre. Great video!

[@dreinthe616]

Of course, thanks for the comment!

[@norizo0114]

I really like your videos. I have started applying some of your techniques to my hats, including the shaping-up of new ones with a hat jack and steam. Since I really like the way that you keep your hats in good shape, I wonder how you store them. If you can show your techniques in this respect in the new video, I love to learn them!

[@dreinthe616]

Sure thing, I will add that to my list. Thank you for watching, I'm glad you have been learning from my videos!

[@Viper8828]

i like skinny plastic bins (like the size that are made to go under ur bed) pretty perfect size for caps, also have the plastic containers that stack ontop of each other or they have carrying cases that fit multiple hats in them.

[@10.11.9]

Informative vid. Too bad these demonstrations weren't available when I was submerging my fitted caps in Woolite then air-drying them. And all while feeling proud doing so. 😐

[@dreinthe616]

Thanks for the (entertaining) comment, I'm glad this might help you out.

[@ijoey1998]

@@dreinthe616 what would you suggest for a 100% cotton nfl snap back cap where the brim is sweat stained and the emblem has a little dirt and i’m cleaning the cap fully

[@MrTrainREX]

This dude is great. Go Phillies

[@compassion100]

Great video! Would you recommend dish soap over laundry detergent? Or is it too soapy and concentrated ?

[@dreinthe616]

I've had the best luck with dish soap, provided that you just add a little bit of it to water to get some suds going. I've never tried laundry detergent before (ironically, since a cap is like clothing!) Thanks!

[@Cap7597]

About to order a Retro Braves hat. I usually order a 7 1/4 in poly. These fit just right when I get them. But after a year, I do have to stretch these out with a hat jack. Should I get a 7 3/8 in the 100% wool retro hats? Do you buy what the new era size chart recommends?

[@dreinthe616]

I would usually go for your normal size, even in the Retro Classic or other wool caps. I have found that wool actually retains shape over time better than the poly caps, unless the wool cap gets a lot of heat and moisture, and dries unsupported. It seems that I frequently have to refresh my poly caps with a stretch every 6 months or so. So I would get the 7-1/4 if that's your natural size. It's a lot easier to stretch than shrink, and I think the wool is probably going to perform just fine for you. Thanks!

[@Cap7597]

dre in the 616 Thanks. I’ve been trying to find something about this in the forums. My fear was getting too big and shrinking to size, then having a lot of left over fabric on top to deal with.

[@austinkhalili2562]

The hat DR. Back at it again. Always enjoy watching your videos espicially when you use astros hats lol. The hat you had i probably wouldnt care about the dirt so much as i do the logo not being centered. Having the H and the star behind it has to be centered with the visor. I cant tell you how many times i go to a lids store and the logo is completely off centered.

[@dreinthe616]

Totally agree, although I seem to catch that problem on Cardinals caps in particular - maybe it's the S, t, and L all together that make it very visible when they are misaligned. I've noticed a lot of my caps also have the visor slightly angled to the body of the cap. Not noticeable when you have it on, but usually if it's sitting on a surface you can see it. Thanks again for your support!

[@mmendonca07]

Thank you so much for your videos. Your enthusiasm for your collection has inspired me to start my own collection as well. Now a quick question... I occasionally get sweat stains to bleed into the brim a little bit. Given you prefer not to get the brim wet ever, how do you suggest I clean those? Many thanks again!

[@dreinthe616]

Hey, I really appreciate the praise, thank you. On your question... I can't remember if I put it in my part 1 or part 2 video for cleaning, but I'd recommend some sort of wet wipe - either Wet Ones, Lysol or Clorox (some viewers have commented that the Clorox wipes don't affect the color at all). It's ok to get the visor a little wet with a wipe, I just recommend avoiding getting it 'soaked' by submerging it. If you rub those stains with a wipe then let it air dry you should be good to go.

[@victorhilario8535]

Nice video

[@TRAGICbliss]

Doug, do some reviews of those vintage reproduction Ebbets Field Flannels, Ideal Cap Company or Stockbridge Sewing Works caps!

[@dreinthe616]

Good suggestion, as I have not tried any of those yet. Thanks!

[@why-why-whywhywhy]

Jeff Mayfield - Hi there, my friend. Until now I had never heard of the *Ideal Hat Company* so thanks for making me (us) aware of it. However I went and ‘Googled’ it after watching this video & for some reason am not able to view any of the hats they have for sale. Now there is a damn good chance that ‘I’ do not where to look, but if not, might you have any ideas? Thanks, in advance. Cheers !!!

[@TRAGICbliss]

Sure, try www.idealcapco.com/ or www.stockbridgesewingworks.com/

[@AJSmith-lt5yc]

Love the vids man! Great work! Have you ever tried to remove excess glue from a hat after removing a patch?

[@dreinthe616]

Thanks, man - appreciate it! Unfortunately I’ve never had to remove adhesive like that - I don’t have any recommendation to release it. If it’s something like a hot melt adhesive, those can get pretty well embedded. For surface adhesives I’ve used Goo Gone, but never on fabric like a cap.

[@wrestlingMachine28]

Doug, what do you recommend on wrinkles on a hat not too noticeable

[@dreinthe616]

If they're in the body of the cap (not the visor), I would stuff something in the crown like I show in this video, then hit it with some steam over a teapot. The heat and moisture will usually will relax the fabric enough to allow any creases/wrinkles to fade away, but you'll want to make sure it is supported by something like a towel or old t-shirt, to keep a smooth form under it. Good luck!

[@jhalent93]

a god among hats

[@Carnie74]

Give Simple Green a try. The stuff is AMAZING!

[@dreinthe616]

Hey, I've heard that too, I know some people that swear by it, thanks.

[@mjay776]

My hats are so old and sweat in so much I just submerge all in the tub with dish soap scrub a bit let soak for a hour or 2 rinse, straighten the bill up then hang Bill side up in some hooks let them drip dry. Crazy how much dirt comes out after soaking a couple hours.

[@adlanhaziq]

does the cardboard in the cap warp after getting it wet? My cap has been run through by soapy water, I'm afraid I've ruined it

[@mjay776]

@@adlanhaziq yeah it will if it got totally wet but if it looks messed up just rewash the whole thing and form the bill to be straight hang upside down on the shower head bill side up until the drips slow down. Put it on your head and form the bill how it looks good and just let it dry like that. It works for mine anyway good enough to wear for years. Just depends on how much of a perfectionist you are about your hat I guess

[@michaelrmcornejo]

What do you recommend to straighten a folded buckram? I bought a hat and the hat was in a flat box that bent that buckram

[@dreinthe616]

Yes, I have a video for fixing dents and creases, shows about 3-4 techniques you can try based on severity... find it here, thanks: kzbin.info/www/bejne/al7UZaicqpqAbNk

[@liquidgold7643]

how can i clean my cap if i dont have one.

[@newphilmz3605]

What do you do for the grey underbrims? I got a hat wet, and it left water spots on the grey underbrim. Is there a way to get rid of those. Not sure if its from just water or if it was the dirty water from the hat. I don't want to wet it more until I know for sure. Thanks.

[@dreinthe616]

For the UV and sweatbands I typically use some kind of wet wipe - but a lot of those brands (Clorox, Lysol) are in short supply during the pandemic. I'd hit it with a clean wet cloth over the whole surface, then follow up with air dry. If they're still there then I'd move toward cleaners - my friend the Captician makes a nice cap restoration kit for deep cleans, and there's also a small company called Crown Wipes that makes them specifically for caps.

[@patrickpimentel3451]

Hello sir is this an effective deep cleaning procedure? Ive been cleaning may caps lately with different procedures and it only make things worse. Lately i bought a new era eraser and its not really effective. There are some white stains in my cap that i would like to remove i dont know if it still a sweat stains because its all over my caps idk what to do i bought all the cleaning products of new era but its still no use. Hope to have your feedback soon cause i really love my caps and i dont want it to end up like my 1st new era cap. Thank you

[@dreinthe616]

Sounds like a tough problem... have you tried the simple soap and water deep clean in this video yet? I'm not a big fan of tossing them in a machine... the New Era visors are still a plastic/fiber blend, and when they are soaked they start to get soft and more pliable. I'm evaluating some other cap cleaners soon, If I find something promising I will post a video, thanks.

[@ramdanismail7023]

Any idea on how to remove yellowish white sweatband.. Without damaging hat colour..

[@user-vp6ej3hp3o]

Hi. I feel like when I clean the brim, it will always get softer no matter what. I have some real nice exclusive caps and the brims are messed. I’ve gotten way better with visor but it’s always a bit softer. Is this supposed to happen?

[@dreinthe616]

I recently did a video all about visor materials and care, you can watch it here - kzbin.info/www/bejne/rXWVm6OilMuBi6M - it's probably more comprehensive than any reply I could type here... thank you for the question.

[@chocolatemonkeyballs9995]

Hello Doug, I got a deep bacon grease stain on my Cubs hat visor. Could this work too and not damage the cap?

[@dreinthe616]

Sure thing - and I find myself wondering how you missed the napkin and hit the visor of your cap - but let's move on to my suggestion. The dish soap here is probably a good starting point - I always used to use a dish detergent with lemon to degrease and clean my bike parts, and it's good at cutting grease. I'd put some directly on the stain, agitate it with a wet toothbrush and a little water, then try and blot it clean with wet cloths at first, then progress to a dry cloth. Most modern visors are a resin-fiber blend, so they are more durable than older, cheaper cardboard visors and you should be ok. Good Luck!

[@chocolatemonkeyballs9995]

@@dreinthe616 I was foolishly eating without a plate and napkin because I was late for school haha! Got some grease on my hat. Thank you a lot Doug!

[@Solo619err]

I need to clean a vintage 84 Taco Bell Padres cap. Have to clean the yellow part. Scuffed up a little with like a black stain. You think that superzilla will work. I know that front panel is nylon material.

[@dreinthe616]

It's the best cleaner I've found for "degreasing" too, so I'd give it a good chance of helping, thanks.

[@alexsantiago6421]

What if you don’t want to or don’t have a hat jack?

[@cialos848]

Can you use the wipes to get a dirt stain of the visor or maybe a dirty stain on a specific part of the hat

[@dreinthe616]

Maybe, depends on how deep the stain might be - wipes will only remove more superficial dirt.

[@serbonkers4130]

Do u have tipsnon how to make the brim hard again?

[@dreinthe616]

Unfortunately once that gets fatigued, it really never gets the same ability to hold the shape again. I've got an older Padres cap where I've had this problem, and I can't do anything with it.

[@southerncountryboy8]

update on the 47 hat. I have the clean up model. It's very comfortable. Honestly more comfortable than a traditional new era. It doesn't have the high crown look at all, but it's nice for a casual trip to the store or when wearing gym clothes.

[@dreinthe616]

Cool, sounds like a good choice for those kinds of situations - I typically go for a 39Thirty there. But I will probably add some exploration of 47 Brand to my list for future videos, thanks again.

[@agnessamuel3077]

Fgththythghghytyyyyyty

[@TheM3athome]

Does the buckrum get all messed up when it gets wet? That’s my biggest fear since I just got my very first 59fifty and it might get sweat stains since I’ve been wearing it alot

[@dreinthe616]

No, there's actually plastic fibers in the buckram that really help keep the structure. They are not affected by the water... just don't ever throw it into a high-heat environment like a clothes dryer or dishwasher, which can each cause trouble for the buckram. Like I show in this video, it's also good to stuff a towel into the crown while it's air-drying, should take care of any worries with the shape overall.

[@TheM3athome]

dre in the 616 okok cool man thank you👍

[@JRP..]

Hi doug can you make a video how do you manage back the structured features of 59fifty?

[@dreinthe616]

I think maybe you are interested in 'restoring' the structured features? I will add that to my list, thanks.

[@JRP..]

@@dreinthe616 yes doug please thank you

[@THATBOICUDDY]

Fount it thanks you sir!

[@dreinthe616]

Sure thing, thank you!

[@peejuu]

The crown (the metal button inside) has started to rust anyway to clean this off as well?

[@dreinthe616]

Apart from hitting it with a bit of steel wool or wet-dry sandpaper, no real suggestions. Those might be able to knock off some surface rust, but it will come back unless it is re-coated to seal the metal.

[@peejuu]

@@dreinthe616 steel wool and baking soda paste did the trick for me

[@dreinthe616]

@@peejuu Cool, that's good to hear - thanks for posting it!

[@icursekayvon]

Can you make a video for cleaning white sweat bands of caps please. Thanks.

[@dreinthe616]

Actually, I try not to mess with white sweatbands... but you may want to check out an individual called The Captician (web or YT), who specializes in detailed cleaning methods for caps of all kinds. Thanks for the question.

[@icursekayvon]

@@dreinthe616 Thank you.

[@thatsuberpwnage]

Just curious, but why do you not want to get the bill wet? Does it grow mold or misshape it? I can’t think of any other reason, lol. My bills are just as, if not dirtier than the rest of my hat.

[@dreinthe616]

It's ok to get it wet for surface cleaning/scrubbing, I just recommend not submerging it in water to completely soak it. The New Era visors seem mostly to be a composite of cardboard fiber and plastic resin... and if you get them wet (or flex them constantly) they start to lose the ability to hold a curve. Visor 'fatigue' is what I call it, and that's why I steer clear of getting them soaked, thanks.

[@aleetnyc4648]

Best way to clean a gray bottom visor?

[@dreinthe616]

No specific suggestions for a gray bottom, although I know of another specialist that might have some guidance - he is called The Captician and offers some cleaning kits specific to baseball cap cleaning and restoration.

[@aleetnyc4648]

dre in the 616 you’re super helpful man. Thank you! Subbed.

[@utilitymaximizer9026]

Is it better to go easier on wool hats and not soak them completely in soapy water, instead wiping it with a wet towel? I read that wool is more fragile than polyester and can lost its shape and shrink a lot if it gets too wet. Thanks.

[@dreinthe616]

Wool is easier to manipulate than poly, and it does tend to shrink more if you are not careful. But the elements in this video are really for when you are deep cleaning (Part 1 covers the lightweight/surface cleaning)... and if you stuff something tightly in the cap while it dries you should still be ok.

[@wrestlingMachine28]

How often do you wear hats? Also will we ever see a hat collection?

[@dreinthe616]

Every day, but sometimes an Ivy cap or Fedora too. My collection is actually not as impressive as some others I've seen on YT, but I might do a future video on how I store my caps. Thanks for the questions!

[@AhmadMurtadho7]

@@dreinthe616 I'm still waiting

[@dreinthe616]

Ahmad for which one? I posted the storage video, so maybe the collection? It’s still on my list, thanks.

[@AhmadMurtadho7]

@@dreinthe616 the collection will be out soon? Yay

[@march11stoneytony]

Why not laundry detergent instead of dishwasher detergent?

[@dreinthe616]

Mostly because of the lemon/citrus ingredients in the DW detergent... when I used to clean bike parts a lot, I got used to the lemon helping to cut through the grease and oil, so I really trusted it for cleaning lot of things. But it is still quite mild as cleaners go, so it's not likely to harm anything. Thanks for the question

[@uoyebut2151]

where can i find a hat jack

[@dreinthe616]

In the US, lots of places - online hat shops, plus Amazon, Hat Club, etc. - just search it online.

[@alexsantiago6421]

Hi my uncle gave me a limited edition grave digger hat, and he said he colored a logo on the side with sharpie because he didn’t like the color of the logo(the logo is white). How can u take the sharpie off?

[@alexsantiago6421]

It’s a 9fifty btw

[@dreinthe616]

Sharpies are excellent permanent markers, and I have never tried to remove them from cap materials. You should check around other sources on the web for trying to remove marker, but I'll bet the threads in the logo soaked up a lot of ink.

[@vanshan1318]

Hey! Where’s the hat featured on the thumbnail? 😾

[@dreinthe616]

It was already clean - no need to use it in this video!

[@vanshan1318]

🤣

[@youvasquez]

good video but too much detail.

[@jaimeguadalupe216]

I throw mine tbh in get another want the team logo get dirty in baseball mlb logo get dirty in the inside get dirty I was younger don’t care now I cared that’s why I don’t buy mlb hat anymore