A good cap asks very little of you. A few habits will keep it looking right for years.
Wool, tweed and herringbone
Brush lightly with a soft clothes brush after wear to lift dust before it settles into the weave. For marks, dab with a cloth dampened in cool water and a drop of mild wool detergent. Never rub, and never machine wash. If the cap gets caught in the rain, shake it off, reshape it by hand and let it dry at room temperature, away from radiators and direct sun.
Cotton, denim and corduroy
Spot clean first. If a full wash is needed, wash by hand in cool water, press the water out in a towel rather than wringing, reshape the crown and brim, and dry flat. Expect denim to soften and fade a little with time. That is the point of it.
Linen and mesh
Hand wash cool, reshape while damp and air dry. Linen creases; a light steam from a distance will relax it.
Leather and suede
Wipe leather with a barely damp cloth and condition it once or twice a year with a neutral leather balm. Suede wants a suede brush and nothing wet. Keep both away from heat.
Storing your cap
Rest it on a shelf or a hook, crown up, rather than folded into a coat pocket. For longer storage, stuff the crown loosely with tissue and keep wool pieces somewhere dry with cedar nearby.
Not sure about a particular mark or fabric? Write to us at support@oldtradinghouse.com and we will tell you what we would do.
