Basic Men’s Tie Care

Neckties are very often treated much like any other men’s accessory – that is, with not much care. Guys have the unfortunate tendency to overlook maintenance tasks when it comes to accessories, and the necktie is no exception as a victim. Certain steps can (and should) be taken to lengthen the life span of your tie and improve its overall appearance.

Silk neckties are the gold standard of modern men’s formal fashion, but the material can also make them somewhat delicate when it comes to maintenance. They require a good deal more effort than, say, shirts that you can just chuck into your washing machine.

Need to Unknot
A lot of men are simply too lazy. This can get problematic since caring for neckties is all about paying attention to the details. Details like remembering to undo the knot when you get home in the evening can have a huge effect on the life span of your tie.

What most guys do when they arrive home is loosen their knots just enough to get their heads through, and then yank off the tie – knot and all. It might sound like a harmless and less labor-intensive routine, but two years of this routine can add a lot of extra wear on your tie. Leaving the fabric in a knot overnight maintains constant stress on the textile. Without your neck to cancel out that force, permanent wrinkling is more than likely.

Once it’s off your neck, hang up your tie. This lets gravity knock out the creases, or at least minimize some of the more visible wrinkles. Go the extra mile and buy that special hanger that’s just for your ties. It doesn’t cost much, and one piece is usually good for up to a dozen or so ties hanging and taking a breather.

It doesn’t take much, as you’ve noticed. Undoing the knot all the way and hanging it up somewhere – a special tie hanger, the back of a chair and the like – won’t take you an additional two minutes each day. Over the years, however, you could be adding up to a full decade to the life of your necktie.

Seasonal Care
Every so often – about once every year should be fine for regular use – your ties deserve a thorough cleaning. Cotton and knit ties can usually go into the wash with the rest of the regular laundry. Silk ties, however, ought not be touched by anyone but a specialist.

Not all dry cleaners are made equal. Some simply have access to the materials and the equipment, and can handle regular clothing. Others, however, have specific training to handle certain textiles. Silk is one of those sensitive materials that need a trained hand to clean; anyone else is almost sure to cause some form of permanent damage or another.

Ask your usual dry cleaner if they can handle silk. If they don’t, it may be time to find a different one, if just to take care of your ties. The cost of having such a small scrap of cloth might be a tad higher than you’re likely to expect, but the price is still much less than that of a new set of silk pieces. Silk neckties are really expected to last long, but they can only survive as long as you’re willing to pay them the right amount of care.

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