When you are running a vintage store it’s always ideal to source product that is ready to wear, but often you run into must-have pieces that have been severely neglected. Some things are best left in their distressed condition, or just left behind all together, but there is an indescribable sense of joy and pride when you are able to bring certain pieces back to life.
After a lot of trial and error, I’ve gotten pretty good at knowing what pieces I can save, especially hats. So here’s a little guide in case you’ve got a hat you want to get some more miles out of. A little disclaimer here: I don’t claim to be an expert. There are so many variables from material to the type of stain, but this is what generally works for me. I do this mostly on vintage hats, but the process works on any cap with one too many stains for your liking.
MATERIALS:
|
Plastic tub |
Oxi Clean |
1. Dry brush
Give the cap a good brush to take care of any easily removed dirt or dust.
2. Stain treat
Give the cap a good spray with the Shout gel, paying attention to the areas where stains are concentrated. Once you have a good layer, grab your brush to gently work the gel into the cap to break up the stains.
3. Prep the bath
In a plastic tub, sink, etc. mix your detergents. For this cap I used a mix of Oxi Clean and Dawn dish soap - no measurements, just vibes. Add just enough hot water to get these well mixed, and then fill the remainder of the vessel with cold water to help prevent any color bleeding.
4. Let it soak
Get your hat into the tub and soaking in the water. I always give it a few good swishes around to make sure it’s saturated and submerged. Then you wait.
You’ll want to check back on the hat in a few minutes and feel the brim. If the brim feels a little soggy, it might be made of cardboard. If this is the case try and keep as much of the brim out of the water as possible. If the brim still feels sturdy, it's likely plastic and you can leave it as is for as long as needed. I’ve left caps anywhere from an hour to overnight. It really depends on the level of cleaning needed and you’ll have to use a little judgement here. 🙂
5. If you have accessories, now’s the time to clean those up too!
This hat came with a fish hook clip that needed a little love from Bar Keepers Friend and a little elbow grease .
6. Rinse it out
Once your cap has had a good soak (you can usually see if the stains have been handled), dump your tub down a drain, and give the hat a good rinse to wash out all of the detergent. You can even let it soak in fresh water if you have the time.
7. Reshape and dry
Wad up a towel (or two) and place your hat around it to give it shape while it dries. I’ve seen people use bowls or pots for this part and there are also hat forms you can buy online - whatever gives the shape you’re looking for will work!
Once the hat is shaped to my liking, I hit it with some starch spray to help keep that form and set it aside to dry. Be patient with this part. There’s no use in doing all this work, just to pull the hat off early and lose its shape.
8. WEAR!
Take pride in reviving your treasure and rock that bad boy! 🫣