Silk Tie Stain Removal

How to remove a stain from a silk tie using rubbing alcohol, paper towels, and a hair dryer. Very easy and it works surprisingly well!

[GuyNoirxyz]

I tried this technique a few years ago and it worked. Tip: blow the hot air "inside" the tie, as this helps prevent moisture-marks that can linger around the outside of the original stain.

[claudiajohnson]

I started using rubbing alcohol to clean my husband's tie but then just used a bit of liquid hand soap and water and gently rubbed it. And this worked. Stain is gone. I also blow-dried it with medium hot air. Also, the stain on that tie was pretty old. 

[annabrenner]

This works great for ties on the darker side (which are a little more forgiving with stains). Not sure yet about how it might work on a lighter tone.

[Markflw]

No idea what I got on my tie but this method works. Hopefully the smell of the alcohol dissipates. Thanks!

[kleulclkyy]

Your voice made me picture you as Toby from The Office. XD

[VinylToVideo]

The following is a fairly easy way to wash silk ties that have been lightly soiled. I've even had good results washing used ties I thought were otherwise goners. I usually do about 6 at a time (as many as will fit on one hangar) in a double sink.
 
1. Fill tub with lukewarm water and about 1 cup of salt. Dissolve salt by mixing water with hand(s). Give tie(s) a quick wash in this water (one at a time, keeping in mind you never want to get the tie too out of shape), making sure they are soaked thoroughly. I do all of the ties before going to step two. This is to ensure loss of dyes will be minimal.

2. Fill tub with warm water and a very few soap flakes (like, 1/100th of what you'd use in the wash; enough for just a few suds). Carefully clean tie(s) in this water, gently using your hands to lightly swoosh (for lack of a better word) problem dirty areas. You want to clean the ties long enough so they are clean but not so long that the dyes start to overly bleed in the water.

3. Have tub with same temp water and about a cup of vinegar on standby. After done with step two, clean tie(s) in this water. The vinegar will set the colors. Thoroughly soak.

4. Final tub of water rinse. Thoroughly rinse tie(s).

5. Roll up tie(s) in large towel and carefully squeeze to suck out much of the water. Allow to fully dry on hanger, making sure wet ties don't touch.

6. Carefully press tie(s) with medium iron once fully dried.
 
I've had good results when I use plenty of salt and vinegar. Failing to do this may result in the ties bleeding and being ruined for good. I've washed silk, acetate, and polyester ties successfully this way. Sometimes sadly stains are so set in that the tie cannot be successfully cleaned. Each time I lose a badly stained tie I learn a little more about what you can and can not do in cleaning them.

[hyx._]

What if the tie was a lighter color will it still work because I have a problem with that

[jeffreyhatzenbeller]

I would think the hair dryer would bake the stain back into the tie as opposed to room temp evaporation. Same with at clothes dryer. It bakes the stain into the fabric. Just an opinion.

[HoudalothAli]

If your eating, it's best to hide the tie inside your shirt and that will reduce the risk of stains falling on it or use a napkin.

[IsaiahCelloBrown]

Hey, wouldn't the alcohol give the tie an unpleasant aroma?

[abudhabi]

I done this using my husbands silk tie, it removed the stain however what I'm left with is a big water stain due to the rubbing alchohol, so frustrating.

[HoopaZero]

talcum powder/cornstarch/contact cleaner spray

[mr.t]

Without rubbing in a circular motion, i dont think any stain can come out..

[mattmcg]

Hmmmm rubbing alcohol and a hot hair dryer =

[thetaekwondoe]

I did this. It took out the stain beautifully. BUT it made the coloring on the back of the tie run and put an unfixable stain on the back. Boo. Can't sell it now. :( Oh well.

[phenixcrow]

Just with rubbing alcohol all three stains vanished.

[saiprabhakar]

like it was helpful and shit but wtf xD