A cap you wear every day will need a clean at some point. With a silk-lined cap, that moment comes with a fair question: how do you clean the outside without being rough on the silk inside?
The good news is that it is simple. It just asks for a little more care than throwing a cap in the machine. Here is the method we recommend for any silk-lined baseball cap, ours included.
Why a silk lining needs gentle care
Silk is a natural protein fibre. That is what makes it so smooth, and smoothness is the whole reason it sits inside our caps: less friction against your hair. It is also why silk needs gentle handling.
Three things wear silk down: heat, harsh or enzyme-based detergents, and rough handling, especially when wet. Silk is noticeably weaker when it is wet, which is why wringing and scrubbing do the most damage.
So the rule for a silk-lined cap is easy to remember: cool water, mild non-bio soap, no machine, no dryer, no wringing.
Start with spot cleaning
Most of the time, a cap does not need a full wash. A quick spot clean keeps it fresh for longer.
- Brush off dust first. Use a soft clothes brush or a dry cloth on the cotton twill outside.
- Dab, don't rub. Dampen a clean white cloth with cool water and a drop of mild, non-bio detergent. Dab the mark gently, working from the edge of the mark inwards.
- Rinse the spot. Dab again with a cloth dampened in clean water to lift any soap.
- Leave it to air dry. Stand the cap the right way up over a bowl or jar, somewhere airy and out of direct sun, so the crown keeps its shape.
If the mark is on the silk lining, dampen a slightly wider area than the mark itself and feather the edges. Silk can show a tide mark where a wet patch dries, and this stops it.
The sweatband. After a warm day, wipe the silk sweatband with a cloth dampened in cool water and let the cap air before you put it away. Sweat and deodorant residue are what yellow a sweatband over time, so this small habit does more for your cap than any wash.
How to hand wash a silk-lined cap
When it is time for a proper clean, wash by hand. The whole thing should take under five minutes in the water. A cap is not a shirt: the structured front is stiffened with buckram, which goes soft if it sits in water and sets with creases if it dries crumpled. Dark dyes can also start to move in a long soak.
Before the first wash, check the colours are fast. Press a damp white cloth against an inside seam, and on The Canvas Cap against the green embroidery. If any colour transfers, stick to spot cleaning.
- Fill a basin with cool water. Lukewarm at most. Hot water is hard on silk.
- Add a small amount of gentle detergent. A non-bio detergent made for silk or delicates. "Non-bio" matters: biological detergents contain enzymes that break down protein, and silk is protein. Skip bleach, stain removers and fabric softener.
- Dip and swirl. Hold the cap by the brim and move it gently through the water. Do not wring or twist it.
- Work the outside, not the lining. If the outer twill needs more attention, use a soft brush in small circles. Give the silk lining a gentle press with your fingers instead.
- Rinse well. Change to clean cool water and swirl again until no soap is left. Soap left in silk dries stiff and dull. If you like, add a teaspoon of white vinegar to the first rinse to lift the last of the soap, then rinse once more in plain water.
- Press out the water. Lay the cap on a clean towel and press softly. Never wring.
- Dry the buckle straight away. Wipe the brass buckle and strap with a dry cloth. Brass left wet can tarnish and leave a mark on the fabric, which shows most on white twill.
What to use: a gentle, enzyme-free wash made for silk. We like Heritage Park Silk & Wool, The Laundress Delicate Wash, or Woolite Delicates for an easy everyday option. Skip regular detergents, bleach and fabric softener, as they can wear silk down over time.
How to dry it so it keeps its shape
Drying is where most caps lose their shape, so take your time here.
- Reshape while damp. Smooth the front panels flat, round out the crown and set the curve of the brim the way you like it. A cap holds whatever shape it dried in.
- Fill the crown. Stuff it loosely with a clean towel, or set it over a bowl or a ball about the size of a head.
- Air dry only. No tumble dryer, no radiator and no hairdryer.
- Keep it out of direct sun. Sunlight fades the twill and weakens and yellows silk over time.
- Let it dry fully. After a full wash, allow overnight, and up to a day in a cool room. Wait until the lining and sweatband are completely dry before you wear it.
What not to do
- Do not put a silk-lined cap in the washing machine or dishwasher. Dishwasher detergent is strongly alkaline and the water is hot: the worst combination for silk.
- Do not use hot water, bleach, biological detergent or fabric softener.
- Do not wring, twist or scrub the silk lining.
- Do not iron the lining.
- Do not dry it in the sun or on a radiator.
How to store your cap
Store your cap somewhere cool and dry, with the crown supported so it does not get crushed. Avoid stacking heavy things on top of it. Let it air after a warm day before it goes back in its box. If you travel, pack it on top of soft clothes, or keep it in its box.
How often should you wash a silk-lined cap?
It depends on how often you wear it and how warm it gets. As a rough guide, spot clean whenever you notice a mark, wipe the sweatband after warm days, and give it a gentle hand wash only when it really needs one. A cap looked after this way may only need a full wash a couple of times a year. Washing less often is kinder to any cap.
The Sero Silks caps
Every Sero Silks cap is lined in 100% Mulberry silk, 19 momme, with a silk sweatband, so the band at your hairline is silk too. The silk helps reduce friction and breakage where the cap meets your hair, so there is less rubbing and pulling every time you take it on and off. The outside is cotton twill, with a classic structured crown. One size fits all, with an adjustable back strap and brass buckle.
- The Core Cap: black cotton twill, lined in black silk.
- The Coco Cap: rich chocolate brown cotton twill with a very pale blue logo, lined in black silk.
- The Canvas Cap: white cotton twill with green embroidery, lined in ivory silk.
Want to know why we chose silk in the first place? Read Why silk?
FAQ
Can I put a silk-lined cap in the washing machine?
We do not recommend it. A machine can bend the crown and is hard on the silk lining. Hand washing in cool water is the gentle option.
What detergent should I use?
A mild, non-bio detergent made for silk or delicates. In a pinch, a little baby shampoo works. Avoid bleach, biological (enzyme) detergents, stain removers and fabric softener.
How do I clean the sweatband?
Dab it with a cloth dampened in cool water and a drop of gentle detergent, then dab again with clean water and let it air dry. A quick wipe after warm days keeps it from yellowing.
How long does a cap take to dry?
Overnight is typical after a full wash, and up to a day in a cool room. Let the lining and sweatband dry completely before you wear it.
Can I wash a white cap like The Canvas Cap the same way?
Yes. Use the same gentle method, test the green embroidery for colourfastness first, and spot clean marks early, before they set. Sunscreen and foundation are the usual culprits on a white cap, so a wipe after wear helps.