Any alternatives to dry cleaning mens silk ties?

zaq

Sun, Jun 02 2024, 2:58 pm

The alternative is to throw it out. Seriously, I don't bother trying to rehab dh ties except to convert them into polishing cloths for glasses. OTOH, he doesn't spend $120 on a tie--but methinks if you can afford to spend that much on a useless strip of silk, you can afford to have it dry-cleaned.

Yes, you can risk washing by hand in cold water if the tie is already stained--if it shrinks or the color runs, well, no loss, it was already unwearable. You can also try spot-cleaning with a solvent like Carbona, but it's toxic and must be handled with care. If it's a grease stain, try smothering in corn starch to absorb the grease for a day or two before trying a solvent or washing.

To test for colorfastness, soak a hidden part of the fabric in water, then press between two layers of white cotton fabric or white paper towels. Let dry. If no trace of color shows on the white, and the silk doesn't pucker, shrink or fade, go ahead and try washing. Gingerly.

jflower ↓

Sun, Jun 02 2024, 2:59 pm

I hand wash silk ties and they come out great. I put a bit of detergent in a basin with cold water and let the tie soak for about an hour. I can rinse it and hang it up to drip dry.

amother

↑ OP

Sun, Jun 02 2024, 6:06 pm

jflower wrote:

I hand wash silk ties and they come out great. I put a bit of detergent in a basin with cold water and let the tie soak for about an hour. I can rinse it and hang it up to drip dry.

Do stains come out? Do you spray with oxy for stains?

↑ jflower

Sun, Jun 02 2024, 7:16 pm

No, I do not spray the stains. If the stains don't come out the first time, I apply some liquid tide directly on the stains and let it sit for a while. Then I rinse again and let it dry.