Silk ties are generally considered non-cleanable. They are extremely delicate and can easily be damaged. If you find yourself in a situation in which you need to clean a silk tie be sure you do so right away. Depending upon the contents of the stain will determine how best to clean it.
Generally, it is a bad idea to use water on your silk tie. You should however carefully wipe as much of the staining material from the tie as possible. Below is a sample of known ways to clean your tie.
Food stains that may be greasy should be blotted off carefully. Place your tie on a flat surface and cover the stain with talcum powder or cornstarch. Leave it sit for 24 hours then carefully brush off the powder. You may need to repeat this process multiple times in order to fully remove the stain.
Liquid based stains or stains that may leave a ring on the fabric can be treated by first gently dabbing as much of the stain away as possible with a tissue. Using a dry towel cover the stain with plain rubbing alcohol and quickly blow dry the tie. Repeat as needed being sure to fully dry the tie between applications of alcohol otherwise you may get rings from the liquid.
Another option for removing stains from your silk ties would be to use a commercial fabric cleaner such as Woolite. Carefully apply the cleaner to the tie, gently applying it to the stained area. Following the directions on the cleaner remove the cleaner and rinse through with a cleaning solution. If water is needed, use as little as possible and dry the fabric quickly between cleaning sessions.
Placing a stained tie upon a soft towel and laying both on top of a radiator can also help remove a stain, if you carefully spritz water on the stain and dab it off with some tissue. You can repeat this process as needed until the stain is removed. Be sure to keep water application to a minimum and blot it off thoroughly.
Regardless of the type of stain or the cleaning method tried, it is essential to avoid water as it softens and deteriorates the silk fabric and can ruin a tie. If however, your tie has become stained and the only other choice is to throw it out, then what do you have to lose?
Cleaning a silk tie can be relatively simple. It can save you hundreds in dry cleaning or replacing of your silk tie collection.