When is the last time you cleaned your jewelry? Not just the silver pieces that you buff with silver polish when they turn black. I mean the pieces set with rhinestones and semi-precious stones. Even plastic. We'll talk about silver, gold, pearls, and other pieces that require special care another day. For now, we'll address only costume jewelry. There are really just 5 things you need to know on the subject.
1. Never immerse foiled stones. The water will seep underneath, collect there and very likely discolor the stone. There's a term for stones this has happened to. They're called "dead" stones. You've probably seen an example of a dead stone at least once. They're dull, lifeless and decidedly "unsparkly."
2. Never immerse pieces with glued-in pieces. You'll spend hours re-gluing them. And trust me -- it's not as easy as it sound to get them back into place without leaving tell-tale signs of repair.
3. Immersing most prong-set stones is usually safe, but you probably don't need to, so why take the chance? There's a better way.
4. Wipe your jewelry periodically with a soft cloth dampened with window cleaner or a dilute ammonia solution. Gently scrub hard-surfaces with a soft brush to remove stubborn soil. Then give each pieces a quick swipe with a Sunshine Cloth. If you haven't discovered this little wonder yet, you're missing out. Look on ebay or ask your jeweler if they sell them. One of these day's I'll offer them on my website (www.roxxvintagejewelry.com) but until then, you might want to ask a local jeweler if they sell them.
5. Store your jewelry properly to keep it clean and scratch free. Keep the delicate pieces in individual pouches or jewelry rolls. Hang your chains or wrap them in a way that will prevent kinks and knots. Store the rest neatly in a jewelry box. If you don't have a jewelry box, use a drawer and lay a lint-free cloth over the top to keep out the dust.
Keeping your costume jewelry looking like new takes very little time and can up your enjoyment of it many times over.
Terri
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