| u haven’t ruined a necktie yet by spilling soup or | | | | directly on the spot. Try blotting the stain away with a |
| coffee on it, than chances are that sooner or later | | | | paper towel after allowing the cleaner a few seconds |
| such a mishap will happen to you. If the necktie is part | | | | to work. Be aware that either of these methods or the |
| of your daily attire, then it is just a question of time | | | | application of any liquid may cause the color of the tie |
| before you will get it dirty. Not only can a silk tie be | | | | to change in the affected area. As long as the color |
| quite costly, but also neckties are commonly given as | | | | doesn’t fade or wash out you are safe. The |
| presents on father’s day and Christmas. A tie | | | | color will go back to normal once the liquid has dried. |
| your son gave you for father’s day last year | | | | A professional dry cleaner may be worth a try as a |
| will be difficult to replace and knowing how to remove | | | | last resort. Keep in mind that there will probably be no |
| a stain without damaging the tie is key. | | | | guarantee, and that your tie may just as easily suffer |
| Many experts will tell you that any attempt to clean a | | | | damage in the process. You may want to specifically |
| silk tie is a waste of time. This might be true in some | | | | request that they do not press your silk tie, to |
| cases, but there are a few tips that will get a large | | | | preserve its softness. Also, ask them about their |
| portion of stains removed without damaging the | | | | cleaning process. Fabric damaging chemicals, that will |
| delicate silk fabric. | | | | get the stain out, but ruin the shape of your tie, must |
| The first thing to know about cleaning a silk tie is NOT | | | | be avoided. |
| to use water. Avoid getting the tie wet as this will | | | | If all of the above fail, here’s one more radical |
| cause the tie to fall out of shape. The stain might be | | | | and perhaps final suggestion. Get the tie soaking wet |
| gone, but the tie just won’t look right anymore. | | | | with luke-warm water but first start with one of the |
| Instead, if you can act quickly, before the spot dries, try | | | | commercial stain removers. Dab the cleaner in |
| drawing the stain out with an absorbent. Plain talcum | | | | full-strength on the stain. Before the solution dries, |
| powder sprinkled on a necktie laid flat and left | | | | immerse the tie in a lukewarm bath of water with a |
| overnight has salvaged some ties. Be careful to use a | | | | small amount of the same cleaner. Gently agitate it by |
| powder that’s free of color or perfumes. Brush | | | | hand for a few minutes. Avoid scrunching or scrubbing. |
| the powder off later with a soft towel. | | | | Rinse gently with more lukewarm water. Carfully put |
| If the stain has dried, or can’t be absorbed as | | | | the tie onto a towel on a flat surface and cover the tie |
| above, there’s probably no alternative than to | | | | with another towel. Put a little weight onto the tie. |
| use a bit of liquid. There are many commercial stain | | | | Perfect are a few books. Roll the now puckered tie in |
| removers available, such as Woolite® and you | | | | an absorbent towel but be careful not to stretch the |
| may want to try one, sparingly and gently. Before | | | | fabric. |
| pouring the cleaner onto the front of the tie, try a tiny | | | | Chances are that one of the methods above will work |
| sport on the back of the necktie first. Doing this will | | | | and will salvage the tie. The best stain removing |
| allow you to check how the liquid affects the color and | | | | method is avoiding the stain in first place. Avoid foods |
| the fabric of the tie. If you see the colors to fade or | | | | that are likely to spill such as soup or spaghetti, and if |
| the silk to crinkle, then obviously use a different cleaner. | | | | the situation allows, tug your tie in between two |
| Once you find a cleaner gentle enough, dab a little of it | | | | buttons of your dress shirt. |