Your silk suit is incomplete without a fine matching tie to give your appearance a touch of luxury and style. A classic silk tie can be a timeless and stylish counterpoint to your suit, giving you an air of professionalism and authority wherever you may be. A beautiful tie also allows you to express your mood and personality, giving you confidence and sophistication in any social or business situation.

As with your suit, looking after silk apparel is important and some guidelines for silk ties care follow.

Silk Ties Care

While silk is a delicate fabric, it can last for many years if carefully looked after. Always undo the knot with a gentle action when you are not wearing your silk tie. This will help keep the fabric smooth and reduce wrinkles. Then, you can either hang it up on a tie rack or wrap it into a loose spiral around the palm of your hand (starting with the narrow end.)

Tip - Always keep sharp objects away from delicate silk fabric, it is easy to damage with small tears.

If your silk tie is slightly wrinkled, you can treat it with passing streams of steam from a steam iron held close, but without actually touching it so as to protect the silk and care for the inlay. If you don't have an iron, try a bit of steam from a kettle (taking care not to burn your hands!) If you really need to iron your tie, it's best to iron through a cotton cloth. Try not to press hard, ties are meant to have a bit of dimension and depth rather than being flat like a sheet of paper. The rolled, rounded edges are an attractive feature of ties.

Tip - A little bit of steam can help to "relax" minor wrinkles out of a silk tie. Simply hang it in the bathroom when you take a hot, steaming shower. This tip is especially useful when traveling.

If you wear silk ties frequently, consider buying a small and handy hand steamer from a big department store to reduce any wrinkles and keep your ties looking crisp and new. Also, avoid wearing the same tie two days in a row to give them a rest.

If you spill something on your silk tie, try to remove as much of the stain as quickly as possible. Water and soap is helpful and should be available anywhere, and you could also try dabbing it with some ethyl rubbing alcohol, sparkling soda water or bleach-free stain remover. (Be sure to read any instructions available. Also, test a drop of the stain remover in an unobtrusive spot on the back of the tie first.) Try not to rub hard.

If the stain is greasy, a dash of talcum powder, salt or corn starch can help to absorb some of it, then dust and brush it off. Many stains will then require dry cleaning to complete the job, though dry cleaning is generally a last resort for optimum longevity of your tie, and because of the risk posed by harsh chemicals.

Tip - be sure to follow any washing and cleaning instructions that may be supplied with your ties, this is important for the best silk ties care.

Tip - some fine restaurants have fabric cleaning agents on hand, don't hesitate to ask.

While it's best to avoid it, sometimes you will need to hand wash your silk ties. Only wash them in luke warm water, using the minimal amount of soft detergent (read any instructions) or soft soap needed to remove a stain. Rinse gently a few times. On the second last rinse, you can add a little white vinegar. Lay them flat on a towel to dry, avoiding harsh direct sunlight. You can speed it up by dabbing them with paper towels and then using a hair dryer.

When traveling, roll your tie up into a loose spiral and pack in a solid box or tie case to avoid crushing and wrinkling. An alternative is to fold it loosely into four and place it into the inner pocket of your suit jacket. Another useful travel tip is to favor dark colored ties - these generally show stains less visibly.

By following these principles for silk ties care, a tie of high quality can appear new and wrinkle-free for many years. The secret of silk is that while it is exceptionally fine, which makes it a delicate fabric, it is also exceptionally strong for its size. This makes it highly durable when cared for properly.