Cleaning Silk Ties

Cleaning silk ties is generally not recommended. However, they sometimes seem to be magnets for ketchup, grease and tomato sauce, making it a necessity. The first thing to remember when cleaning anything made of silk is no H20. Water can make the stain set, and more importantly it can ruin the silk by causing rings or ripples that mess up the color or pattern.

Keep your clean ties organized and neat.

Time is definitely of the essence when it comes to cleaning silk ties. As soon as the wearer notices a stain, he or she should blot it with a dry soft paper towel, or in pinch, toilet tissue, removing as much of the offending condiment or other substance as possible.

While this technique will also work best when done immediately, it’s unlikely the wearer will have a bottle of rubbing alcohol and a hairdryer on hand. Thus, he or she should do the following as soon as the materials are available:

1. Remove the tie and lay it out flat.
2. Get a bottle of clear rubbing alcohol and pour a half cup into a small bowl.
3. Dip a small washcloth or rag in the bowl, wringing it out so it doesn’t drip.
4. Dab at the stain with the alcohol until comes out, gently scrubbing if needed.
5. Dry the tie right away with the hairdryer so that the alcohol will not form a ring on the silk.

Other cleaning solutions that may work if rubbing alcohol is not available are club soda or a gentle stain remover such as Woolite. It’s important to test the solution on the back of the tie first to make sure it doesn’t make the colors fade or run.

It goes without saying that cleaning silk ties with grease or oil stains on them is a difficult task. However, it is not impossible. The following procedure may just do the trick if the above solution did not work:

1. Again, lay the tie out flat.
2. Cover the stain with a thin layer of borax, cornstarch of talcum powder.
3. Let the tie sit for several hours so that the powder can absorb the stain.
4. Wipe the powder off the tie with a towel.

This method may not work on the first try, but it can be repeated up to three times. After that, unfortunately, it’s time for another trip to Brooks Brothers.

Many think that if they get a stain on their silk tie the best solution is to take it to the dry cleaner. However, this is not true. Having a tie dry cleaned can result in severe and often irreparable damage. The chemicals can weaken the delicate fabric and rid it of its shine, and ironing will eliminate any ridges that add to its sophisticated look. Because of this, many dry cleaners will not even agree to clean silk ties and those that will usually offer no guarantees they will come back in peak condition.

Avoiding getting stains on silk ties is a lot easier than cleaning them after the fact. The most obvious way to do this is to not wear one in risky situations, such as at restaurants, construction sites or auto shows. However, events in all of three of these places sometimes call for professional attire, so this may not be realistic. Here are some other options:

• Tuck the tie into a shirt or jacket or lay it over one shoulder.
• Spray the tie with a thin layer of Scotchgard.
• Use a tie tack to keep the tie pinned to the shirt and out of harm's way.
• Cover the tie with a bib when the situation allows, such as when eating lobster or crab.

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