Jewelry Care and Cleaning

Clean and Polish tips for Chain Jewelry

1. Daily CareWhen you remove your jewelry, wipe off the chain with a lint-free polishing cloth that has no abrasives. 

2. keep your jewelry in an air-tight storage Place with ziploc bag along with an anti-tarnish strip. These strips are fantastic–completely safe and non-toxic that absorbs moisture and neutralize tarnish-producing gases in the air. 

3. Use a soft toothbrush if you are cleaning a rope chain or snake chain where dirt might get into the crevices,  in order to get into those hard to reach areas.

4. Soak your chains in a PH-balanced, ammonia free jewelry solution for stubborn tarnish. In case of chain with  special stones use a gentle cleaning solution.

5. To get rid of tarnish and dirt there are polishing pads and cloths you may use pads embedded with micro-abrasives. Just rub the cloth over the piece and watch it polish to a clean, brilliant shine.

6. To clean silver stubborn spots, use plain toothpaste (no gels or whitening) and a soft toothbrush, then rinse and dry with a soft cloth.

 As For brass and copper pieces, use hot vinegar mixed with a few tablespoons of salt; let soak, then rinse and dry.

Gems requiring special care

Opals: require special care. Never use an ultrasonic, never use chemicals and avoid heat. Don't put your opal ring on the window sill when washing your hands or the dishes as strong sunlight can dry out the water in opals which could cause hazing or color change.

Pearls: Protect from scratches; perfumes and household chemicals which can wear away the nacre or cause color change.

Soft stones: like lapis, malachite, turquoise, amber and opals can easily be scratched by pin stems and the edges of other jewelry. Protect pieces with these gemstones by wrapping them in jeweler's tissue and storing separately.

Cleaning tips for Swarovski Crystals

To ensure the lasting beauty of your Swarovski Jewelry, do not use sonic cleaners, boiling water or commercial jewelry cleaners. Jewelry cleaners usually contain ammonia or alcohol which can have a damaging effect on the plating.

Swarovski recommends that you occasionally polish each piece with a soft lint-free cloth. If your jewelry is very dirty, wash your jewelry using warm water, a mild dish detergent and a soft bristled brush. Rinse thoroughly with clean water prior to drying with a soft lint-free cloth. Please note: Do not wash the Swarovski simulated pearls. These should be buffed with a soft dry cloth.

Also, store your jewelry in the soft pouch or box provided by Swarovski to prevent scratching and hung it up when not being worn. Do not store your Swarovski Jewelry in areas of excessive heat or sun exposure.

Tarnish-Busting Formula at home:

1. Choose a plastic or glass (never metal) pan that is deep enough so that when filled with water your tarnished jewelry will be covered.

2. Put a piece of aluminum foil in the bottom of the pan.

3. Pour near-boiling water into the pan.

4. Add a couple tablespoons of baking soda to the water.

5. Place the tarnished jewelry onto the piece of aluminum.

6. If necessary, add more baking soda to the dish until you see the tarnish coming off your piece. You should get a slight bubbling effect with an odd odor.

CAUTION!

Do NOT use toothpaste, as it is an abrasive.

Do NOT use an ultrasonic cleaning device. Ultrasonic waves can literally break some gemstones or can loosen stones in their settings so they will fall out later.

part of the article is extract from Beading Daily.com