How To Clean A Silk Tie

If you've ever owned a silk tie, you know that they are difficult to tie and even more difficult to clean. The truth is, silk ties really aren't meant to be cleaned as they are extremely delicate. Even a little rough treatment in simple handling can turn a silk tie into trash.

Having said that, if you absolutely must clean your silk tie, then here are a few tips to make the cleaning process as easy as possible and still have a tie after you're done.

If your silk tie should get a stain, remove it immediately. Waiting any length of time will make removal of the stain virtually impossible. One thing you don't want to do is expose your silk tie to water. Take a soft paper towel and put a small amount of stain remover on it and gently dab it onto the stain. Use another paper towel to gently blot the stain.

Here's another tip that may get that stain out. Hang a soft towel over a hot radiator. Take the silk tie and rest it flat on top of the towel. Use some cold water and evenly spray the stained area, being careful not to soak the stain. Use soft but absorbent bathroom tissue to blot the tie. Leave the tie on the radiator overnight. The next morning when you get up, check the tie. If the stain is still there, repeat the process.

If you should get butter or grease on your silk tie, don't do anything. When you get home lay the silk tie on a flat surface with a towel under it. Get some talcum powder and sprinkle it over the stain. If you don't have talcum powder you can use corn starch. Leave the tie on the towel overnight or for as long as you can. This gives the stain a chance to be absorbed by the powder. Afterwards, take a clean soft cloth or towel and gently brush off the powder. If it is still stained, repeat the process. It can take up to three applications.