Cleaning Silk Ties

If, during Christmas dinner, Dad spills gravy on the silk tie you just gave him as a Christmas present, don't despair! While some subscribe to the axiom of never cleaning a silk tie and, instead, replacing it, you can clean a silk tie following these easy tips:

• Act immediately. Don't allow the foodstuff to linger on the tie. With a moist cloth, dab the food away from the fabric.
• If a grease stain remains, lay the tie flat on a towel and shake talcum powder onto the stain liberally.
• Roll the tie inside of the towel and allow it to sit overnight. The talc will absorb the grease and now you can wash the tie.
• Fill a bowl or small sink with lukewarm water, and add a few drops of Woolite or baby shampoo.
• If you've iron in your water, or hard water, add a tablespoon of borax.
• Use your fingers or a whisk to agitate the water until you see suds.
• Place the tie into the water and gently agitate it with your hand for no more than three minutes.
• Check the tie to make sure that it is clean and then lay it flat on a thick, clean, dry towel.
• Roll the tie inside of the towel and allow it to sit overnight.
The next day, remove the tie from the towel and then lay it flat onto another dry towel. Allow the tie to sit for two days and any puckering caused by the water will disappear. Next time that Dad wears his silk tie to dinner, tell him to throw the tie over his shoulder to avoid spilling food onto the tie. If the method above doesn't work to remove stains from a silk tie, visit your local dry cleaner and have the tie dry-cleaned.