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There is a baseball cap between you and the world. It can protect you from dust and rain, and in a long day, the baseball cap can also absorb sweat and sunscreen (you are applying sunscreen, right?).

Although a worn hat may be a character problem, you should still clean it. The good news is that you can clean your baseball cap with what you might already have at home.

Plan for 20 to 30 minutes, plus drying time.

First rinse your baseball cap several times with clean water. Many things that make your hat clumpy may be slimy things with a light surface, just rinse it off well.

If you use detergent, add a small amount of water to foam. If you use detergent, please dissolve a small amount in a container with water.

Apply the soap mixture to a toothbrush or nail brush, then scrub any visible marks and stains. Use small circular motions (such as when brushing your teeth) to really remove any deep dirt.

Use detergent or dish soap and fill the basin or sink with soapy water. Soak the whole hat in the basin for about 10 minutes, then shake it a little to wash the hat by hand.

If your hat is particularly rough, you may need to change the water (I don't know from experience). Rinse the cap 2 to 3 times under running water until the water flowing through is clear.

If you just let your hat drop to the floor to dry, it will eventually wrinkle and look strange. Plug the body of the hat with something to dry it into roughly the correct shape-you can use a coffee can, a bundled towel, melon, or almost anything.

If you still see stains on the hat, use OxiClean.

Dissolve a scoop of powder in a pint of dehydration to make a powerful cleansing mixture. The mixture is then field tested in an inconspicuous place on the hat to ensure that it will not cause any damage (OxiClean is not particularly suitable for wool). If everything is normal, apply the mixture directly to stubborn stains. Let it stay on the fabric for five minutes, and then rinse the hat thoroughly.

Do not wash the hat in the dishwasher or washing machine, even if technically possible. (You can also cook salmon in the dishwasher, but that doesn’t mean it’s a good idea.) At best, these are radical, harsh cleaning methods that go beyond the needs of a hat. Worst of all, you will end up with a deformed hat.

Some baseball caps are not suitable for the type of cleaning we are discussing here. Vintage (or retro-style hats such as Ebbets Field Flannels hats) usually have a soft brim that may degrade when soaked and may dry out into the wrong shape. For these types of hats, dry cleaning is the best option (or a very gentle local clean, soaking up any liquid).

Tim Barribeau is the editor responsible for pets and carry stories (the latter is anything you might carry with you when you go to work). He has been working at Wirecutter since 2012 and was previously in charge of our camera department. A person with too many hobbies, he is currently focused on leather products, if you ask well, he might make you a wallet.

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