How to Take Care of Your Jewelry at Home
Our store is currently closed in compliance with Pennsylvania’s statewide shutdown. We aren’t sure how long it will be until we can reopen, but we realize that many of you might be wondering how to take care of your jewelry while you’re at home. Until you can stop in to see us again, here is a simple guide to taking care of your jewelry at home.
How Do You Take Care of Fine Jewelry?
Fine jewelry is an investment that can last generations. To keep it looking its best, remember to clean it regularly and to store it in an environment free of dust and moisture. Keep your special pieces on a soft surface, separated from other items to prevent scratching and tangling.
At-Home Jewelry Cleaning Methods
If you don’t have jewelry cleaner at home, your best bet for cleaning your jewelry is to use warm water combined with a mild dish soap. Scrub (actually poke) your pieces with a soft brush, but beware of using anything too abrasive. After scrubbing, rinse in water. To avoid loss, we recommend rinsing your jewelry in a glass of water, rather than directly in your sink.
If you own jewelry with soft gems such as pearls or opals, you must be especially careful when cleaning them at home. One way to clean them is to use warm water and a soft makeup brush (but make sure that the brush has never been used before).
Keeping Jewelry Safe From Damage
At Koser Jewelers, we know that you buy jewelry to wear, and we believe you should be able to wear and enjoy it as often as you like. There are certain times, though, when it is safest to remove your jewelry. Examples of times when you should consider removing your jewelry include when you are swimming, gardening, cooking, cleaning, or moving heavy objects.
As always, it is important to make sure that your jewelry is not exposed to anything that could damage it. Gold, silver, and gemstones can all be damaged when exposed to chemicals, such as chlorine or some other household cleaners. Many gemstones can also be harmed when subjected to extreme heat and sudden temperature changes.
Pearls, in particular, are very susceptible to damage from many everyday substances like hairspray, lotion, and perfume. If you wear pearls regularly, you probably already know that the “last on, first off” rule, which means that pearls should be the last item you put on when getting dressed and the first thing off when undressing. Following this rule reduces the risk of exposing your pearls to anything that could harm them.
Storing Your Jewelry
While you’re at it, this might be the perfect time to ensure that you’re storing your jewelry in a safe way. Avoid leaving jewelry around on tables or countertops -- that’s a surefire way to end up with a loss.
Instead, keep all your jewelry in a secure place, preferably in a jewelry box with dividers. Built-in dividers ensure that your treasures can’t damage one another. For example, many jewelry boxes include padded slots for rings, which is ideal.
To prevent tarnishing, it’s best to minimize exposure to air and light when storing sterling silver. Ideally, silver should be stored in anti-tarnish bags. If you don’t have anti-tarnish bags available, you can also use small plastic bags. Stop by the store (once we’re open again)! Often times, we’ll have some extra anti-tarnish strips on hand that we’d love to share!
How Do I Keep My Jewelry From Tarnishing?
Gold and platinum generally will not tarnish with regular use. That said, silver pieces may start to look black or darker after regular contact with substances like body oils, sweat, sulfur and perfume.
A silver cleaning cloth is the easiest way to care for your silver pieces and to keep your jewelry sparkling and clean. A simple polish with this cloth will prevent silver and other metals from developing tarnish. You can also prevent tarnish by keeping your pieces away from moisture and chemicals.
How Do You Maintain Gold Jewelry?
Take care of your gold jewelry by being gentle with it. Gold can get dents and dings easily, so consider removing your rings if you’re going to be doing anything involving industrial tools or even pumping iron at the gym.
Any situation where your jewelry may come into contact with hard metals or strong impacts can affect your pieces. Even paper products can cause tiny scratches, so always polish and wipe your pieces with a soft cloth.
Gold also reacts with chlorine. Be sure to remove your jewelry before going to the spa or pool. If you want to clean your gold jewelry, be sure to use a cleaner designed for gold or use a very mild soap and warm water. Harsh chemicals can damage gold. When washing, use only a small amount of soap and be sure to soak the piece and rinse it well in a bowl to avoid any build-up of soap film.
How Do You Keep Diamond Jewelry Shiny?
In a jewelry store, diamonds sparkle and dazzle. To keep that gleam, avoid getting grease anywhere near your diamond. Diamonds attract grease and oils, which can dim their sparkle. In fact, even touching your diamond with your finger can transfer enough oil from your body to make your diamond less shiny. Avoid touching your diamond and remove it when cooking or working with harsh chemicals.
While diamonds are incredibly strong, you still want to use a gentle touch with them. The setting of your diamond may not be as durable as the stone itself, and it may scratch. About once a week, wash your diamond pieces in warm water and a few drops of mild soap. Gently polish with a clean toothbrush you use only for this purpose. Rinse carefully to avoid build-up, which can also mute shine.
How Do You Maintain Expensive Jewelry?
If you’d like to know how you can take care of your jewelry, our team at Koser Jewelers can offer advice when you buy your next special piece from us. When you stop by our store in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, call us at 717-653-4941 or complete our online contact form to order, be sure to ask how you can take care of your new purchase. Our team would be happy to offer personalized advice.
