How to Wash Ties

Throwing a tie in the washing machine can damage or ruin your accessory permanently, so you need to take extra care when washing a tie. Washing ties by hand is the best way to eliminate spots and stains, and you'll be able to hang them dry to prevent shrinking and ruining their structure. If you need to freshen up an old tie, here are some simple ways to clean and revive it.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Spot stain remover
• Washcloth
• Dry Cloth
• Warm water
• Clothes hanger
• Hand steamer

1. Remove small stains with the spot treatment. Apply spot treatment to the tie and let it set; gently remove the stain with a washcloth for a quick cleanup.

2. Rinse large or fresh stains with warm soapy water. Use the edge of a washcloth soaked in warm, soapy water to slowly remove any fresh stains immediately.

3. Try steam cleaning the tie. Handheld steam cleaners are ideal for lifting stains and marks from the tie and pressing them dry.

4. Rub away crusts, flakes or other topical stains with a dry cloth. Any small particles can be removed with a dry cloth or your fingers; this prevents the tie from being exposed to excess water.

5. Hang the tie to dry on a clothes hanger. The tie can be hung on a clothes hanger to air dry naturally and maintain its shape.

Tips & Warnings

• Read the tie care and washing instructions before applying any type of cleaning solution to the material
• Avoid using harsh chemicals on silk or satin ties, unless you've run a spot trial
• Use a steam cleaner at a reasonable distance for best results.
• Iron the tie flat by wrapping it in a towel or thin cloth before pressing with a hot iron
• Don't take the tie to the dry cleaners! Silk ties can lose their luster and fade rapidly after this type of intensive treatment
• Avoid soaking the tie in any type of cleaning solution as this can shrink the tie.
• Don't wrap the ends of the tie around a hanger, but let it hang down straight; this helps maintain the tie's shape.

[Thims]

on 10/13/2008 Neat little tips. Although, I'm surprized "vinegar" isn't mentioned since it's properties seems to be able to cure all the world's problems. ;-) Good article.