Get Smart with Your Tie Care
Whether they are an everyday staple or an optional accessory, the necktie needs to be cared for. Avoid the stains, the wrinkles and the common day tie mishaps with this quick tutorial on smart tie care.
To prevent creases, unknot your tie and hang it up after every wear. A tied knot causes creases in the fabric and is a primary cause for the early death of what could have been a lifetime accessory. The same is true of folding or crumpling a tie. The best solution for preserving the longevity of a tie is hanging it and letting the creases and wrinkles organically ease out. When travelling, fold the tie in four and place it in your suit pocket. There are a number of travelling cases for mens ties. If you do buy a tie case, we highly recommend the tie winder storage device. It is the most efficient storage choice when travelling. When you unpack, hang the tie in the washroom. The steam of the shower will relax the fabric and work wonders to ease creases and wrinkles.
Then there’s the issue of stains. The best rule of thumb is to avoid stains by using careful consideration but sometimes that isn’t enough. The best strategy for removing a stain out of silk is dipping a clean cloth in cold seltzer water and dabbing at the tie. It is essential to dab and not rub. Rubbing ruins the fabric and sets the stain. If the stain is grease related, sprinkle talcum powder on the stain and wipe away the residue a few hours later. Never dry clean your ties. The dry cleaning process ruins the rolled edges and makes your accessories look cheap and limp.
Some people recommend hand steaming the tie to remove wrinkles. While it is a much better solution compared to ironing (which should never be done), steaming only addresses the outer silk layer. If the inlay is wrinkled or twisted then even steaming won’t help. The only solution for an out of shape inlay is opening the stitching, resetting the inlay, and the stitching the tie back up. Doing this is an option but should only be done by an experienced tailor. Since it is not cheap to do, it is usually only worth doing on very expensive designer neckties.
Mens ties carry a certain panache and therefore have to be well kept and well maintained. A tie with stains or set creases is an instant throw-a-way. Like anything, there is the good, the bad, and the unavoidable with wearing neckties. Of course, stains and wrinkles are eventually going to occur but these simple tie care tips can help preserve the life of your favorite neckties. Get smart with your tie care.
Other Helpful Articles Related to Tie Care:
How to Clean a Silk Tie
How to Store Ties
Your Mens-Ties.com Team