Baseball caps come in two styles.The snap-band enclosures around the crown make it easy to find the right fit.It takes a little more work to get a more conforming cap.Shrinking a fitted baseball cap is usually done by getting it wet and letting it shrink as it dries.
Step 1: Take a deep pot of water.
Put a deep cooking pot in the water.The pot should be big enough to hold the cap you are trying to shrink.Allow the pot to warm up by setting the eye of the stove to a medium heat.You might be able to do this step in a sink if you use a pot.
Step 2: The water should be brought to the right heat.
The steam will come from the water when it begins to emit it.The water should be hot enough to shrink the cap, but not so hot that it could burn you or damage the materials.The water should not be boiled.Water that is too hot could cause the cap to warp and lose its structure.
Step 3: Remove the cap completely.
Put the cap in the hot water.If you force it down, it will stay submerged on its own.If you prefer, you can use a pair of kitchen tongs to dunk the cap in the water.You can hold the bill out of the water if you don't plan on changing it later.
Step 4: Allow the hat to sit for a while.
The effects of the hot water bath can be experienced by giving the cap a few minutes.The cotton fibers that make up the cap will shrink because of the heat.When the fabric of the crown begins to loosen a bit, this is a sign that it has loosened up enough to be refitted.
Step 5: Wear the hat until it is dry.
Shake the hot water to remove excess liquid from the cap.Place the hat on your head and wear it until it dries.As the damp hat dries, it will conform to the shape of your head.It will likely take all day to dry a hat this way.If you want to get the best results, heat the cap early in the day and then wear it as you go about your business.Hang the hat up by the bill using a clothespin to prevent stretching as it continues to dry.
Step 6: It's time to turn on the hot shower.
Wait until the water in the shower is hot before taking a shower.If the temperature is too high or the cap is allowed to soak too long, the water should not be too hot, as it will be in direct contact with the hat and can ruin it.A trick that has been used for a long time is to shower in a hat or boots.
Step 7: Put the cap on that you want to shrink.
Put the cap on and modify it.If you position the hat the way you wear it most often, it will loosen and dry in the right way.
Step 8: You should get in the shower.
You can hop in the shower with the cap on.You can either shower as usual or wait for the rigidity of the hat to break down and assume its new shape.The crown of the cap needs to be thoroughly wet so that it can be stretched out uniformly.If you decide to just take a regular shower while wearing the cap, make sure you don't use any products on the hat as it soaks.The right products should be used to wash your cap.If the water falls on the crown of the cap, it won't ruin the bill.
Step 9: As the cap dries, wear it.
As you go about your day, leave the cap on.Before putting on your other clothes, shake out excess water.Depending on the environment, the cap should dry within a day or two.It's best to wear the cap on a warm day.Don't wear the cap if the weather is cold or rainy.Allow it to sit under a fan or in front of an air conditioning vent and check on its progress periodically.
Step 10: Put the cap in the washer.
If you have access to a washing machine, you can use it to shrink a cap.The cap should be put into the washer by itself.As you shrink the cap, use a small amount of detergent to clean it.Make sure to set the washer to the smallest load setting so that the wash and rinse cycles don't use too much water if you wash the cap by yourself.If you put the cap in the washer with other clothes, it will cause more problems than it fixes.
Step 11: It is a good idea to wash on regular heat.
The washer should be set to a normal wash cycle.A standard washing is all it takes to bring a garment down to a half-size or so.Allow the hat to be washed.After the initial wash cycle, you can remove the cap from the machine if you only need to shrink it a little.
Step 12: You should let the hat dry on your head.
A standard wash should be used for caps that need only minor adjustments.Put the cap on and let it dry on your crown.If you wear it as it dries you can stretch it out to an optimal fit.
Step 13: The cap should be thrown in the dryer.
You could follow up the wash with a run through the machine dryer if the cap is too loose.This will expose the cap to more intense heat so that it can be dried more thoroughly.The cap should be put through a drying cycle.If you need to shrink a cap quite a bit, this may be the best way to go because the machine dryers are very harsh on synthetic fabrics.A synthetic cap will shrink more than a gentle soak or hand wash if it is washed and dried regularly.Put the hat on if it shrinks too much.As the cap gets worn in, the fibers should stretch out.As it dries, keep an eye on the hat.Synthetic materials can be exposed to heat for a long time.