How to Care for Jewelry By Material
Have you ever gone into your jewelry box to find one of your favorite pieces has tarnished or discolored? It is easy to avoid a jewelry disaster as long as you follow a few simple steps when caring for your precious jewelry. How to properly take care of your jewelry varies depending on the material and composition of your piece.
You can easily care for jewelry at home with a few simple tips. Keeping a polishing cloth handy will work in a pinch when you need to shine up your favorite pieces. You can also purchase jewelry storage that will keep your pieces air tight and less quick to tarnish. There are even jewelry cleaners you can purchase online. However, the best old fashioned way to clean your jewelry is with good old soap and water.
If you want to make a necklace chain or gemstone ring shine again then hang onto an old toothbrush for that deep clean. You want to make sure any toothbrush or brush you use to scrub your jewelry is super soft so you don't inadvertently scratch the metal. For 14K gold, Sterling Silver, and Platinum soap and warm water are usually your best bet.
When it comes to gold vermeil or gold plated jewelry you have to be a bit more careful. The outer layer of your beloved gold plated or gold vermeil pieces is made of a thin layer of 14k, 18k, or sometimes even 24k gold. Gold is a soft and easily scratched metal so its important to treat these pieces with extra care to retain their color and shine.
The safest bet when cleaning your gold vermeil or gold plated pieces is to use a soft cloth or polishing wipe to clean it. If you need to clean oil, grime, or products off your pieces a warm bath with dish soap should properly clean it up. You can then dry them off carefully with a clean soft towel or cloth.
Another great way to prevent tarnish or damaging on your favorite pieces it to store them properly. After you take off your jewelry, wipe down your pieces with a cloth, and then store them in a cloth bag or a storage box intended for jewelry.
There are some fun facts to consider when you are taking care of your jewelry. Wearing your Sterling silver can actually help prevent tarnishing as it stays shinier longer when interacting with the oils from your skin. 14k Gold is a softer metal so it can scratch more easily and needs to be cared for continuously if you wear it everyday.
The best rule to follow is to show your jewelry love some everyday. Give it a nice wipe down after you wear it, give it a wash when you get any products on it, and store it in a cool dry place. When you travel take your jewelry in a carrying case so it doesn’t tangle or stretch. With these few simple tips you can make your most loved jewelry last longer so you can wear it always.
