How to clean polyester ties (the right way)

Cleaning polyester ties is easier than cleaning silk ties, which is good news. Over the years, ties have gone through many different designs and uses. Years ago, they were simply used as a neck accessory worn by men on special occasions. Now, ties can be worn by women and children, and are more than just an accessory worn on special occasions.

An example of how ties have grown to be more than just an accessory can be observed in children’s school uniforms. Schools in the United Kingdom have been incorporating school ties as an important part of their students’ uniform for quite a while now.

This is usually because with school ties, we can have an easier time identifying what school the pupil belongs to. This gives schools an opportunity to promote their name, and maybe even gather more students. These ties are often made out of polyester since this fabric is more durable and can cope up with a student’s daily activities. Cleaning these ties is also easier than cleaning silk ties, which can be good news for mothers or for whoever is washing the children’s ties.

In fact, here are a few cleaning methods that are effective for polyester ties:

Can I machine wash a polyester tie?

Yes you can – just follow these steps to machine wash a polyester tie, no dry cleaning required:

  1. Apply a spot treatment to the tie, if needed
  2. Machine wash in cold water on a gentle or hand wash cycle
  3. Use a small amount of laundry detergent
  4. Don’t add fabric softener or bleach, even on a white tie
  5. If your washing machine does not have these settings you can follow our advice for hand washing polyester ties below!
  6. Line dry, or most polyester ties can be tumble dried on low for up to 30 minutes, then lay out flat

Washing by hand

Step 1: Use club soda to dampen a clean rag and dab it on any stains. Try to avoid rubbing, as this has the tendency to set the stain further into the fabric.

Step 2: Make sure the sink is clean and fill it with lukewarm water, afterwards add a tablespoon of laundry detergent and mix the solution.

Step 3: Dip the polyester tie into the solution and make a swirling motion while holding the tie.

Step 4: Leave the tie in the sink for about 10 to 15 minutes. Afterwards, remove the tie and drain the solution.

Step 5: Clean the sink and fill it with lukewarm water again. Swirl the tie around the clean water to rinse away soap residue. Repeat this step until the tie is completely clean.

Step 6: Gently squeeze the tie to remove excess water, and then hang it for some air-drying.

Removing Gum

Step 1: Use a small plastic bag and place in a cube of ice.

Step 2: Place the ice cubes over the gum and keep it there until the gum hardens to the point that it also becomes brittle.

Step 3: Use a plastic card or a plastic spoon to chip off the ice. Try to avoid using anything metal as it might scratch the tie.

Oil Stains

Step 1: Use petroleum jelly and rub it on the stain.

Step 2: Leave the petroleum jelly there for about 10 minutes; this will separate the oil stain from the fabric

Step 3: Apply 1 drop of liquid dish detergent on the stain and rub it. Again, leave it there for 10 minutes.

Step 4: Fill a clean sink with a solution of warm water and 1/8 cup of laundry detergent. Handwash the tie in this solution and afterwards, air-dry it. Ties often come with care-label instructions, so it is also proper to check these instructions before starting to clean the tie. Hopefully these tips will help you properly care for your children’s ties, so they can continue to wear them neatly.