Care Guide

How to Clean the Classic Cap.

The Classic Cap is 100% cotton twill, dyed deep and garment washed after it is sewn. That wash is what softens the color, and it is why the cap wants gentle cleaning. Cool water and your hands. No machine, no dryer, no bleach.

100% cotton twill · Unstructured crown · Hand wash cold · Air dry only

Step 1 of 5

Brush off the dry stuff.

Before it gets wet, knock off dust and dried dirt with a soft clothes brush or a lint roller. Dry dirt turns to mud in the sink.

Note A dry toothbrush works for the seams and eyelets.

Step 2 of 5

Spot treat the sweatband.

The inside band is where sweat and sunscreen collect. Mix a few drops of mild detergent into a cup of cool water, dip a soft cloth or toothbrush, and work it into the band. Let it sit five to ten minutes.

No bleach. If you want to use a stain remover, test it inside the cap first. On the deeper colors it can lift surface color along with the stain.

Note Oat White and Buttermilk can take more scrubbing. Every other color, go lighter.

Step 3 of 5

Hand wash in cool water.

Fill a sink with cool water and a teaspoon of mild detergent. Submerge the cap and work it gently with your hands. Let it sit ten to fifteen minutes, no longer. A long soak pulls color, not dirt.

Note Tinted water is normal. It is loose surface color, not damage.

Step 4 of 5

Rinse, then press out the water.

Rinse under cool running water until it runs clear and the fabric no longer feels slick. Leftover soap dries stiff.

Do not wring it. Press between your hands, then roll it in a towel and press again.

Step 5 of 5

Reshape and air dry.

While damp, set the crown over a bowl, a coffee can, or a rolled towel. Smooth the panels, run your thumb along the seams, and set the bill to the curve you like. Leave it somewhere with airflow, out of direct sun.

Give it a day. No dryer, no radiator. Heat shrinks cotton and warps the bill.

Note Once dry, wear it. Your head is the best cap form there is.

The short version.

Do

  • Spot clean the sweatband between washes
  • Hand wash in cool water with a small amount of mild detergent
  • Test any stain remover on the inside of the cap first
  • Press water out with a towel, never wring
  • Reshape the crown and bill while damp, then air dry out of direct sun

Don't

  • Machine wash or put the cap in the dryer
  • Run it through the dishwasher
  • Use chlorine bleach or anything with bleach in it
  • Soak it for more than 15 minutes
  • Scrub the crown with a stiff brush
  • Dry it on a radiator, in a hot car, or in full sun
How often should I wash it?

Less than you think. Spot clean the band when it looks grimy. Full wash a couple of times a season, or when the crown is visibly dirty. Every wash takes a little color with it.

Can I machine wash it?

We do not recommend it. The machine pulls color unevenly and can warp the bill. If you must, use a mesh bag, cold water, the gentlest cycle, and no dryer.

What about the dishwasher?

No. Dishwasher detergent usually contains bleach and the cycle runs hot. Both are bad for cotton.

Will the color change?

A little, gradually. Most colors are dyed deep and garment washed, which is why the surface is softer than the seams. Every wash and every hour in the sun continues that. Cool water, no bleach, and shade keep it slow and even.

Treat it well and it only gets better.

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