Your Guide to Tie Care

A necktie is not such an expensive item of a man’s wardrobe but it is not cheap either. You might dismiss tie care as unnecessary but the accumulated cost of wastefulness in necktie purchases is very significant to your long-term expenditure. Then again there are those moments when we are caught off-guard by an event or a travel need and you cannot find a good tie in the wardrobe. It also takes time to shop and select the perfect ties that match both your outfits and your lifestyle needs (formal, casual and business setups).

All these are reasons why you should care for your neckties diligently. Here again is a summary of the reasons why care for your neckties is important:
a)   It makes for convenient availability of neckties when you do not have time to shop for a new one
b)   Prolongs the necktie’s life
c)   Sustains the high quality appearance of a tie (its luster, crisp form and shine)
d)   It saves on your routine expenditure
e)   It makes it easy to assign particular neckties with outfits they match with appropriately
f)   Caring for a necktie is easy and almost effortless

Tie care is essential!

So how should you care for your neckties if you get around to doing it? It is simple and easy. Follow the following guidelines and you will not have issues with your neckties ever. To begin with ensure that you untie each necktie you wear after use. It is advisable that you stop stocking ready-to-wear and slip-on knotted neckties since while saving on the tying time the knots will make permanent creasing on the fabric. Such creases ultimately destroy the quality of your ties prematurely. All neckties in your closet and or wardrobe should be untied.

The second guideline on tie care is to reverse a necktie knot immediately you untie it so as to lighten the creasing made by the first knot. When you reverse the crease of a necktie the fibers and the lining of the necktie are given back their elasticity and they can freely flow again. Again, remove the knot properly without pulling on the shorter end. This particular guideline for caring for a necktie ensures that you avoid stretching the necktie’s fabric unnecessarily. Avoid too tight necktie knot. How tight the tie is tied makes less visual effect anyway.

Another important facet during the tie care is safe storage. Tie storage is especially vital for your silk neckties. Silk neckties are best stored when hanged individually and not stuffed in a drawer, travel luggage bag or suitcase. If space does not permit individual ties to be hanged, fold them gently in such a way that does not crease them. Once folded tuck the silk neckties carefully inside a small box and then put the box somewhere in your luggage or wardrobe.

Before you wear a tie remove it and hang it somewhere for at least an hour before wearing it. It is also recommended that you iron a tie carefully. If you do not have an iron and the tie is creased, hang it in the bathroom and let out some steam. The damp atmosphere will get the fabric to loosen up and ease out of the creases. This brings in another important aspect of tie care. When you iron a tie, use a hand steamer to remove necktie knot wrinkles. This should be done once in a month or once every two months. Too much heat and or steam will damage your tie. Remember that when you iron a tie, start with the underside so that the lining is not displaced. Always iron the front of a necktie with minimal heat and using a cotton fabric between the tie and the iron. Only polyester neckties can survive a higher heat level.

Special care for silk neckties

If not stained, avoid sending silk neckties to the dry cleaners. The direct application of heat and hard flat presses is not ideal care for your silk neckties. However, for woolen and cotton neckties dry cleaning is a good choice but never try normal washing on these fabrics. Soap and water will shrink or shorten your tie’s fabric inappropriately.

In tie storage, tie care also demands that you keep all your neckties in a clean and dry environment. Ideal care for your neckties means that the ties are kept in a space free from mold, humidity and crawling or flying insects. You should also avoid prolonged exposure of neckties to sweat and sunlight. Sunlight decreases the shine and luster of a necktie while sweat’s acidity damages the necktie’s fabric. With good necktie care you are guaranteed that there will be something to boost any outfit you settle on any day and at any given time. Adequate tie care will make sure that your tie lasts a lifetime without having to replace it every now and then.