How to Care for a Tie

If you wear a tie everyday, you know how quickly it can become tattered and worn. Ties are similar to underwear in the way they wear, but unlike underwear, they can be costly, and so maintaining them can be a top priority. If you’ve noticed your ties are getting worn and old looking, you may need to start taking a little more time to care for them. Caring for ties is simple and once you get into the habit, you’ll be caring for them as easily as you tie them.

Things You'll Need

• Tide-to-Go Pen
• Ties
• Drawer
• Closet
• Tie rack
• Hangers
• Bib
• Napkins

Instructions

1. Untie your tie. Believe it or not, there is a right and a wrong way to untie your tie. Grabbing and pulling at it will weaken the fiber and can cause seams to loosen and rip. Take the little extra time to untie your tie properly by performing the steps you use in tying your tie in reverse order. Additionally, you should never loosen the neck and remove the tie still knotted and hang it still tied.

2. Remove wrinkles. Many ties are made from materials that help them stay wrinkle-free, but once you’ve untied your tie, you’ll notice some small wrinkles where the knot is. To get rid of these wrinkles, hang the tie over a hanger or tie rack. The wrinkles will release on their own overnight. Do not iron ties. If you're in a rush and your tie must be pressed, cover it with a towel and put your iron on its lowest setting.

3. Store your ties. If you don’t have a tie rack or your closet is too full to allow your ties to hang freely, you may roll them up and place them in a jar. Take the thin tail of your tie and place it between your thumb and middle finger. Loosely wrap the tie over your hand until it is completely rolled and place it into a drawer. This will keep the fabric smooth and help to release wrinkles without hanging.

4. Knit ties are not designed to hang for long periods of time, and crocheted ties are especially weak when it comes to hanging. Avoid hanging knit and crocheted ties as they will stretch and lose their shape over time. Rolling and storing is the best way to care for knit and crocheted fabric ties.

5. Avoid stains and spills. Though stains are inevitable–a tie is in direct line with just about everything you do, from eating and drinking to working and playing–there are things you can do to prevent stains and spills from landing on your tie. When eating or drinking, tuck the bottom of your tie into your shirt through the opening between your shirt's buttons or use a napkin like a bib, tucking it into your collar and completely covering your tie with it.

6. Treat stains. Because the majority of ties are made from silk, stains can be difficult to remove. Stain removers can be too harsh for silk ties, so your best bet for removing stains and maintaining your tie is to take it to your dry cleaner immediately. If you’re at the office, try dabbing a bit of water on the stain to release some of the goo or you can try an instant stain remover like the Tide pen. Any washing or stain removal, whether it’s at a dry cleaner or at home, will likely damage your tie to some degree, so try your best to keep your tie covered when eating and drinking.

Tips & Warnings

• Do not iron ties. If you're in a rush and your tie must be pressed, cover it with a towel and put your iron on its lowest setting.