handmade jewelry can be delicate, it needs to be handled with care.

 

how to care for handmade jewelry

 

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• use a soft cotton cloth to polish your beaded jewels. A coarse cloth may scratch glass, pearls, crystals and some metal beads.

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• make sure you’re not seeing more string/wire than normal. This could mean that your necklace or bracelet is not secure and will eventually fall apart. Have your jewelry restrung before it breaks. If it breaks while you’re wearing it, you may lose beads that are hard or impossible to replace. This will increase the cost repair.

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• Store your jewelry in a dry, compartmentalized jewelry box or container to avoid dry rot and tarnish.

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• Use a gentle jewelry cleaner or a very mild soap and water solution to clean your beaded jewelry. 

 

• Use a soft toothbrush or special jewelry brush to clean silver.

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• Use extra special care when cleaning color enhanced or delicate natural beads

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Gold, Copper and Sterling Silver Jewelry

Gold - Even the best-made, highest quality jewelry is delicate. If not handled properly, jewelry will break or become damaged.

How to Maintain

Ideally you should take gold pieces to a jeweler annually to have them checked for loose parts. And while you’re there, get them steamed and buffed until they’re super shiny.
 

How to Store

Your jewelry should be the last thing you put on in the morning and the first thing you take off at night. That way, your necklace won’t get spritzed with perfume and your earrings won’t get caught in your clothes. To prevent scratches and tangles, separate pieces on velvet-lined trays, in boxes with compartments, or in small, zippered plastic bags.
 

3 Common Problems, Solved

• A knotted chain: First, undo the clasp. Next, dab olive oil on the knot and lay the chain on a flat surface. Using two pins, set to work untangling the knot. Then clean the chain using the method above.

• Scratches: Cleaning and polishing with a jewelry cloth will minimize the appearance of scratches. To remove a deep mark, seek out a pro. Prices start at about $35.

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Copper - Over time, copper jewelry will lose its bright shine and take on a patina of its very own. This is due to oxidation. Moisture in the air causes copper to tarnish or patina. Some people like this natural patina. For those of you that like to keep your copper jewelry bright and shiny use one of the following copper jewelry cleaning methods below.

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Sterling Silver
 

Hand Knotted Jewelry

• Jewelry hand knotted on silk or other natural fibers will need to be re-strung periodically.  Over a period of time, dirt and body oils will get trapped in the fibers and weaken the cord.

• The life of your hand knotted jewelry depends on how well you take care of it. Typical recommendations for re-stringing knotted jewelry are usually every 3 to 4 years. This also depends on how often you wear your jewelry and how well you care for it.

• including turquoise, red coral, bone, and pearls.

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DIY Cleaners for Handmade Jewelry

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Gold Cleaning Solution

 

Jewelry experts swear that this homemade concoction works as well as chemical cleaners do: In a large bowl, mix 2 parts dish soap and 10 parts warm water. Soak jewelry for 3 hours, then gently scrub with a soft, clean toothbrush. (This method is also safe for any pieces with diamonds.) Rinse in hot water. Dry thoroughly with a microfiber cloth, then polish with a jewelry cloth (available at most jewelry stores). Repeat as often as needed.  You can’t over clean gold.

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   Baking Soda Paste Cleanser for Copper and Sterling Silver Jewelry

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Make a paste of baking soda, a dab of dish detergent and water. Gently rub copper metal with paste until shiny. Put jewelry in a bowl of clean water and swish around until no longer soapy. You may have to change the water a couple of times. Rinse. Shake jewelry onto dry cloth to remove water from the inside of the beads. Dry jewelry with a soft towel. Lay flat to and let jewelry dry completely before wearing again. (See warning below.)

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   Homemade Jewelry Liquid Cleaner (No Scrubbing!)

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Important to Read Before You Start

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1. Gather your ingredients, and FOLLOW THE INSTRUCTIONS

2.  Line a flat pan covered in foil shiny side up. (9×9 baking pan works great)

3. Lay out your dirty jewelry so each part of the jewelry touches the foil.

 

Ingredients for homemade jewelry cleaner:

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• boiling water: 1 cup

• vinegar: 1/2 cup

• baking soda: 1 tablespoon

• salt: 1 tablespoon

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Instructions:

1. Mix 1 cup of boiling water, 1 tablespoon of salt, and 1 tablespoon of baking soda together. Then slowly pour the mixture into the foil lined pan. Use a spoon if necessary to stir and re-position the jewelry.

2. Now comes the fun part! Slowly add the 1/2 cup of vinegar and watch it do its magic! Bubbles galore cleaning every crevice.

3. Let it sit for 5-10 minutes. If necessary, use a spoon to stir the salt and baking soda, and to evenly distribute the jewelry. Turn over and move around if needed for the other side

4. Rinse in water and dry by gently shaking jewelry onto dry cloth to remove water from the inside of the beads. Hand pat jewelry with a soft towel, dabbing and laying flat to let jewelry dry completely before wearing again.

 

Jewelry Cleaning Instructions provided by PrettyGossip.Com 

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WARNING
Please DO NOT leave your jewelry to soak for an extended period of time. Do not use these cleaning techniques if your copper jewelry has leather, pearls, or any other soft stone.