How to Clean Silk Ties
Silk, a delicate fabric, can be difficult to clean. While most other materials can be easily laundered using water, the same method can ruin silk. Water might set a stain on silk permanently or create rings and ripples. Even dry cleaning could prove to be too harsh for a silk tie. A silk tie should be cleaned as little as possible; when stains do occur, extreme care should be exercised when cleaning. Does this Spark an idea?
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Things You'll Need
- Paper towels
- Washcloth
- Seltzer, club soda, rubbing alcohol, or stain remover
- Hair dryer
- Talcum powder or cornstarch
Instructions
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Regular Stain
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1
Use a paper towel to blot the stain. Do not rub the stain, as this may cause it to spread.
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2
Dip a washcloth or another paper towel in stain remover, seltzer, club soda or rubbing alcohol, then dab it on the stain.
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3
Dry the tie by blotting with a dry paper towel and blowing with a hair dryer immediately, to prevent marks from forming.
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4
Repeat the process up to three times, if necessary.
Greasy Stain
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5
Sprinkle talcum powder or cornstarch on the stain. Let the fabric absorb it for several hours.
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6
Remove the powder from the tie, using a cloth or a towel.
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7
Repeat the steps if the stain persists. If it remains after three applications, the stain might be permanent.
Water Spill
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8
Dry the area of the spill using a hair dryer immediately.
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9
Spread the tie on a clean towel.
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10
Roll up the tie in the towel.
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11
After one or two days, unroll the towel roll and check the tie. If the stain is still evident, it may well be permanent.
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1
Tips & Warnings
For stubborn stains that cannot be removed after several attempts, let a dry cleaner have a try. Take the tie to a reputable dry cleaner, requesting that the tie be treated gently and not ironed so it does not lose any volume. Use the dry cleaner only as a last resort.
Stain remover might discolor the fabric, so test the solution on the back of the tie before applying it to the stain.
References
- Photo Credit tie image by charles taylor from Fotolia.com
