TIPS TO CLEAN, WASH & CARE FOR YOUR FLEXFIT HAT & SNAPBACK CAP

PRESERVE THE SHAPE OF YOUR FLEXFITS & SNAPBACKS

If you own a flexfit hat or a snapback cap, you need to learn how to take care of it. Because if you don't and mishandle your hat, it won't last as long as it should. Over time the colors of your hat may fade and yes, eventually, your beloved hat will wear out, but if it is handled properly and taken care of, it should last a very long time.

So, first and foremost, handle your hat with clean hands. Always pick your hat up from the front or back of the brim and never from the crown. Doing this will help preserve the shape of the crown and keep your hat looking newer, longer. Hats by NICERIDE have a big advantage because we make all of our flex fit hats and snapback baseball caps with high quality, long-lasting materials. This helps them to hold their shape longer and resist stains and discoloration.

STORING YOUR FLEXFIT HATS & SNAPBACK CAPS

The life of your flexfit or snapback hat is directly dependent on how you store it. In order to maintain the shape of your hat and keep it as good as new, you need to know how to properly store your hat. When storing multiple hats in a single cap storage box, and with the hats stacked on top of each other, always store the heaviest hats first, in bottom and then the lighter hats on the top. For even greater protection, place a foam spacer between each hat to help preserve its' shape. Finally, store hats that are clean and completely dry to prevent cross contamination or mildew while being stored.

NICERIDE offers the “Nice Box”, a cap storage container designed to help keep your hats in tip-top shape. This is an all-in-one protective carry case and is perfect to store and protect your baseball caps, smart phone, tablet, sun glasses, Go Pro camera... Pretty much anything.

Another tip to keep your hats looking new after prolonged storage periods, use a garment steamer to gently steam the hat. This will keep the hat in a good shape and looking as new as when you first bought it. (It is recommended to not steam any hat too frequently.

CLEAN YOUR HAT

There may be times when your hat gets dusty or even dirty. You may get sweat or oil stains on it. When this happens, it will require a proper cleanup. While it is not that difficult to clean, you must be very gentle since the fibers used in the hat are delicate and might be damaged if cleaned improperly.

For dust, you can use a soft bristled brush to remove the dust from your flex fit hat by gently brushing it away. Another effective way to clean the dust off from the hat is to use a make-up sponge. It is not suggested to use of a wet cloth to clean dust off the hat as it might turn the dust into dirt and leave stains that will further require further cleaning.

For cleaning mud, it is recommended to let it dry completely. Avoid cleaning it or washing it while it is still wet. Once the mud has thoroughly dried you can gently brush it away from your snapback hat with a soft bristled brush or a makeup sponge, the same as if it were dust.

During the warm months of summer, your flexfit hat or snapback cap might get sweat stains. To avoid sweat stains, a paper towel can be used within the sweatband of the hat that will help in preventing the stains in the first place. Grease and oil stains are difficult to clean. It is recommended to use Fuller’s earth. Putting a few drops of Fuller’s earth on the grease or oily spot and leaving it for an hour or two will lure out the oil/ grease stains and then it can be cleaned with a brush.

HOW TO WASH A SNAPBACK OR FLEXFIT BASEBALL CAP

Do not wash your hats in the washing machine or dryers. Placing your hat in a washing machine may clean the material, but frequently leaves the shape distorted or unrecognizable and colors may fade beyond recognition. It best to not wash your hats, but sometimes it becomes absolutely necessary. If you find you simply must wash your hat, gentle hand-washing in cool or cold water is best. Use a mild, liquid detergent or a dedicated stain-fighting treatment like OxiClean. DO NOT use any product containing bleach.

If you have areas that are particularly problematic, try spot cleaning with an old toothbrush first. Be sure to use extra care near and around the stitching. Applying too vigorous brushing action on or near the stitching can permanently damage you hat.

After the spot cleaning, soak your hat in the soapy water for up to a couple hours/ use a clean bucket or stoppered sink. Check your hat after about an hour and see how the stains look. Wet fabric will hide many stains, but may still be visible on close inspection. Using your toothbrush, spot wash those persistent problem areas. You still need to be careful around stitched patterns and logos. Then return to your soapy bath for another hour. Repeat until stains are as gone or as good as they will get. Carefully rinse all the soapy water off and pat down your hat with a clean dry towel to remove excessive water.

DRYING A WET HAT

Just let the hat dry naturally by placing it in a well ventilated space after blotting the excessive water with a cloth or towel. Some people try to dry the hat immediately with a hair dryer; however, it is strongly recommended to not do this as the hot air from a hair dryer might shrink the hat's fibers and de-shape your hat.

As you air dry your hat, find something to help protect its shape. Don't let it just crumpled on the counter. Find a coffee jar, a canister, a balled-up towel (combinations of each), or perhaps a mannequin head if you happen to have one lying around. This will ensure the hat’s shape stays true and doesn’t crinkle up. It's a good idea to place a towel under the whatever you choose too; no matter how much patting you do your hat is still going to drip as it dries.

I hope that you find the tips contained in this article to be helpful in the care of your flexfit or snapback hats. That they help increase the life of your hats and maintain their proper shape. Since 2013, NICERIDE has set out to promote a lifestyle that emphasizes the three most important aspects of our lives - Family, Friends, and most importantly Fun!