If your dress uniform includes a sharp-looking cap, you know how critical it is that you take proper care of it to ensure it looks professional each time it’s on your head. Consider the following four tips to help keep your police or firefighter uniform cap looking good between professional cleanings.

Storing Your Uniform Cap

One of the easiest ways to take good care of your cap is to make sure you store it properly. Unless you have a box specifically designed to store your uniform cap, you should lay it upside down, which will be on its crown instead of on the brim. This will extend the life of the brim, helping to keep it from flattening out or losing its proper shape. You can also place your uniform cap on a peg or rack to store it. You do need to make sure you hang it on something designed for the purpose, otherwise you could give your police dress uniform cap an unsightly dimple. Please note, you don’t want to hang it in the sun as bleaching can occur. Only store hanging for short periods of time so you don’t lose the shape of your hat. For long-term storage, be sure to use a hatbox that is designed to support both the crown and the brim of your cap. This box should be kept in a dry, cool place because both moisture and heat can damage your cap. Use cedar or lavender to keep moths from causing damage to your cap.

Cleaning Your Uniform Cap

Depending on where you get your uniforms from, the company may also provide professional dry cleaning as part of their service. If they don’t, or you want to take care of your uniform cap separately, you will need to consider cleaning it. Caps can get quite stinky with sweat and dirt building up. There are some dry cleaners that can properly clean your cap, and this is certainly an option. Spot cleaning with a damp, soapy cloth and air drying can help for small messes, but be sure to test a small spot on the inside of the cap first. This will let you know if it will stain or not. You can also use small steamers to clean the cap, making it extra fresh.

Protecting Your Cap

There are several different sprays available on the market designed to protect your uniform cap from rain, sweat, and general wear and tear. These sprays are often inexpensive and do a good job of protecting your uniform cap from stains. Make sure you get one from a well-known brand and test it first on a small, inconspicuous spot.

Keep a Good Lint Brush Handy

Another way to ensure your firefighter or other uniform cap is looking its best is to keep a Lint Brush Handy. This is the perfect way to quickly get any lint, pet hair, or other stuff off your cap, quickly restoring its sharp look. With these few simple steps, you can ensure your uniform cap is as professional in appearance as the day you received it.