O! The dreaded necktie stain!

[Reckoner]

I pulled my favorite necktie from its perch of honor on my tie rack and lo! what did I spy. (While you search, think about what it means that my favorite tie is Rhodia orange):


Can't see it? I didn't at first, either. Look closer:


How about some help?


And the backside


I took it to the dry cleaner as any normal person might. The cleaner asked, "How much do you like this tie?" A lot. (This particular dry cleaner has a bit of a Lebowski vibe, if that helps you get the voice.)

"And did you spend your hard-earned money on it?" Indeed, I did.

"You don't want it to get ruined." No, I do not.

"Then I'm going to hurt me and help you. I'm not going to try to clean your tie, okay." Okay? "I couldn't see the stain when you showed it to me. I really like that tie, too, man, and it would pain me to see something happen to it. Three bucks or three hundred, there's just no good way to clean a tie and not run the risk of screwing it up." Go on.

"It's fifty-fifty and I don't want to take the chance that I kill this tie that we both like." So what do you think?

"Don't go clubbing* in it and you'll be fine." (*Fluorescent lights, etc). "Bring it back if you get, like, coffee or beef stew or spaghetti on it AND THEN we'll try to get this water stain out."


Gotta love it. And he has a point. I tied the tie and put it on with a blazer and couldn't see the stain from the mirror. Some things you just have to let go. I guess this water stain is one.

(By the way, if you have some ideas on DIY stain care, I'm all ears.)

 

[strop]

I've tried to dry clean a tie. I ended up doing what I should have done in the first place. Trash.

 

[Doc4]

Okay, it's a water stain, and I keep wanting to say "more water will fix that".



Dab a bit of cold water over the affected area, and then press with a cloth or paper towel (not too hard) and it should soak most of the water back out ... this should reduce the "border" where the stain is most noticeable.

 

[jpakstis]

I've had to dry clean a tie couple of times. Stain came out no problem and never any hesitation by the cleaners. That's a nice tie!

 

[The Knize]

I agree with D4s advice.

My experience with dry cleaning ties has been very variable, and more bad than good. I can think of at least two times though, and one involved chocolate, where the tie came out as just as new as far as I could tell. Most of the time they at least seem to lose luster.

 

[greenie]

I would try to use a steamer on this to get rid of the stain.

Ties can be very hard to clean up if one is not prepared to unfold/fold it. Many times the dyes are somewhat water soluable, fabrics have a loose texture (and start to wringle) etc. so better start it slow. I'm pretty sure, that if you would try to wash that in water, it would loose it's form - thus, need to unfold, iron, fold etc.

 

[musicman1951]

I have successfully dry cleaned a few ties.

If those stains are not more noticeable in person than they are on my monitor I might try forgetting they were there.

 

[StillShaving]

That stain is difficult to see at first, so maybe it can be saved. If not, shouldn't it make the perfect hipster tie? Especially if you add more water to fix that like D4 suggests.

 

[johnmrson]

Try a different dry cleaner. I've had lots of ties cleaned over the years. Most have come up pretty well although some ended up in the trash.

 

[Larry C in Texas]

From your pics, I can barely see any stain, and I bet it is not noticeable in person. I would say wear it and don't take a chance on dry cleaning it. I have never had a good experience dry cleaning a tie.

BTW, that's a darned good looking tie.

 

[intotheforge]

Every tie I have had dry cleaned has been ruined...every single one. If you are okay wearing it, then just wear it.

 

[Talltexan]

Water and vinegar? Or how about LOC?