How to Clean a Dirty New Era Cap
The New Era Cap Company is a manufacturer of hats founded in 1920 by Ehrhardt Koch in Buffalo, New York. While widely known as the exclusive supplier of on-field caps for major league baseball, the company also manufactures caps, clothing and accessories for numerous other sports leagues and businesses created for men, women and children. Today’s New Era caps are constructed with predominantly 55% polyester and 45% cotton materials and heavy-grade cardboard brims. Because usual washing procedures can damage the brim, crown and design embroidery of New Era caps, cleaning them is a somewhat delicate process. Does this Spark an idea?
Things You'll Need
- Hand towel
- Warm water
- Bleach-free clothing detergent
- New Era "Re-Cap Cleaning Kit" (optional)
Instructions
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Sweat stains, mild dirt and spots from normal wear and tear can be removed from New Era caps with a towel and warm water. Dip a hand towel in warm water. Be careful to use a high-quality hand towel that won't chafe onto to your cap. Without fully saturating the cap, towel the stains with the grain of cap's material gently. Allow the cap to air dry.
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For more aggressive stains, dilute a small amount of clothing detergent. Use 1/2 tbsp. of detergent to 8 cups of warm water. Be careful to use a bleach-free detergent that won't discolor the fabric of your cap. Dip a towel in the solution and dab at the stains. Using a second towel and plain warm water, return to the spots of your cap you touched up with detergent and go over them with the moist towel. Allow the cap to air dry.
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New Era manufactures a cleaning kit designed to clean heavily soiled caps. According to the company's website, the "Re-Cap Cleaning Kit" is comprised of an inflatable "head shaper," cleaning brush, a 4-oz. bottle of "cleaning solution," a 4-oz. bottle of "shaping solution" and instructions on use. The kit retails for $39.99.
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Tips & Warnings
Many ballplayers attest that the wear and tear and residual dirt that accompanies a well-worn New Era cap can give it personality. The best way to keep a New Era cap clean is by not getting it dirty, so wear an alternate cap from your collection when you know you'll be breaking a sweat or involved in a dirty task.
Aggressive dabbing can mar embroidery, so towel carefully.
