Jewelry is a universal accessory that people of all ages wear to add a finishing touch to an outfit. Whether it is a family heirloom or a modern piece, both need the proper attention and care to last longer. Owning a piece of jewelry is mostly a business for grown-ups.
If you inherited an accessory lately, now is the best time to learn some tricks so that you can continue the family tradition and pass it on to your kids in the future. It would help if you did the same to contemporary pieces. You need to take care of them so you can flaunt them in the right events. Here are some basic principles in taking care of your jewelry:
Table of Contents
Choose an uncomplicated cleaning solvent.
Cleaning your jewelry depends on its material. Remember, gold is softer than silver and thus needs gentler solvents. Place the piece in lukewarm water. Add a few drops of dish soap and let it soak for five minutes. You can take out the accessory and let it dry on a soft cloth. Use a soft toothbrush to clean its crevices thoroughly.
Though silver can be resistant to scratches, it can also quickly tarnish. To prevent tarnishing, place silver jewelry in an airtight container. Also, consider polishing with liquid polishes or wipes. Use water in the cleaning only when you need to.
A blue solvent usually comes with the diamond ring package. Be cautious when using this alcohol-based solvent. Diamonds and other gemstones react badly to an alcohol-based solution even if they have undergone chemical treatment.
Silicone rings have also become popular currently. To clean accessories of this material, let them soak for 20-30 minutes in vinegar and hydrogen peroxide solution. Then, scrub it with a sponge or toothbrush to remove dirt and bacteria.
Don’t go to bed with jewelry on.
Sleeping in your precious jewelry can harm them. While you are twisting and turning in bed, these pieces might break. Some get bent or lose a stone. And thus, it is safer to take them all out before you finally rest in bed.
Minimize wearing a particular accessory and give a chance to other pieces.
It is usual for us to keep favorites among our things. However, wearing accessories very frequently might only wear them quickly. Bracelets, when worn every day, might get in contact with oil and dirt from your skin. We might also unconsciously make the jewelry fall from our hands.
This principle also applies to taking care of earrings. Let a pair of earrings rest for a couple of days. Clean them properly and consider wearing other pretty pieces in your storage.
Put each piece in a storage box.
Storing pieces of jewelry in secure storage will protect them from dust, moist and mildew. Keep each component separately from others to avoid tarnishing and scratches. Necklaces, on the other hand, must be stored separately to avoid getting tangled up. You might want to hang and separate them from other accessories.
Put the jewelry last when getting dressed. Take them off first at the end of the day.
Accessorizing should be the last step when dressing up. Jewelry might get in contact with your perfume or hairspray and quickly tarnish. In fitting on tight clothes, bracelets, earrings, and necklaces might fall to the ground.
Reverse the process when it is your bedtime. Take off your accessories first before your clothes and other garments.
Taking care of our jewelry will let us enjoy them longer. In buying a piece, consider its design. Ask yourself if its structure will allow you to clean it easily. You might want to research in advance how to clean it properly. Will it be best to soak it in a soap solution or polish it with oil?
Be careful of your jewelry while doing chores at home. Remember where you last put it. It is common for people to forget about their wedding rings until they found out that the accessory got lost in the drain.
Cleaning the jewelry on your own can be a good practice. However, you need a professional to clean your bracelets and other accessories to achieve thorough cleaning in deep crevices. The professional can also have more knowledge on bringing back the shine and luster of an or accessory. Keep an inventory of your accessories so that you will know which ones need immediate cleaning.
