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June 25, 2021

How to clean and care for your jewellery

We all want our jewellery to look as good as the day we bought it or were gifted it because when we look good we feel good. You may not think that your jewellery looks like it needs to be cleaned but with every day wear, maintenance is key. Simple tasks like rubbing with a soft jewellery cloth before storing it away will keep your jewellery looking pristine for longer. Whether they are pieces you wear every day or those that are kept for special occasions and events, giving them a little TLC (tender loving care) will help keep them remaining beautiful and sparkling.

Why should jewellery be cleaned?

Some jewellery will require more maintenance than others from time to time but that doesn't mean you should neglect the other pieces that don't require as much cleaning, in fact all jewellery should be cleaned to preserve its longevity.

Silver jewelley for example will require more regular cleaning, silver naturally reacts with with the air and causes oxidisation, this oxidisation over time causes tarnish to build up that you might not notice at first until you happen to see a photo of what the piece used to look like. Jewellery items such as rings, bracelets and bangles which get more abrasive wear will tend to scratch and scrape, therefore it might be worth your while to have these pieces professionally cleaned and polished to get them looking like new again. For pieces that don't need professionally cleaned and can be done at home a simple silver cloth will do the trick, little and often will keep them shining for longer.

Keeping your jewellery clean during coronavirus

With the coronavirus pandemic it is more important now more than ever to keep your jewellery clean, especially now that we are washing our hands more often. While it is better to take off your rings before hand it might not be that easy so when you are removing your jewellery in the evening it's best to give it a quick clean with an antibacterial wipe. Dirt and inevitably bacteria can build up behind gemstones from the increased use of hand sanitizer and moisturiser so these pieces will require a bit more effort when it comes to keeping them clean. You can use a cotton bud (Q tip) to clean out crevices where bacteria can grow aswell as using a soft bristle toothbrush, some washing up liquid and luke warm water. A gentle scrub will dislodge any stubborn build up and bring your gemstones back to life again.

For more delicate ** gemstones and pearls it is best to take these pieces of jewellery off before washing your hands or using hand sanitizer as the alcohol can damage the surface of these gems and water is bad for pearls because they are porous and will absorb the mositure.

(** Amber, Coral, Turquoise, Lapis Lazuli, Malachite, Onyx, Opal, Pearls, Emeralds, Tanzanite, Peridot)

When to clean your jewellery?

There is no 'one rule fits all' when it comes to how often you should clean your jewellery. Everyone will be different and establish their own cleaning routine to fit in with their habits and schedule .

If you can manage once a month to clean your jewellery that would be ideal but you may want to prioritise some pieces, here are a few things to consider:

Jewellery type : As previously mentioned some jewellery will require more maintenance than others, for example, a diamond engagement ring that is worn everyday will need more regular and careful cleaning than a simple ring with no stones.

How often it is worn? : If you have favourite pieces you wear everyday then it goes without saying that they will require more cleaning as apposed to an expensive piece that only comes out of the box on special occasions. The more often you wear it the more you will need to clean it.

What is it being exposed to? : While all jewellery is exposed to the elements this would apply mostly to rings. We use our hands constantly from doing the dishes, cleaning the house, lifting and carrying things so over time they get more wear and are exposed to more substances, therefore it is vital to maintain these pieces.

Cleaning instructions : If you own some expensive high end pieces of jewellery they may have come with a care guide. This will give you the do's and don'ts on how to look after this specific item of jewellery.

At home cleaning

As previously mentioned a soft bristle toothbrush, some soap and water will help when cleaning behind gemstones but before you go ahead and do that you may want to take a closer look at the material of your jewellery and double check that the substances you are using are safe to use to avoid causing any long term or irreparable damage to your jewellery.