The tie is one of the essential complements for formal dress, whether to go to work daily or for other special events such as weddings, baptisms or communions. However, it is also one of the easiest pieces to be stained, especially when we are eating.
The tissues of the ties are usually very delicate, especially if it is silk, so they need a care and cleaning process more specific and special, and not just put it in the washing machine (this should not be done under any circumstances, and even less, use the dryer).
As usual in issues about stains, the ideal is to solve it as soon as possible, because otherwise, the longer you spend, the harder it will be to eliminate and the more danger your tie will break and lose it.
The second thing to keep in mind for the care of ties is that they should never be stored with the knot made. It is true that doing it in this way saves a lot of time and is very useful for people who do not know how to tie the knot by themselves, but this ends up damaging the fabric and the life of the tie is considerably reduced.
In case you do not know how to tie a knot or have no one to help you, instead of leaving the knot done every time you take it off, it is more advisable to resort to what is known as “safety ties”. This type of tie is so called, because it is usually used by security personnel to avoid situations that may endanger their integrity.
How to clean a silk tie
The most commonly used material for ties is silk, a very elegant and beautiful fabric, but also very delicate and that you have to be very careful when cleaning. The most basic cleaning is with iron steam, in cases where there is no obvious stain, but you have used it many times and want to give it a quick clean.
Place the tie on the ironing board, with the iron at maximum temperature, and pass it over (two fingers of the tie, without ever touching it) applying the steam to disinfect. Thanks to this trick, it can be kept in good condition for many years.
The main problem with food stains are those that contain grease, which is what makes it so difficult to remove. For these cases, it is best to use talcum powder, which helps absorb this fat. Let it work for one or two hours, and if the fat is still there, go back to get more powder. The stain does not disappear completely, but it does remove the most complicated part.
For stains that do not have much fat, it is usually used carbonated water, but this is not advisable for silk ties, because this material is easily damaged and can leave behind spots of water. When applying carbonated water, do not put too much pressure on the stain to avoid damaging the fabric.
How to clean a tie from other materials
In the event that the tie is not silk, other issues must be taken into account. For example, if it is cotton, you should not use hot water, because this causes shrinkage and eventually ends up losing its original appearance. It is advisable to wash it by hand and with neutral soap, and do it very carefully, without sudden movements or making too much pressure.
For synthetic materials, such as polyester or lycra, special attention must be paid to the drying process. It is advisable to let the tie dry on a horizontal surface and not hanging vertically, since this way it can deform with the passage of time and washing. Also it is possible to avoid that the mark of the pinza remains.
Following these simple tips, you will have your tie clean for every occasion that you need to put it on and, in addition, you avoid damaging it, and it will last as longer as possible.
