Necktie Cleaning & Snag Care

Cleaning
Most experts agree that silk neckties shouldn’t be taken to the drycleaners. Although drycleaners may successfully remove many spots, their process for pressing the necktie will compact the lining and dull the silk’s sheen. Instead:

• Use a white cotton cloth with rubbing alcohol on it (never water). Take this moist cloth and tap it onto the stain of the tie.
• For tougher stains apply steam from an iron with out touching the iron to the material or hold the necktie over a boiling kettle. Then use a dry or powdered spot remover following instructions on the container. More serious stains will often respond to a spot remover such as carbon tetrachloride.
• For greasy stains, sprinkle a little talcum powder on the spot as soon as possible and allow it to absorb for a few hours. Then, brush off the remaining residue with a clean soft cloth.

For removing water spots, let the spot dry, and then rub the tail of the necktie on the spot. If unsuccessful, very gently scrape the surface with a smooth-edged fingernail.

Snags
Take a very small, very sharp pair of scissors and carefully cut off the frayed threads (don’t worry, the whole tie shouldn’t unravel).