How to restore the shape of a cap after washing?

Anyone can throw a baseball cap in the washing machine, but the main problem is how to restore its shape after washing. After removing your hat from the drum, you might sadly notice it's wrinkled and warped. Let's figure out how to straighten it and whether it's possible to prevent it from becoming misshapen.

We return the cap to its former appearance

Before attempting to restore a cap to its original appearance, you should check the information on the tag. The tag is usually sewn on the inside. If you don't wash your cap properly, it can become so damaged that it's impossible to restore. For example, if the visor has a cardboard insert, it will definitely be damaged after washing it in the washing machine.

If wet cleaning is acceptable, but the item has become slightly warped after washing, you can restore its shape as follows:

• wet the cap;
• Place the headdress on an object of appropriate size, such as a can;
• Carefully straighten the fabric on all elements of the baseball cap;
• leave the item to dry in this position.

If you don't have a three-liter jar in your apartment, you can use the following as a frame for drying your baseball cap:

• inflated balloon;
• a salad bowl of a suitable type, placed upside down;
• special forms for drying hats.

The desired shape of the cap will be given by a frame onto which the wet product is stretched.

Therefore, pay special attention to "straightening" the baseball cap on a suitable surface. After drying, the cap will take on its desired shape.

Let's try to iron it

You can try ironing a wrinkled baseball cap. To smooth out the fabric, use a sleeve pad or a rolled-up towel in addition to an ironing board.

When using an iron, it is important to avoid:

• formation of creases;
• deformation of the crown;
• ironing the visor at high temperatures.

If you iron a cap from the front, be sure to do so through a layer of cloth or gauze. Otherwise, you could damage the fabric and leave marks from the soleplate.

A jet of steam

Steamers are very popular these days. Steaming a baseball cap is much easier than ironing it. The cap should be pulled over a frame of a suitable size and then treated with a powerful jet of steam. This way the headdress will straighten out and take the desired shape.

The temperature setting is selected based on the material the baseball cap is made of. If it's synthetic, it's best to set it to the lowest temperature. For cotton, the temperature should be higher.

A low-power steamer won't help in this case. To restore the cap's original appearance, use a stationary device that delivers steam at a rate of 40-50 g/min.

Before steaming your cap, you should make sure that this procedure is not contraindicated for the product.

Wash your cap correctly

Not every headwear is allowed to be loaded into the machine. Baseball caps with a thick top and a rigid visor cannot be machine washed; hand cleaning is permitted only.

For maximum cleaning results, use a toothbrush to reach hard-to-reach areas and remove dirt. You can also use regular detergents or liquid soap.

To prevent the cap from warping, you can starch it. This will eliminate the need to iron the cap. Here's how to prepare the starch solution:

• take a basin;
• Pour 100 grams of potato starch into a container;
• pour in 100 ml of cold and 900 ml of hot water;
• mix the ingredients;
• wait until the solution cools.

Afterwards, you need to dip the crown of the cap into the starch solution, holding onto the visor (it does not require additional starching because it is already stiff).

To dry further, stretch the baseball cap over a suitable frame, smoothing out the fabric thoroughly. Allow the cap to dry completely.

Helpful tips

First, it's important to note that reading the label is the first and most important step in proper care. The label will tell you whether the baseball cap is machine washable, what cycle, and at what temperature. It also tells you how best to iron the cap.

As for ironing, you need to iron either on the inside of the cap or through an additional layer of fabric or gauze.

If the product has patches or decorative elements, it is important not to catch them with the hot sole.

If the baseball cap is only lightly soiled, dry cleaning is best. This will definitely prevent the material from becoming damaged.

   

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