Jewelry Care

 

Honestly, I hate cleaning jewelry. Selling my jewelry in the hot summer sun at craft fairs, I became an expert on maintaining great looking jewelry with minimal effort. Following these simple guidelines will go a long way toward keeping your sterling silver and gold-fill jewelry looking shiny and new. 

Wearing Jewelry

  • Put your jewelry on last - after your makeup, hairspray and perfume have dried.

  • Before swimming or showering remove your jewelry. 

  • Don’t leave your jewelry in the bathroom or a humid place. 

  • Before bed, remove even those pieces you like to wear 24/7.

  • Periodically give your jewelry a quick going over with a polishing cloth. 

I know these steps may seem inconvenient. I think you’ll find if you get in the habit of doing them, they only add seconds not minutes to your daily schedule. Wearing your jewelry to bed and in the shower can damage it and speeds up tarnishing, so the payoff is that your jewelry will look better and last longer.

Storing Jewelry

  • When not wearing your jewelry, store it in a closed, cool, dry place, like a drawer or box. 

  • For more protection, put pieces in airtight plastic bags in the box or drawer.

  • Adding anti-tarnish strips or tabs to jewelry boxes can help slow tarnish. 

Cleaning Jewelry

  • When your jewelry starts to look dull and grimy or is lightly tarnished, wash your jewelry in a glass dish using warm water and a blue dish detergent. Rinse with cool water. Then dry it with a soft cloth and a hair dryer, being careful to never overheat the piece. Be aware that lobster claws and similar clasps can lose their tension if overheated. Finish by giving the piece a quick once over with a soft polishing cloth. If this sounds like too much work, you may prefer using a dip or having your work commercially cleaned. 

  • When your jewelry is very tarnished, I recommend using a jewelry cleaning dip. I like the ease and convenience of using commercial dips and am usually very happy with the results they produce. Keep in mind that dips sometimes contain harsh chemicals. If used improperly they can harm your jewelry. Dips come with specific use and disposal guidelines that I recommend reading before use.

  • Consider having your jewelry cleaned at your local full-service jewelry store. Truthfully, jewelry stores need customers. They are generally happy to clean your jewelry for free or for a nominal cost. This brings you in the door and can be the start of a lifetime relationship. 

  • A note about cleaning thin chains, like pendant chains. Clean your chains using a silver polishing cloth. Be sure to hold the chain an inch or so from the end and not from the clasp. Otherwise you may damage the clasp. Pull the polishing cloth down the chain from top to bottom and then reverse direction. 

Please note my cleaning directions are for my sterling silver and gold-fill jewelry only. Pieces made of other materials or that have stones or pearls may have different guidelines