Okay, an update on what I have learned so far.
Machine washing is the way to go, at least for me. I have a small front-loader, though. Not sure I would want to use a top-loader with a central agitator to wash ties, as it seems to me there would be a lot of abrasion and tangling.
I bought four $1 laundry bags at Walmart and placed 10 ties in each bag. First I washed 2 bags at a time (all similar color) on delicate in 140-degree water, All Free and Synthrapol in the wash cycle, with vinegar in rinse cycle. Was not convinced I had gotten all the odors out, though, so I got rougher. Re-washed 4 bags at a time on a regular machine cycle, 160-degree water, All Free and Synthrapol, vinegar in rinse. Smelled much better after this. I noticed a lot of red dye in the water that I had not noticed in the less-hot wash, and one of the red ties came out looking faded after this wash. Tossed the 4 laundry bags in the dryer with a couple of towels.
I am going to adjust my method next time. I think that the regular machine cycle plus regular drying cycle plus doing 4 laundry bags of 10 ties each created too much abrasion on the silk. Next time I will cut back to two laundry bags of 10 ties each per load, and I will change from the regular cycle to a fast cycle (and if that causes too much abrasion, perhaps back to a more delicate cycle). I will skip the dryer and just drape the ties over my ironing board to dry.
I am finding it takes a *long* time to completely dis-assemble a tie. This will give me something to do while I watch tv at night.
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