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Every spa owner knows that there will come a time when their spa heater will fail. When this time comes you need to be ready to make a decision whether to replace your hot tub heater or repair it. This article will discuss some of the issues that may help you make this decision.

One of the first questions to ask is how old is you hot tub heater. The older a heater is the more likely it will continue to intermittent breakdowns and eventually total failure. If your heater is older than 5 years I would suggest you consider replacing it. The odds of another failure greatly increase with the age of the spa controller.

If your older spa pack is analog, then you should really think of upgrading to a digital spa controller. A digital spa pack comes with a LED or LCD top side controller providing many advantages. You can change the temperature right at the hot tub without getting out of the tub. The digital controller is much more accurate meaning your water will stay at the temperature it is set for. The topside display will also give you the exact temperature of the water. Digital spa packs have solid state construction meaning there are no moving parts to break down.

Replacing a failed heating element is perhaps the least expensive spa repair. A heater element can be repaired by most spa owners without calling a service technician. If you are comfortable with this type of repair you may find the cost is around $100.

A digital spa pack normally has built in programming options. These options give owners flexibility on temperature control and pump circulation options. If a customer is away for a week they can select an economy setting which would turn down the temperature and cycle water less frequently. These programming option help to reduce operating costs.

Are you an electrician? If you are like most people, and are electronically challenged then your options for repair means calling a pool or spa repair shop. This can quickly become very expensive. Hourly rates, bench rates and travel times mean that a faulty $25 heating component can cost more than a new hot tub heater.

Which is the better option? Cost ultimately decides this. Most people are surprised to find a new digital spa pack with full warranty and new parts starts at around $500. Be aware that one repair visit for your older spa heater can run $400 or more. What is the better investment?

Spa packs are universal. Most dealers will not tell you this, as they want you to replace your spa pack with the same one you had. This is the same as a GM telling you, you need to use only their brakes? Shop around and don’t be scared, spa packs all do the same thing. When looking for a replacement pack always consider quality and the warranty.

I hope this article has provided you with the information needed to make a decision to replace or repair your spa pack.

Daniel P Jung is owner and founder of Northern Lights Wooden Tubs, an industry leader and supplier of Wooden Hot Tubs. He also manages one of the Internet’s most popular online hot tub parts stores. Here you can find the best spa heaters from industry leaders such as Balboa at manufacturer direct prices

Too many people are seriously injured or killed or on our roads each year in accidents involving drink-driving. It is currently estimate that around 3,000 people are killed or seriously injured each year on our roads in collisions where one or both of the drivers were over the drink drive limit. As you would expect, motorcyclists have the highest fatality rate of all road users – with current figures showing big increases in young riders killed whilst over the limit.

So drink driving is a huge problem, not only in the UK but all over the world resulting in many injuries and deaths. These drivers can’t argue that they don’t know the risks – so it’s down right irresponsibility. They’re not only putting themselves at risk but the lives of innocent motorists as well. The fact is that drink drivers have a lot to answer for and car insurance premiums generally have to be priced to cover the claims resulting from their actions.

But there might be a solution on the skyline. New technology is being tested in Europe and is already in service in the United States that could put an end to drink driving once and for all.

It’s called the “Alcolock”. It’s a revolutionary piece of equipment that prevents the car starting when it detects that the person sitting in the drivers seat is over the limit. It works by connecting a built breath analyser to the ignition. When a driver enters their vehicle they have to give a breath sample via a tube connected to the device, this is analysed and if the level of alcohol is above the legal limit, the ignition of the car is imobilised.

These devices are already in use in parts of Canada and the USA where a driver has already been convicted drink driving. This has enabled the Canadian and American governments to reduce the number of known drink drivers reoffending. In America, to avoid any cheating of the system, some devices even require the driver to provide a breath sample before the journey and at random times during the journey.

These machines have been tested sucessfully in Europe and especially in Sweden but there are a few flaws that need to be resolved. For example, one tester in Sweden reported that he had to blow into the machine 76 times before the ignition would start – and he hadn’t touched a drop of alcohol! Clearly, the manufacturers must be absolutely sure that the equipment totally reliable before launching it onto the market.

Sweden, a leader in car safety, is now fitting the devices to all new cars in a voluntary code which involves all Sweedish car manufacturers. And by 2012 these devices will be compulsory for all the country’s new commercial vehicles.

We believe Sweeden’s lead will make all of Europe sit up and take notice extending to all new cars.

We know that this raises issues on people’s rights as stressed by the Association for British Drivers. But surely, if preventative measures can be taken, they should. After all the lives of fellow road users are at risk and they have rights too.

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Are you in the market for a antique Lionel train? If so, here are some hints and tricks that can aid you locate a good train, and save you whatsoever cash on the price you have to give to get it.

Starting, acknowledging how collectors of used Lionel trains put a rate on them will aid you to acquire your best deal. In addition, say you are thinking to sell your train afterwards, acknowledging what strikes the resale measure is an fundamental thoughtfulness.

There are 2 set up guides that will assist you set a fair price for several original train:

Greenberg’s Pocket Price Guide to Lionel Trains

TM’s Lionel Price and Rarity Guide - 2 Volumes

These guides are merely that - guides. They give you a getting peak for your dialogues. It’s kind of like in the movie “The Pirates of The Caribbean” where they talk about the Pirate Code represents more than like a guide rather than serious and instant rules. And Then the costs leaned in the guides are a standard valuation rather than a definite cost.

What is strictly watched by collectors, though, is the Train Collectors Association Grading Standards. These banners classify utilised Lionel trains as going to one of seven classes, opening with Mint Condition, signifying unused and in perfect condition, and ending with Poor Condition, signifying the train is pretty much a piece of debris, with perhaps a few operational sections. You will most liable want to purchase a train that is somewhere in between these extremes.

An reading of these categories can save you whatsoever money, and make you some cash. For model, if somebody is billing you a price for a train in Mint Condition, it really might be in Like New or Excellent condition, rather than Mint. If you can tell that the train has been used at all, then it is not Mint condition, and you do not need to get the Mint condition cost. You can prepare some nice benefits by purchasing a used Lionel train in one category, cleaning it up and making numerous minor amends, and so dealing it for a good profit in one of the better categories.

There is an quality guide to fixing and reconstructing your train over at LionelManuals.com. They have an affordable set of CDs with all the instructions, blueprints, diagrams, regions lists, and catalogues you will want to get your train looking like original again!

At One Time you have a handle on how to appear for an proper cost, you are prepare to go patronizing for your used Lionel Train. You will find numerous of your well deals at garage sales, flea markets, in the For Sale sections of newspapers (especially the moderate community newspapers), at estate sales, and at times on Ebay. Most of the people selling their used Lionel Trains through these methods do not visualise the real value of their trains. To them, they are only whatsoever old stuff. You can find some truly big bargains if you sustain tabloids on these markets.

You can find some actually nice used Lionel trains at collectors clubs. You may not get such a good bargain on your train, but you will get a fair price. You can learn about your localized clubs through hobby shops that sell or repair used Lionel trains, or sell supplements for them. A lot of these collectors are their better customers, and the shop owner can put you in touch with them.

So whether you are counting for a important deal on a used Lionel train, or a primary train at a fair price, following these leads will aid you become a willing client, and the proud owner of an brilliant Lionel train!

Discover the easiest way to repair and restore used lionel trains with LionelManuals. Learn how to fix and repair antique lionel trains with over 2000 pages and diagrams Be among the rare few to own this lionel service manual collection previously only available to lionel technicians… Visit the official site now to download a free 1965 vintage lionel catalog.

That rune stones work on a deep spiritual level with the subconscious, and it is important to remember that rune casting is not fortune telling. The entire Universe is reflected by the rune symbols, so when asking a question, all spiritual effects are focused upon the runes, and therefore, the chosen rune is not random, but a choice made by your subconscious.

In order to understand cause and effect of their world, the Vikings used their own type of psychology. In this ancient form of what might be called pre-psychology, a form of divination, rune casting, was used.

A psychic focuses on a singular issue when doing a reading with rune stones to give a thorough inspection of the past, present and future. No future is set in stone and not changeable. By looking and learning from our past and present, we can see the course we are on for the future.

If you are unfamiliar with rune casting, it might seem magical, mystical, or just plain super natural. However, once you are familiar with it, you will realize it is none of these things. It is a method of examining the path a person is on and what the effects might be if they continue on that path, it is not magical or fortune telling.

Is the manifestation of the subconscious and is not supernatural, and dowsing or divination by pendulum or bent stick is very similar.

In order to do a rune casting, you need to find the right place. It must be quiet and secluded, so you will have privacy and avoid interruption. When you are practicing rune casting, there are couple things you should know to do. The first is have your cloth with the boundaries on it before you cast your runes. You should be facing the north direction. Your cloth should be placed in front of you and the surface that it is on should be hard.

Then keep the same question in mind throughout the rune reading, think hard about the question you want to ask. All runes should be of the same shape or size so that they will not be recognized, one from the other, and once you have decided on the question, mix the rune stones gently in the pouch, until you feel the urge to pick a rune from the pouch. Rune casting consists of mixing the rune stones and removing them from the pouch till you have the needed number for the layout you will be using.

You will need to listen to your intuition when it comes to reading the runes, each rune can mean many different things and it is up to the reader to decide how the meanings apply to the question.

There are many different ways to cast, one of them being a Nors cast, which involves drawing three runes from the rune pouch, one at a time, and setting them out in a row. The third has to do with the future and the outcome of the situation if the present path is followed, and the first rune represents the past of the situation, the second is the present and represents the path the person is on now.

Looking for a good reading then Please go to our website, for more articles and information about rune casting and psychic reading uk.

Say you are a Lionel trains enthusiast, restoring and servicing your Lionel trains is a typical section of your hobby. You want to sustain your trains reckoning sharp and operating better for the most enjoyment. Say you intend to deal your trains, and then maintaining them at their greatest is a essential to receiving a great price. Most Lionel train restores can be done decently there in your private home. If you do the restores yourself, you can keep money on mending accounts, and revel the satisfaction of keeping those sweethearts looking great!

Here are numerous hints for several of the most ordinary Lionel train repairs :

If your train appears to be jugging, the reason is credibly because there is several grease, rust, or oil develop on either the path or the wheels of the train. These build ups can affect the connection between the track and the train. Say there is not a good connector, so it doesn’t function as well.

Cleaning Dusts From The Track and Wheels

If you see some rust, apply several sand paper to get rid of it. If there is awful build up, you can use a supplemental knife to scratch off the hugest part of it. Or Else, you can use rust remover. After you remove the rust, saturate a soft cloth with light oil spray, and rub the track with it. Then buff it with a fresh region of the cloth.

Say you see whatsoever greenish or cranky white build up, this is oxidation. Simply soak your track in oxidisation remover for a few min, and then accomplish with the easy oil spray and buffing.

Be certain you do not always practice steel wool on your tracks. Little particles of the steel wool will come off and then stick to the track. These molecules will get found by your railway locomotive, and could make enough harm to ruin it.

If you have whatsoever obstinate stains of grease, a hard eraser will eradicate them.

Follow the identical operation for the wheels, but a Q-Tip loaded with the oil spray functions best for cleaning the stain from them.

Repairing The Track Pieces So They Fit Together Snugly

Some Other 1 of your general Lionel train amends is acquiring the divisions of your track to fit tightly together. Over time, the connections tend to become slightly bent, loosening up the connections. When you encounter this problem, use needle nose pliers to cautiously bend the connectors back into place. When you have them back where they should be, your track areas will fit snugly together again.

Repairing The Cars

Keeping your cars in tip top process is likewise important. Soil and oil can develop in these likewise. Utilise the light oil spray to clean them. If you need to utilise some oil to small moving parts, use a toothpick to transfer a small drop of oil to where you need it. You do not want to overdo it in utilizing the oil.

At One Time your car is clean, check it for bent or broken pieces. If some thing is bent, you may be efficient to apply needle-nose pliers to softly guide it back.

Most of the time you can replace any parts that need replacing yourself. Normally they are connected with tiny screws. Merely unscrew the portion and screw the fresh portion into place.

Where Do You Find Replacement Parts?

You can find replacement parts to complete your Lionel train repairs at your local hobby shop or specialty Lionel stores.

One excellent resource for your Lionel train repairs is LionelManuals.com.

They sell a 2 CD set that includes extensive illustrated repair instructions, blueprints, parts lists, and a parts and accessories catalog. They cover all Lionel trains manufactured from 1906 to 1986. These manuals make do-it-yourself Lionel train repairs easy, no matter which model you need to repair. You can become a pro in repairing your Lionel trains yourself with LionelManuals.com.

Discover the easiest way to repair and restore used lionel trains with LionelManuals. Learn how to fix and repair antique lionel trains with over 2000 pages and diagrams Be among the rare few to own this lionel service manual collection previously only available to lionel technicians… Visit the official site now to download a free 1965 vintage lionel catalog.

Christmas day is approaching and it is a perfect time for us to plan our own Christmas gift list. We can now get our nice coffee or tea, gather whatever catalogs we have handy and paper and pencil, and start making our list.

Creating a list ahead of time can avoid last minute shopping stress. With your already-finish shopping list, you don’t have to drive in heavy traffic and went to over-crowded stores. Try to finish your shopping task by the end of November so that you can greatly enjoy December events. Make your shopping trips enjoyable outings, and include some treat for yourself such as a nice lunch or good company. Take advantage of wrapping services or use gift bags to reduce your wrapping or the need of getting supplies.

Keep your list handy. It is fun to be an elf at Christmas time. Great stores offer wonderful gift suggestions and packaging. With a short list and a good department store, shopping center, or with online access, it is possible to shop and have your gifts wrapped in a day.

To make it simple and easy, your list doesn’t have to be very long, rather limit your gift giving list to about a dozen. You might ask on how you can make it possible, so try this: extended families can be given one nice gift per household for their family to share. Giving one holiday present can give you the opportunity to give something special. Colleagues and other associates can be put together as one on the list also because you are able to think one good holiday present that can be given to each. Example, you might give each of them a journal, mug, gift basket, or a ticket.

You can also give handmade gifts, so long as you enjoy making them. One possibility is to hand make the same gift again and again for the people on your list this year, and next year to choose a different gift. This makes it easier and predictable. Another option is to make one large batch of something that can be divided into gifts. One great example of this is a homemade soap. Do-it-yourself gifts can be challenging, so to avoid stress give yourself enough working time for it. Just make sure you always have a Plan B - an alternate plan – for handmade gifts so that you can leave a project without having much trouble.

However, choosing the right Christmas gifts for family and friends can be challenging sometimes.

Husbands or boyfriends would find it difficult in choosing what to give to their ladies. The only trick is that, know your special woman well. Consider you woman’s interest likes and dislikes. Or perhaps, think on of items or products women usually use. Consider choices of ladies accessories like bags for ladies, cosmetics, jewelry or jewelry boxes and other women’s stuff. Many women, however, do have some difficulties in choosing what to give for their special men. There are actually lots of variety of mens gifts. Make sure to choose unique ones because men can be very picky sometimes. For instance, you may give engraved cufflinks, monogrammed flasks and beer mugs, or any other barwares. Or if they love the outdoor, why not give a personalized cooler bag or chair? The endless options are yours. Just keep wise and smart when shopping!

Jnet is an author for a variety of lifestyle issues and topics. If you’re looking for christmas gifts, visit the website Mybusinessgifts.com and browse their extensive collection. Get also christmas gifts for kidsonline!

Show, Don’t Tell is not only the writer’s first commandment, it is also the first commandment that is broken the most often. Some things should tell!

· Newspaper articles – Ex. – The robber was last seen heading south on Main Street.

· Most magazine articles – Ex. – Joseph Hanson resigned his position with the GOP on March 26.

· Advertisements tell – Ex. – When you have a stain, Shout it out!

· Journals tell – Ex. – I had a lousy day today.

You will notice one common denominator in all of these statements. All of them are flat, descriptive statements or commands. That is telling. It’s very shallow. Very matter of fact.

Of necessity, stories must do a certain amount of telling, but it is your job to recognize when you can change the telling to showing.

A listed description is always telling. For example: She had coal black hair, dark brown eyes, long lashes, and the cutest rosebud lips you ever saw.

Always release descriptions a little at a time, in one or more scenes. For example:

Lisa’s coal black hair flew in the wind. Roberta and Eleanor stood watching.

“My boyfriend virtually drowns in her chocolaty eyes. I’ll bet she wears false eyelashes,” said Roberta.

“Nah. They’re hers, alright. I have brown eyes. That’s no biggie, but I’d give my arm to have rosebud lips like hers,” said Eleanor.

________

The first thing you will notice is that telling the facts took only 15 words, but showing the facts took 54 words. Keep in mind that showing is a higher law in writing than saving words. It will always take three to four times the words to show. Don’t fight it.

Let’s look at more examples:

Instead of writing this flat statement, “He works out at the gym and he has a great physique,” we could show his awesome form by having a girl say, “He came out of the gym wearing one of those tight muscle shirts. Wow!”

Another way to show something is by using internal dialog. Let’s say you have a scene in the kitchen where a woman is angry. Instead of spending too much time throwing pots and pans, let her express her feelings through her thoughts. Yes, this is a form of telling, but your reader will see it through the character’s eyes. (Btw, internal dialog is always expressed in italics.)

Or yet another way is by observing the woman like a fly on the wall. Example: She stood stock still, her right hand on her hip, and one foot patting the floor. Blood engorged the vessels in her neck and temples in coordination with the crimson red that flushed her face. We all knew it was time to get out of Dodge.

More ways to learn showing:

·Read literature and pick out telling sentences

·Review your own work and looking for telling sentences

·Observe people and make a telling statement about them, then change it to showing

Learning to show usually takes several months to learn. Be patient. It takes lots of practice. See the Christmas writing sale below!

Don’t read this! Christmas Sale on 8-wk. writing courses reduced to $185 until Jan. 1, 2009! Creative Writing Institute, the first fully mentored writing school on the Internet, http://www.creativewritinginstitute.com. ATTENTION: Submit your Christmas story or article and we’ll print it!

Finding the right method to quit smoking will result in different formulas for different people. Personality, lifestyle and level of addiction all play a role in determining how best to quit. Many attempts at quitting smoking fail or are aborted because a technique inappropriate to the smoker is being attempted. This article will help you examine some important factors to consider while trying to find the right quit smoking methods that are effective for you.

Of course, the process can only begin with the honest desire to quit smoking. Some people have a half-hearted desire to drop the habit, or are only acting at the behest of someone else. To quit smoking, you have to be fully invested in the desire to put an end to your habit and conquer your addiction. Many attempts to quit smoking end prematurely because the individual is not fully committed and does not completely desire to quit smoking.

Regardless of the quit smoking methods used, in order to stop smoking the desire to quit has to be present. It will not be enough to say you want to quit smoking, without a firm personal commitment to put an end to the smoking, none of the quit smoking methods will result in success. One of the most common methods used to stop smoking is known as cold turkey, meaning there is no preparation, just like making a cold sandwich out of left over Thanksgiving poultry, people just decide to do it and end their smoking.

Trying Out Various Quit Smoking Methods

Once you start looking you are likely to find that there is indeed a vast range of quit smoking methods so if one seems like a poor fit for you go ahead and try an alternative method.

Some quit smoking methods such as nicotine gum and nicotine patches rely on less-dangerous substitutes for cigarettes that the individual can be gradually weaned off of. As the sociological and cultural drive to eliminate smoking gains steam, there are constantly new methods of quitting smoking being developed.

The most important thing to remember is to not give up hope. In your search you are bound to come upon at least one of the quit smoking methods that is just right for you.

Newer & More Efficient Quit Smoking Methods

Hypnotism is relatively recent addition to the growing arsenal of quit smoking methods. While it may sound like a scam, there are some studies that prove the effectiveness of hypnotism in dealing with behavioral problems. Hypnotism works best with individuals who are not prejudiced against the method, so if you are unwilling to view hypnotism as a legitimate technique, this method will likely not work for you.

Laser therapy is one of the newer quit smoking methods. Laser therapy works similar to acupuncture, using a low-wattage laser to help alleviate the physical withdrawal symptoms that accompany quitting smoking. Laser therapy is not used to actually quit smoking, but simply to mitigate the symptoms that may arise, so it is often used in conjunction with other therapies, and with individuals who have encountered frustration in the past with other quit smoking methods.

Elizabeth T James is a freelance journalist and author. For more tips and quit smoking methods go to http://www.NoMoreSmokingForMe.com

Many theories and strategies persist on how to negotiate effectively for a higher salary. There are even a lot of good products and training tools available on the market to help the job seeker in this area. However, many experts commonly forget to tell the candidate a few things that are a must in preparing for the negotiation process. Without a proper understanding of these things, candidates can really miss the mark with their negotiations.

1. Get on Equal Footing

Many companies today ask for or demand your salary history in detail before the first interview. However, they are absolutely unwilling to discuss the salary range for a position. Providing your salary history and not receiving like-kind information puts the job seeker at a serious disadvantage in the negotiations. As such, employers often feel like they are holding all the cards. The interview process then becomes a one-way street. They assess you, but you do not assess the company. You are supposed to feel honored if they offer you anything because they have established a position of superiority. So be sure not to give too much away too early. It erodes any hope you have of successful negotiations down the line.

2. Know Your Baseline

Since most candidates do not really have a clue of how high or low the salary offer will be, they need to take the time to determine their basement in terms of salary. If you do not set a baseline, it is difficult to know how much to push once the salary offer comes in. And let’s face it, they almost always come in lower than we would like. Consider your travel and commuting costs, including gas, tolls, mileage, depreciation, and so on. Take into account how much you would be paying for lunch, coffee, and snacks. And, of course, consider your regular household expenses to help you determine how much you need to bring in after taxes.

3. Think Compensation Package

Probably the biggest error that candidates make when negotiating is that they focus solely on salary. At larger corporations today, most hiring manager have little, if any, flexibility in terms of what salary they offer. Pretty much everything goes through a compensation director in HR. And believe me, they can be a bear to fight with to try getting a salary offer increased. Instead, focus on the total compensation package. Things like medical benefits, 401(k) matching, bonus and other incentive plans, vacation, paid time off, and work-from-home opportunities all have value. If you are a candidate they are excited about but they don’t have flexibility with salary, they will likely be willing to give in some or many of these other areas. Give it a try, you might be surprised at how well it works for you.

All in all, as with any negotiation process, the moment you are willing to take just about anything in order to have the deal go through, you can pretty must guarantee you will fall short of your salary goals. Understandably, we all need jobs, and no one likes a job search to take longer than it has to. But if you jump every time a prospective employer says how high, then later on, you will be disappointed, your tenure will likely be short, and ultimately, both the company and the candidate lose. Companies would be wise to take that into consideration as well.

How worth it is that $1000 savings if in the end it leads to a disgruntled worker who will leave you as soon as the grass looks greener elsewhere? Ultimately, a salary negotiation should not be a war between two wills, but a discussion between two parties who want to come out successful.

My company is called No Stone Unturned, and I am an MBA and certified professional r?sum? writer (CPRW). I have been a career consultant since 2002 with an additional 8 years of corporate hiring experience. You can check out my website that offers tools such as the No Nonsense Job Search Strategy guide and other Job Search Tips.

If you haven’t ruined a necktie yet by spilling soup or coffee on it, than chances are that sooner or later such a mishap will happen to you. If the necktie is part of your daily attire, then it is just a question of time before you will get it dirty. Not only can a silk tie be quite costly, but also neckties are commonly given as presents on father’s day and Christmas. A tie your son gave you for father’s day last year will be difficult to replace and knowing how to remove a stain without damaging the tie is key.

Many experts will tell you that any attempt to clean a silk tie is a waste of time. This might be true in some cases, but there are a few tips that will get a large portion of stains removed without damaging the delicate silk fabric.

The first thing to know about cleaning a silk tie is NOT to use water. Avoid getting the tie wet as this will cause the tie to fall out of shape. The stain might be gone, but the tie just won’t look right anymore. Instead, if you can act quickly, before the spot dries, try drawing the stain out with an absorbent. Plain talcum powder sprinkled on a necktie laid flat and left overnight has salvaged some ties. Be careful to use a powder that’s free of color or perfumes. Brush the powder off later with a soft towel.

If the stain has dried, or can’t be absorbed as above, there’s probably no alternative than to use a bit of liquid. There are many commercial stain removers available, such as Woolite? and you may want to try one, sparingly and gently. Before pouring the cleaner onto the front of the tie, try a tiny sport on the back of the necktie first. Doing this will allow you to check how the liquid affects the color and the fabric of the tie. If you see the colors to fade or the silk to crinkle, then obviously use a different cleaner. Once you find a cleaner gentle enough, dab a little of it directly on the spot. Try blotting the stain away with a paper towel after allowing the cleaner a few seconds to work. Be aware that either of these methods or the application of any liquid may cause the color of the tie to change in the affected area. As long as the color doesn’t fade or wash out you are safe. The color will go back to normal once the liquid has dried.

A professional dry cleaner may be worth a try as a last resort. Keep in mind that there will probably be no guarantee, and that your tie may just as easily suffer damage in the process. You may want to specifically request that they do not press your silk tie, to preserve its softness. Also, ask them about their cleaning process. Fabric damaging chemicals, that will get the stain out, but ruin the shape of your tie, must be avoided.

If all of the above fail, here’s one more radical and perhaps final suggestion. Get the tie soaking wet with luke-warm water but first start with one of the commercial stain removers. Dab the cleaner in full-strength on the stain. Before the solution dries, immerse the tie in a lukewarm bath of water with a small amount of the same cleaner. Gently agitate it by hand for a few minutes. Avoid scrunching or scrubbing. Rinse gently with more lukewarm water. Carfully put the tie onto a towel on a flat surface and cover the tie with another towel. Put a little weight onto the tie. Perfect are a few books. Roll the now puckered tie in an absorbent towel but be careful not to stretch the fabric.

Chances are that one of the methods above will work and will salvage the tie. The best stain removing method is avoiding the stain in first place. Avoid foods that are likely to spill such as soup or spaghetti, and if the situation allows, tug your tie in between two buttons of your dress shirt.

H Pohl is an expert author on men’s fashion. Most of his published work focuses on formal attire for men. He himself is a big aficionado for fine silk neckties, bow ties, cufflinks and silk pocket squares. He is also the founder of Ties-Necktie.com - an online specialty retailer for men’s ties, bow ties, and designer cufflinks.