Care for your beloved tie...

To use computer terminology, a tie is a ‘user-friendly’ clothing accessory. With just a little care and maintenance, the tie is set to serve you for your entire lifetime and for future generations too. Since a tie assumes a prominent place on the user’s body, its upkeep is paramount. Maintenance of neckties is carried out on two fronts; washing and storage. Considering the delicate nature of most tie materials, fashion experts do not recommend dry-cleaning of ties. Since dry-cleaning is a high-pressure task, the tie may loose its buoyancy and the rolled edges may get flattened. While the maintenance of satin, cotton, and polyester ties could be slackened, as far as silk ties go, their care cannot be compromised. Even though they look good, silk ties have the disadvantage of looking old if carelessly cared for. With even minimal care, a silk tie is capable of retaining its gloss and rich finish for well near forever.

Belisi Ties should be hand-washed in cold water using a mild detergent. It is advisable not to rub the ties too harshly during washing as this could cause disintegration of the fibers. When tie is stained only in a certain area, it does not make sense cleaning the entire tie. Such a tie can be spot-cleaned. For water-based stains, seltzer or club soda can be applied to the stained part. For oil-based stains, on the other hand, the sprinkling of talcum powder is a good idea, as it absorbs the oil, thereby easing the cleaning process. Stains that persist even after trying out these remedies could be cleaned with chemical spot removers. An option to prevent the tie from getting stained is to opt for a tie that is rendered by the manufacturer with a blocking agent, which prevents any stain-formation.

After washing, the tie should be ironed. While cotton and linen ties need a relatively hot iron, wool ties need a lukewarm iron, and silk and polyester ties require a cool iron. Pressing the iron too hard could result in the rolled edges once again getting flattened. Begin ironing with the rear side facing upwards and then follow up with the frontal portion. Some people prefer keeping a cloth between the tie and the iron to avoid the typical ‘ironed shine; from appearing on the tie. An interesting way of removing wrinkles from ties is to hang them on a hanger in the bathroom while the geyser is on. The steam from the hot water relaxes the tie fibers and minimizes the wrinkles to a certain extent.

Storing of ties has two dimensions; in the house and while traveling. At home, ties should be kept in a moisture-proof and also moth-free closet. A darker environment is preferred as this prevents the tie from fading. To prevent moths and other insects, generous use of camphor balls is recommended. While a tie should not be stored in a cramped location for obvious reasons, it is also suggested to frequently aerate rarely used ties by removing them from the cupboard from time to time. When traveling, the tie should preferably be folded four times and then kept in an inner coat pocket. Alternatively, after being rolled, the tie could be placed in a corner of the suitcase. Truly, caring for ties cannot be ignored.