Do You Keep The Sticker On A Baseball Cap? (It May Be Wise)
I remember when I was in junior high, and we were comparing our new baseball caps and snapbacks in the schoolyard. The stickers on the caps were a big deal, and if you didn’t have your sticker on the cap, it was fake, and you were practically a loser. However, if you had that sticker on, you were a respected king of the school.
That memory came back to me when I saw a baseball cap with a sticker on in the store, and this made me wonder, was there any truth to what we were speaking when we were kids? Should you keep the sticker on a baseball cap?
If you want people to know that you are wearing an authentic cap, like how the sticker looks, or are collecting very rare baseball caps, you should leave the sticker on the cap. Otherwise, the sticker on the cap isn’t important, and you can remove it. It’s a matter of personal preference.
That being said, it’s a matter of personal preference whether you leave the sticker on or off. I like to take it off as I don’t like how it looks on the cap. However, when I was younger, it stayed.
So, what on earth is the sticker, and why is it placed over the cap? Let’s find out.
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What Does the Sticker On Hats Mean?
There are stickers in many baseball caps, but the most known by far is the golden New Era sticker on the iconic New Era 59Fifty Cap. This cap became super popular when it became available to the public after 1978. The 80s celebrities such as Easy-E and Fresh Prince wore this cap. So, what does the sticker on the cap mean exactly?
The sticker’s meaning on a cap is for sizing. The sticker’s original meaning was so that people could find their optimal size by looking at it. In addition, the sticker informs the brand, model, and sometimes materials used, so it’s a way of showing the cap is authentic.
Proving that the hat is authentic is very important if you collect the caps and sell them someday, or buy one. A rare baseball cap would lose a lot of its value even if it were real without the sticker because it shows all the essential information about the cap.
Leaving the sticker is so popular that the New Era FAQs state that they can’t provide additional stickers if you remove them for any reason.
Why Do People Leave Stickers on Hats?
Most people that leave the stickers on the hats aren’t collecting rare baseball caps, nor their baseball caps are where the stickers are left. Why do people still leave the stickers?
People leave stickers on hats because they show the hat’s authenticity and prove that you aren’t wearing a fake one. This gains respect and admiration in some circles as the cap is authentic, and rare baseball caps can be quite expensive.
Why do people buy silver jewelry instead of stainless steel? Why do people buy expensive designer shoes, buy diamond rings instead of zircons, and the list goes on. The same reason is for the caps and their stickers. It makes you feel that you have nice things and everybody wants nice things from some category.
How Do You Wash A Baseball Cap With Stickers?
If you decide to keep the sticker on your hat, it will still need cleaning as a cap without the sticker. However, the sticker comes off rather easily, so you need to have the utmost care when wearing it and even more so when cleaning it.
Generally, there are many ways and instances to clean your hat; Daily Cleaning, Deep Cleaning, and Using a Cleaning Kit.
Before moving on to the instructions on cleaning your cap with a sticker, there are some things you should know.
- Always protect your sticker with plastic wrap that is taped on the hat. This way, water won’t get on the sticker.
- Don’t soak your hat if you want to keep it looking fresh as long as possible. Soak it when it’s starting to look worn.
- Use cold water for cleaning, never hot.
- Decide on how clean you want the baseball cap to be. This can drastically affect the cleaning time and effort.
- Store your cap in a box wrapped in thin tissue paper to minimize dust buildup. This way, your hat will remain fresh very long. Hat racks, a shelf on your cabinet, or similar places will attract dust.
Keeping these five things in mind, here’s how you can clean your baseball cap;
- Daily Cleaning: My favorite daily cleaning for a cap is using a lint roller. That’s a fast, easy, and affordable way to keep it lint-free. Dusting with a gentle brush is also a great idea. Choose which one works the best for you as both of them prevent dust buildups that look ugly on the cap. Wet wipes work like a charm on smudges and dirt. However, use wet wipes once or twice per week as daily rubbing with wet wipes can wear out the cap’s material.
- Deep Cleaning: If your cap starts to smell a bit of sweat and feel like it, it’s time for a deep clean. Start by finding tape and a plastic wrap such as cling film. Cut a large piece of the cling wrap, so the whole sticker is covered, and then some. Tape the wrap over the sticker and make sure it’s sealed tight. Never tape directly on the sticker, or it will get torn. Next, fill the sink with cold water and add a bit of soap. Dip the hat on the water and use a smooth brush to remove the stains. After cleaning, wash the cap under running cold water to remove the soap. Finally, air-dry your cap for 24 hours, remove the tape, and cling film.
- Cleaning Kit: Using a kit such as the Combat Cleaning Kit is a great way to safely and efficiently clean your hat as the brush and cleaner spray is specifically designed for it. I recommend using a Hat Washing Mold as well, so your hat will keep its shape!
How do You Get Sticker Marks off a Hat?
When you keep the sticker on your cap for a long time and gets removed, it will leave a mark. In fact, it can leave a mark when you remove it as soon as you get it. Anyways, that’s because the cap has changed color from wearing and aging, yet beneath the sticker, it hasn’t. The circular sticker ring doesen’t look fresh, so how do you get it off?
You can remove the sticker ring from your cap by rubbing it with warm water and a washcloth. Sometimes the sticker mark can be more stubborn to leave, then you should try a hat cleaning kit. If the sticker leaves some glue behind, wet a rag with a dash of acetone or nail polish remover to remove it.
These three ways will get the sticker mark off your cap, and which one it is, depends on the sticker ring and whether it left some glue or sticker pieces behind.
My Favorite Baseball Equipment
Thanks for reading this article. I hope it brought you great value that you can implement into your own life! Below you can find my favorite baseball bat, baseballs, and a glove that I think will take your game to the next level!
- Bat: My favorite baseball bat is the Easton Project 3 Fuze. This bat has a composite end cap, reduced post-impact vibrations, balanced swing weight for the fastest swing speed, and a carbon core that makes this bat perform very well! As I’m not a professional baseball player, I like to use alloy bats as you can swing faster and hit further.
- Baseballs: Rawlings Competition Grade Practice Balls are my choice for something to hit. I love these balls because they fit all levels of play, so regardless of who you are playing with, you can use them. They come in a 6 or 12 balls box, and you can choose between raised or flat seams! I prefer flat seams as the balls tend to fly further!
- Glove: When it comes to the glove, my choice is the Rawlings Sandlot Glove. This glove is available for both lefties and righties. The same glove is also available for infielders, outfielders, pitchers, catchers, and 1B mitt. This glove has a nice vintage look, and it’s made from oiled leather. It has palm pads that protect your hand from impact, and it is pre-broken-in, so you are good to go as soon as you have it! A glove I’m proud to recommend.
- Fan Equipment: If you’re a fan more than a player, you don’t want to miss Fan Equipment by Fanatics. You can find items from various sports that bear your favorite team’s logo, such as jerseys, gift ideas, or other surprising things.