The best way to take care
of your wire jewelry is to do it
the way you would any other piece of jewelry. You must remember to take
into consideration the softness or hardness of your stone and
clean it accordingly. Keep your wire pieces separate from your other
jewelry so it does not get nicked or scratched. It is also best
to keep it in a small plastic baggie sealed tightly or in a box with
cushioned with cotton.
Personal Care Products
Through our daily grooming routines, we are exposed to
various chemicals which may not harm us, but could be harmful to
our jewelry: hair spray, body lotions, moisturizers, perfume,
make-up, shaving cream,
and soap. These leave a residue on jewelry, creating a dull
film that is very difficult to remove. To prevent this buildup,
remove your jewelry before bathing and grooming, and put it back on
right after you are finished. Think of your jewelry as your finishing touch.
Housework
Jewelry and housework do
not mix! Before you’re
about to clean make
sure that you take off
all your jewelry. Harsh,
abrasive cleaners can
cause a hard-to-remove buildup and leave dull scratches on your
jewelry. It is
especially important for you to remove all jewelry when working
with any power tools: chains, Rings and Earrings may get caught on a
power tool and break and can cause serious injury.
Chemicals
Chlorine bleach can
destroy your jewelry, especially silver. When silver is exposed
to chlorine bleach, the chemical has an oxidizing effect on the
metal, causing the metal to turn an unsightly black. In most
cases, standard household jewelry cleaners cannot remove the
blackened metal. A professional jeweler with the proper equipment
might be able to. To be safe, always remove your jewelry
before working with chlorine bleach.
Bath Time
Although we use water to clean much of our jewelry, you should
thoroughly dry your jewelry after exposure to water, especially
before stoRing it in an enclosed space. Moisture allows silver
to tarnish and can weaken jewelry findings.
Outdoors
It’s a good idea to keep your jewelry away from extreme
heat and cold. Some jewelry pieces are more sensitive to heat than
others. For example, extreme heat can be compared to the temperature
of boiling water or very hot tap water and could damage jeweler’s
cement commonly used with costume jewelry and cultured pearls.
Plus, a rapid increase in
temperature could have a
reaction and lead to fractures in some gemstones.
Storage
The key to protecting your jewelry is not only in how you wear
your jewelry, but also in how it’s stored. Keep it in it's box or
jewelry pouch when you
are not weaRing it.
Separate
When stoRing your jewelry, you should give each piece its own
space. Metal can scratch or scuff other metal. Diamonds and other
hard gemstones that come in contact with metal or each other can
destroy luster. For this reason,
protect each piece by stoRing it in it’s own compartment. Or, if you prefer to keep all your jewelry
together in one big jewelry box, place each individual piece in a
pouch or a self-sealing plastic bag.
For bracelets and necklaces, always fasten the clasp when
stoRing. This will help prevent tangling of the chain.
Skin Discoloration
The most common reason is
metallic abrasion, caused
by make-up on the skin or
clothing. Cosmetics often
contain compounds harder
than the jewelry itself,
which wear or rub very
tiny particles. Very
finely divided metal
always appears black
rather than metallic, so
it looks like jet-black
dust. When this dust
comes into contact with
absorbent surfaces such
as skin or clothing, it
sticks, forming a black
smudge.
When you perspire, fat
and fatty acids in
perspiration can cause
this corrosion,
especially when exposed
to warmth and air. This
problem can be worse in
coastal and semi-tropical
areas where chlorides
combine with perspiration
which form a corrosive element
that discolors the skin.
Silver can be tarnished by sulfur-containing materials. The most
common everyday ones we don’t think about are wool, felt, food
(eggs, onions), rubber bands, latex gloves and certain paints.
Some common household
products that will
tarnish silver are
laundry bleach, scrubs with bleach in them, saline
solution, hydrogen peroxide, zinc (found in some face soaps),
chlorine from swimming pools and hot tubs, salt from ocean water,
and some prescription facial creams.
It’s best to keep your silver in plastic zip lock bags when not
weaRing. This helps to keep tarnishing elements that are in the
air away from your jewelry. Activated charcoal helps absorb
tarnish causing elements also. Save those little packets that
come in your new shoes or pocketbooks and put them in with your
jewelry. They absorb moisture!
Should You Polish?
To polish silver it is
best to use the least
abrasive one you can
find. Toothpaste is not a
silver cleaner; it only
scratches the tarnish and
takes away silver layers.
Twinkle Silver Polish is
one of the least abrasive
of the commercial
polishes. Haggerty’s Silversmith Spray Polish comes
in a spray can and it leaves a protective coating on the silver.
You can purchase a Sunshine Cloth, imbedded with non-abrasive
cleansing and polishing agents at most jewelry stores.
How To Clean
For older items with gemstones, check the settings to make sure
that the stones are secure. Dirt and residue can fool you and act
as a “cement”, keeping a stone in place even if the setting has
been rendered weak from wear. If this is the case, and the
residue is removed when cleaning, the loose stone may fall out.
If working over or near a sink, plug the drain.
Materials:
- A clean bowl
- Lukewarm water
- Mild dish washing liquid or a mild jewelry cleaning solution
- Fine mesh plastic or stainless steel strainer (for items with
gemstones)
- Very soft, clean, dry cloth (Any dust or dirt on the cloth may
scratch the piece.)
- Small, soft bristled toothbrush or brush
- Toothpick
A Word About Jewelry Cleaners
If you are using a commercial jewelry cleaner, always follow the
directions for that particular cleaning product. It is also very
important to maintain the freshness of the cleaner by stoRing it
in a tightly sealed container. A stale or contaminated cleaner
may be ineffective or even damage your jewelry. Check to see if
your jewelry cleaner indicates a shelf life or expiration date.
Process
If using a mild jewelry cleaning solution, pour the solution into
a clean bowl. You can also make your own solution by combining
lukewarm water and mild dish washing liquid. (2 tablespoons of
dish washing liquid to 1 quart of water.)
For items with gemstones, place the piece in a strainer and set
the strainer on top of the bowl so that the solution comes
through the strainer and completely surrounds the piece. (The
strainer will catch any stones that might possibly fall out.) For
other items, simply place the piece in the bowl.
Soak the item for 10 to 20 minutes. (It is important to soak the
piece long enough to soften and loosen any residue and dirt.)
For items with gemstones, remove the strainer to a large towel
and inspect your jewelry to make sure that all the stones are in
place.
Thoroughly, but gently, brush the top, sides and bottom of the
piece with a soft brush to remove the softened residue. For
gemstones, you should also brush the underside of the stone. Use
a toothpick to reach crevices and other hard to reach areas.
Rinse with clean water.
Thoroughly dry with a cloth that is soft, dry and clean. If you
are to store the piece immediately after cleaning, you should
leave the piece on a towel for an extended period of time to
ensure that it is completely dry. If all the residue has not been removed, repeat the above steps
as needed.
Enjoy your purchase!
