Follow These Simple Tips and Tricks to Wear, Clean & Store Jewelry

The jewelry purchased stays with us for the rest of our lives and is further passed on to future generations as an heirloom. Proper maintenance of jewelry is imperative to ensure durability.

Here is how you can look after your jewelry. There are three important factors to ensure proper jewelry care.

• Wear jewelry properly.
• Clean it properly.
• Store it carefully.

Wearing Jewelry the Proper Way:

• Wear jewelry only after you are done wearing lotions, cosmetics, hairsprays, perfumes, and everything else.
• Do not wear your necklace and earrings until you have finished your hairstyle.
• Avoid exposing gems to chemicals. Be sure to remove the ladies bangle set and other jewelry before touching chemical products.
• Do not expose your jewelry to water. Remove the jewelry like men kadas before taking a shower, swimming, or doing anything that causes direct contact between the jewelry and the water.
• Do not wear jewelry while doing physical work. Women have the problem of rings, ladies bangle sets, chains, and bracelets coming into contact with hot substances during cooking. This can cause the stones to fall off and damage the jewelry.

Clean Your Jewelry Easily at Home:

• After removing the jewelry, wipe each part with a clean, soft cloth to remove oil, fingerprints, and sweat from your body. Frequently clean your jewelry using a soft brush to remove any dust that adhered to the design.
• Clean Gold Jewelry at Home – Add a few drops of mild detergent and clean the gold jewelry with lukewarm water. You should use a soft brush to remove excess dirt, wash and dry with a soft cloth.
• Clean silver jewelry at home – Add a teaspoon of salt or baking soda to hot water, stir, soak the jewelry in the solution and leave it for 5 minutes. Then rinse the jewelry with cold water and dry it with a soft cloth.
• Clean Diamond Jewelry at Home – Wash it with warm soapy water and brush it off with a soft brush. However, using diluted toothpaste is another option. Pastes can be too strong for other metals and must be avoided.
• Clean Pearl Jewelry at Home – Pearls tend to lose their luster and should be washed carefully. It is best to clean each bead with a brush soaked in soapy water. After cleaning, wipe gently with a damp cloth and let it dry.

Things to Keep In Mind When Storing Jewelry:

• Store your jewelry in a plastic box to prevent your jewelry from corroding.
• Use a plastic box for each set to make it easier to find when you need it.
• Label each plastic box if possible to avoid confusion. Most jewelry comes in boxes and pouches from the store and is a great place to store it.
• A jewelry box with containers can hold earrings, ladies’ bangle sets, men kadas, bracelets, necklaces, rings, and watches.
• It is better to keep similar items together, so you can choose all the options for what to wear.
• Wrap your jewelry in a thin, soft cloth.
• Use a jewelry case while traveling. It is important to keep your jewelry safe and undamaged while traveling. It also helps hold a jewelry case between layers of clothing.

Other Tips and Suggestions

Beware of Light and Heat

Light and heat can affect the durability and color of colored gems, just as the sun’s harmful rays can damage our skin. Over time, some gems such as kunzite, topaz, amethyst, and shell cameos can fade or be damaged. Other sensitive materials such as pearls and ivory fade when exposed to extreme light. Temperature changes can also destroy some gems. Pearls can dry, crack, and discolor in excessive heat. Opals turn white or brown, causing small cracks and loss of color play.

Keep Jewelry Away From Chemicals

Exposure to chemicals, even from everyday use substances like perfumes, lotions, hairsprays, and other cosmetics, can damage or discolor precious metals, pearls, and colored gems. Other common chemicals and solutions to avoid are denatured alcohol, chlorine bleach, acetone, and ammonia. These chemicals can attack the surface of softer gems. Petroleum-based products can cause serious damage to pearls and also melt amber if left on a stone.

Use Safe Methods of Cleaning

Most colored gems can be washed with warm water, a neutral dishwashing liquid (not a detergent), and a soft brush. You can also use pulsating toothpaste or a soft, lint-free cloth. Rinse the gems with a glass of water to remove the cleaning solution. Rinsing directly in a sink has a potential risk of losing loose stones and gems.

Conclusion

Behind every piece of jewelry, you buy, whether precious jewelry, luxury jewelry, or fashion jewelry, there is always a sentimental reason to want to wear it forever. If you follow the above-mentioned quick and easy tips, you will be able to successfully care for your jewelry.