2,000 Years of the Necktie: How to Care for Your Tie

Updated August 5, 2020 | Infoplease Staff

How to Care for Your Tie

Neckties Through the Ages Introduction 210 B.C. China's First Emperor 113 A.D. Did Romans Wear Ties? 17th Century Croatian Cravats for the King of France Cravats Go to England Real Men Wear Lace 18th Century Cowboy Bandannas from India Sailing the Seven Seas 19th Century Business Suit Takes Shape Cambridge & Oxford School Ties Ties Fit for Officers and Gentlemen Bow Ties Center Stage A Tie Singing Dixie Lord Byron's Legacy Women Tie the Knot, Too! 20th Century Paris Presents Designer Ties Celebrities & Rock Stars Ascots Cross Finish Line Bolo: The Tie That Won the West Turtleneck: The Anti-Tie Related Links Knotty Questions How Wide Should You Tie? From Brooches to Pins A First Class Tie Care for Your Tie

The invention of new materials such as rayon, dacron and polyester are used by themselves, or as blends with natural material, to make ties longer lasting, wrinkle-free and easier to care for.

The Neckwear Association of America offers the following tips on how to care for your tie.

• Let water spots on silk ties dry and then rub it briskly with the same fabric.
• For hard to remove stains, hold the spot over the steam from a boiling kettle and apply cleaning fluid.
• Ties can be dry cleaned, but make sure your cleaner is experienced with ties.
• Ties made of synthetic material might be washable.
• When ironing ties, make certain the roll along the tie edge is not pressed flat.
• Always hang your ties on a rack, except knitted or crochet ties, which should be rolled and stored in a drawer.
• Give your ties at least two or three days rest before wearing them again to allow wrinkles to hang out.
• Always unknot your ties when taking it off. Never slip it over your head.
• Do not unravel the knot by pulling on the small end. Always reverse the knot itself.
• Do not make your knots too tight.

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