How to Clean Silk Neckties

Clean silk neckties with common household items.

If your silk tie appears stained, you can clean it at home with a few basic household items. Silk ties can be tricky to clean because you can easily damage the fabric and the shape of the tie. Certain stains will require a different approach to remove. Once your silk tie appears dirty or you notice a stain, you can easily treat it by attending to the dirt and stains immediately.

Things You'll Need

• Towel
• Cornstarch
• Butter knife
• Seltzer water
• Hand steamer

Instructions

1. Place the silk necktie on a towel.

2. Remove wet stains such as grease or butter with cornstarch. Sprinkle cornstarch over the stain, and allow it to sit overnight. Use a cloth to brush off the cornstarch, and add more if the stain still exists.

3. Use a dull butter knife to remove dried stains.

4. Blot seltzer water onto the stained necktie with a paper towel. Do not rub it because it will force stains deep into the fabric.

5. Use a hand steamer to remove wrinkles and to help dry the tie.

6. Hang the tie in your closet. Avoid leaving the ties in knots because doing so will leave creases in the fabric.

Tips & Warnings

• It is not recommended to dry clean silk ties because it will ruin the shape of the ties.

• Do not wash silk ties in water because this will ruin the silk fabric.

References

• Ties-Necktie: Silk Tie Care: Cleaning a Silk Tie
• Neck Tie Aficionado: Silk Tie Care and Cleaning
• Creative Homemaking: Cleaning Silk Ties

Resources

• Read this Article in Spanish