Top 6 Tips on Cleaning Silk Ties
1. Avoid stains in first place:
This is a little easier said than done, but a few scenarios are most common for getting your silk ties ruined. The most common way silk ties get stained is by eating. Next time you go to a business lunch or dinner wear a napkin. Opening of the your shirt’s buttons and tugging your necktie under your dress shirt is a great option, but should not be used at a formal business lunch or dinner.
2. Avoid Wearing Solid Color Ties
Fine solid color ties will show stains the easiest. For that reason, avoid wearing solid color ties in lighter colors during dinner/ lunch events. If the solid color tie is part of your dress code, then it is advisable to have the same tie with you as a back up. At Cheap-Neckties we offer solid color ties as low as $5. There is no reason why not to buy two of the tie you like.
2. Use Cold, Not Hot Water
If possible rinse the stain on your tie with cold water right away. Avoid hot water. Hot water will cause the stain to penetrate deeper into the fabric. Simply rinse, and do not rub the stain in. At the most, dampen the tie with a moist piece of cloth.
3. Rubbing Alcohol
Diluting rubbing alcohol with cold water is a good option to clean your tie should the stain have dried already. put the solvent onto a piece of cloth and carefully tap it onto the stain. Don’t overdo this. Sometimes the stain is gone sooner than you think.
4. Dry-Cleaning a Necktie?
Dry-cleaning a necktie should be your last option. Should you have tried everything, and the stain on your silk tie is still there, then consider going to the dry-cleaner. The risk of dry cleaning a necktie is that the fabric and the inlay of the necktie will get damaged. The stain might be gone afterwards, but the tie won’t look and tie the same as before. Talk to your dry-cleaner and get more information on how the silk fabric will be treated. The tie should never be pressed or ironed as this will ruin the inlay of the necktie.
5. Send The Tie in:
Some very high end necktie brands, costing in excess of $150, offer the option to have the tie cleaned and resown by hand. This involves opening the seam of the necktie, cleaning the fabric to a as-new condition, cutting a brand new inlay, and sewing it back together. If you have a necktie that was either very expensive, or has some sentimental value (fathers day gift for instance), then this option might be right for you.
6. Keep Your Jacket closed:
If none of the things above worked for you, then keep your jacket on, and the top button closed. Wear a 3-button jacket so that the stained area of your necktie won’t be visible. You can still wear your tie and no one will notice the stain.
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Your Cheap-Neckties Team