Prevent Headaches: How to Keep Your Jewelry in Good Condition
September 20th, 2006 by Summer
Caring for your jewelry properly is easy, and will help it last for a lifetime of wear. For starters, I recommend either using mildly sudsy water for cleaning, then light polishing with a jewelry polishing cloth, such as a Goddard’s Long Shine Cloth, or sunshine cloth.
There are, however, many other methods for cleaning jewelry, and these are just my preferences. But first, please do be sure that your gemstones and pearls in the jewelry can withstand whichever method you choose. For regularly-worn jewelry, you may need to clean as often as weekly, while other items can go months and months without. The key is to touch it up before it gets to the point of having to go to a pro – and spend lots of money! Simply put, be picky, and clean as often as you have time to do so!
As far as keeping your jewelry in good shape, here’s the short version:
- Keep jewelry away from scratching, banging, chemicals of all kinds, swimming pools, hot tubs, extreme temps, strenuous activity, and intense sunlight.
- The chlorine and bromine in pools and hot tubs is particularly damaging to stones and metal, and will even damage solid gold.
- Wipe your jewelry off with a soft cloth after you wear it.
- Clean it regularly with mildly sudsy water, rinse really well, and pat dry with a soft cloth.
- Polish metals gently with a jewelry polishing cloth.
- Store most jewelry in a re-closeable plastic bag or cloth with anti-tarnish paper.
- Don’t subject your fine jewelry to strenuous activities of any kind.
In cases of extreme wear and tear, it’s really best to have your jewelry cleaned by a professional. But, if you follow these simple steps on a regular basis, you’ll probably never have to go to the pros!
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