Everyone loves getting new jewelry, whether you receive it as a gift or you buy it for yourself. Of course, the last thing you want to do is let your lovely new ring or necklace get ruined by not looking after it properly. Luckily, there are various simple hacks, tips and tricks you can use to maintain your jewelry and keep it looking good as new. By keeping it properly stored and giving it a nice clean every once in a while you can enjoy your jewelry for many years to come.
Storing Your Jewelry: While there are ways to fix broken earrings and other jewelry, you want to try and take preventative measures to avoid letting your favorite pieces break in the first place. The first step is to make sure you have the right place to store your jewelry. This will not only help to stop you from losing your precious jewelry, but it will also help to prevent damage. Whether it’s a priceless family heirloom, an inexpensive ring, or your favorite new necklace from Jweel, it all deserves to be stored in a cool, dry place. Try to keep items separately, to avoid scratching, tangling or chipping. While you can easily get a knot out of a chain, it’s a bit trickier to fix a chip. Even diamonds can chip and the last thing you want is to ruin your expensive jewelry, so look out for a box that allows you to store your pieces in individual spaces.
Don’t Forget a Travel Case: It’s easy to stop your jewelry from getting ruined at home; it’s when you are on the go that you really need to be careful. If you are going travelling, don’t just dump your jewelry in your suitcase. Be sure to buy a travel case or pouch that will keep your stuff safe. There are various makes that have individual compartments designed to store everything from rings, to necklaces and bracelets. A case is a little sturdier than a soft roll, however, it does take up a little more space. If you are travelling with expensive pieces, we recommend opting for a higher level of protection.
Clean Your Jewelry: Since all jewelry is unique, it’s sometimes best to look up the best cleaning method for your particular piece. However, there are some general cleaning tips we can recommend. You can clean most jewelry with a little bit of soapy warm water and a soft, non-metallic brush. A simply DIY hack is to simply use a soft bristle toothbrush, just be sure that you don’t use that toothbrush to clean anything else, as you do not want to end up transferring harmful chemicals onto your jewelry. If you are cleaning gold or silver plated jewelry, then there are a few simple mixes you can make at home to give these pieces a gleaming shine.
To clean dull and discolored sterling silver: Use warm soapy water and rinse with a soft cloth. Dip in cold water. Buff until dry.
Gold chains require a little extra care since they easily rust. You can use this simple jewelry cleaning technique using baking soda and soapy water to restore it to its former glory. No matter what type of jewelry you own, there is a simple cleaning hack to be found online.
Preventative Measures: There are some things that can cause additional damage or wear and tear to your jewelry. To stop unnecessary damage, be sure to avoid the following:
- Chlorine can cause surface damage to most metals, so be sure to remove all of your jewelry before you jump in the pool
- Avoid contact with perfume, hairspray, lotion and domestic cleaning products as these can cause damage to metal and gemstones
The sun’s rays can affect the durability and color of certain gemstones, so be careful with leaving it out in the sun in order to avoid fading, bleaching or darkening of the gems - Take care when using ultrasonic cleaners, as these are not safe for all types of gems and jewelry. Be sure to read the instructions and be particularly wary with loose or chipped gems. If in doubt, have it cleaned by a professional.
Keeping your jewelry looking good as new does not have to require a great deal of effort. All you need to do is be sure you take a few extra steps to keep your precious items in top shape. Simply think about storage and do a little cleaning every once in awhile so you can enjoy your jewelry for many years to come.
