How to Take Care of Your Neckties

Neckties are one of those items that tend to get neglected or mistreated.  My son has to wear a necktie to school every Thursday, and when he gets in the car after school, he yanks it off and shoves it in his backpack.  I’ve even seen my husband take off a necktie the same way though he does hang it in the closet on a tie rack.

While many places of business have casual dress codes these days, the necktie is still an important piece of every man’s wardrobe.  Even though they are a small strip of fabric and their purpose can show power, make a statement, or be playful, the necktie can be a difficult garment to clean and care for.  That’s because the fabric used for ties is cut on the bias, so it makes a neat knot when worn.  This cut is easily distorted and stretched, which can result in puckering and fullness.  Of course, its location when worn tens to make it an easy target for stains and spills.  Finally, sizing or finishes are used during manufacturing to stabilize fabrics. If the finish is removed in cleaning, the fabric will lose its shape and stability.

The good news is that neckties typically don’t require cleaning unless something is spilled on them, plus there are things you can do at home to make your neckties look sharp for years to come.

Tips on Tie Care

1. Use care when taking off your tie. Instead of pulling the thin end of the tie through the knot, remove your ties by following the tie-tying process in reverse.
2. Properly hanging your ties, instead of stuffing them a drawer, makes it easier for the creases and folds from the knot to fall out.
3. Use care when eating so that your tie doesn’t turn into a bib. If you do spill something on your tie, don’t try to remove it yourself; take it to a professional. Attempting to remove that stain could disturb the dye causing the colors to run or fade. If you spill something while out, blot the stain with a clean, white cloth; do not rub. Rubbing the area while damp may break the surface yarns, causing localized color loss.
4. Never iron a tie. If you need to remove wrinkles, hang your tie in the bathroom while taking a hot shower, but avoid getting it wet; this will allow the wrinkles to relax. You could also use a hand-held steamer.
5. When traveling, fold ties into fours and place them inside a jacket pocket.
6. Avoid wearing tie tacks; they will leave holes in the fabric of your tie.

Cleaning neckties can be challenging, even for the most experienced dry-cleaner.  You can trust Shores to properly clean and return your neckties to like-new condition. Plus, we can apply stain repellant to ties after cleaning to help negate spills and minimize the number of times ties require professional care.  Simply drop them at one of our three convenient locations to see for yourself.