Yes, indeed, that small piece of cloth that makes up your necktie deserves some tender loving care too. Not only do you do so to save just money, but to keep yourself from frequent visits to the men's department. Unless you're expecting to receive neckties every Father's Day or every Christmas time, you should really take some time to apply the fundamentals of necktie care. Check them out in this list:

1. Maintain a cleanliness policy.

• Treat the tie as you would your clothes, not as a bib or a piece of rag that you can wipe dirty things with. As such, be conscious of how you conduct yourself and how you eat your food. Spilling coffee on your tie, and making food pieces land on your tie may leave it stained for life. If too much moving about is unavoidable for you in your line of work, get yourself a tie bar to keep your tie in place. You may also want to tuck your tie in your pants.

• Do not forget to make sure your hands are clean every time you touch your tie. Whether you are tying the knot as you get yourself ready for work, or untying the knot as you end your day, leave no sweat, stains and finger prints. The slightest mark could decrease the aesthetic value of your tie and render it unusable and unfit for public viewing.

• Do not rely solely on water to wipe off stains. Water alone could smudge your tie all the more. Instead, combine the cleaning property of water with the right amount of other cleaning solvents. Take your pick from alcohol, juice, vinegar or very mild detergent.

2. Practice gentleness.

Tiny as they are, neckties require delicate care. Do not knot them too tightly, leaving creases and stretching the fabric to the limits. Extend the same towards washing them. Do not just toss them inside your washing machine tub or pack them for dry cleaning. The best care comes from gentle hand washing. Take care not to wring them too tightly though. Proceed to each step with caution.

3. Fight wrinkles, folds and creases.

Don't just leave neckties folded in your drawer; hang them instead. Invest in a necktie rack where you can organize your ties and maximize closet space at the same time. Hanging ties does the following: (1) it keeps them from unwanted creases, folds and fabric deformities such as stretching-induced asymmetry; (2) it airs your ties and keeps them smelling fresh; and (3) it helps retain the natural shape of your ties.

4. Preserve their color.

Just like hair, neckties need to have their color preserved to look their best. There are a number of ways for you to do this. Generally, basic washing rules of thumb apply: When washing your ties, do not use bleach and other strong detergents; when your ties are light-colored, do not mix them with colored ones. Also, do not forget to protect your ties from unwanted heat. Don't leave them under your iron unattended.

More necktie care tips for the specific necktie that you have are out there for you to discover.