How to Wash a Navy Sailor Hat
A clean Navy sailor hat, or Dixie Cup, is part of a uniform that will pass inspection and represent the Navy well. However, because the hats may be touched by dirty hands or worn on ships, the hats may need to be cleaned frequently. As a sailor may wear it in the rain or snow, he should be prepared to clean it.
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Instructions
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Spot clean the Dixie Cup as soon as you notice any marks on it. Use a mixture of one teaspoon liquid laundry detergent in one cup of water. Use a clean, white towel to blot the mixture onto the spot. Continue blotting until the stain is removed. You can add more of the mixture to the towel as needed.
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Wash the Navy sailor hat in the washing machine by itself as needed. Use cold water to prevent shrinking and liquid laundry detergent to prevent spotting. Fill the washing machine with hot water; add the detergent before adding the hat.
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Remove the hat from the washer as soon as the cycle ends. Leaving it in the washer will cause it to wrinkle.
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Fold the Dixie Cup sides up like you do when you wear it. Ensure that the crease is right along the seam that attaches the circular bill to the head piece.
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Smooth the folds out to remove wrinkles and uneven folds.
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Place the hat on a dry, white towel placed on a table to air dry. Drying the hat in the dryer will cause it to shrink and may make it misshapen.
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Check the stenciling on the hat once it is dry. Touch up any fading marks using a laundry marker.
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Tips & Warnings
If your Dixie Cup is badly stained--or if washing it doesn't get the stains out--you will have to purchase a new hat from the nearest Navy Exchange or Navy Commissary.
Don't use bleach on your Dixie Cup. Bleach will affect the stenciling and may cause the hat to yellow.
