Tips for Jewelry Care and Cleaning

Care and cleaning of your jewelry is very important, if you take a few simple steps before you store them, they will last a long time and always shine like new. I have here a few simple tips on how to do it, but there is a huge amount of information about this subject. There are care and cleaning books that you can consult for more detailed instructions. But here are a few simple steps, they will take you a long way.

Silver

It is best to store your silver jewelry individually wrapped in jeweler's tissue paper and inside a Zip-lock plastic bag to help retard tarnish. This prevents air from reaching the piece, thus delaying the tarnishing. All silver jewelry will tarnish with time, but it can easily be cleaned with a Sterling Silver Polishing Cloth. These cloths are treated so that they clean your pieces as you rub them against the cloth.

Before storing your jewelry after any use, gently wipe them clean using a soft cloth. A quick rub with the polishing cloth, every time after you wear them, will keep them always shining. Silver is a soft metal and it is easily damaged. If, by chance, you do not have a polishing cloth at hand, always use 100% cotton as a polishing cloth. Paper, polyester, and coarse fabrics may contain wood fibers or synthetics that scratch the silver. Keeping the pieces inside the plastic bag also prevents scratches that can occur when in contact with other pieces.

Do not clean sterling silver with toothpaste and a toothbrush. Remove your jewelry before working with any products that contain bleach, alcohol, turpentine, acetone or ammonia. Apply any cosmetics and perfume and let dry before you put on your jewelry.

Gold

Store your gold jewelry in its own individual soft cloth pouch, or inside the boxes that you originally purchased them in, in order to avoid scratches from pieces rubbing against each other.

Gold is tarnish resistant, but it will easily become dirty when you use any type of cosmetics, lotions or perfume while wearing them. Some cosmetic can even damage your gold jewelry. Apply any cosmetics and perfume and let dry before you put on your jewelry. We suggest that you gently wipe each piece of jewelry using a soft cloth to remove any residual make-up and skin oils after each wearing.

You can use a soft-bristled brush for the detailed designs, or very soft cleaning cloths. Warm water and detergent-free soap is what jewelers recommend tor caring of gold jewelry. Specific gold cleaning products can also be used. Do not clean gold jewelry with toothpaste and a toothbrush.

For care and cleaning of pearls and gemstones click here

Learn Gem by Gem from The International Colored Gemstone Association Page

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