Tips on Cleaning Your Jewelry

It's the time of year when many of you stay inside, and have more time for special household projects you seldom get around to otherwise -- like cleaning your jewelry, and implementing better maintenance and storage techniques that will last throughout the year. Consider these tips on your J&M Jewelry Designs sterling silver jewelry:

Dish soap and even toothpaste are common household substances used for jewelry cleaning, but experts recommend confining them to sinks and mouths. These products are not designed for jewelry, and can be too rough on the metals. Skip the toothbrushes, too.

If you've ever had an ugly gray residue around your neck, wrists or fingers, you've experienced the effects of tarnished silver. Because of its vulnerability to tarnishing, sterling silver needs special care.

Oxygen -- which produces tarnish -- is silver's worst enemy, so always tuck away your silver jewelry pieces in places like drawers, plastic bags or velvet pouches instead of leaving them out in the open. To add extra protection, put paper anti-tarnish strips -- available at many jewelry stores -- inside the containers.

Usually, wiping well-kept silver with a jewelry cloth will suffice for maintenance, unless tarnish already has appeared. If you want to clean the jewelry further, use a solution specifically made for silver. Do not use silver cleaning solutions on other jewelry -- they can damage other types of metals and gemstones. A thick, homemade paste -- made out of baking soda and a few drops of water -- also can clean silver well. Rinse and dry the piece after using the paste.

Pearls are among the most delicate jewels and require special care. Wipe pearls off with a damp soft cloth after each wearing because sweat, body oil and cosmetic products can erode the pearls. Keep your pearls away from hard or sharp jewelry items that could scratch them. Pearls are best stored in a soft cloth pouch, or a separately lined segment of a jewelry box.

If you use an ultrasonic jewelry cleaner, don't use it for porous and fragile turquoise, for pearls or other organic materials, which can be damaged by the device.

Store your jewelry carefully; don't just toss it in a jewelry box. The silver, gemstones and other materials can get scratched, especially if they are softer gemstones. Wrap pieces individually in tissue paper or velvet, or arrange them carefully in a jewelry box so that they do not touch each other.

When getting dressed, try to apply perfumes and hair sprays and let them dry before putting on your jewelry, so that it doesn't develop a residue; this especially applies to pearls. Also, make sure all body lotion has absorbed into the skin before putting on jewelry.

Do not wear your jewelry -- particularly rings or bracelets -- while doing any household cleaning, gardening, or other dirty work. Over time, the household soaps can cause stress and fatigue in the metals.

Our jewelry is a piece of art, if it is well looked after, its beauty will be enhanced with age.

About the Author

Jack Shafer is the webmaster and co-owner of J&M Jewelry Designs. If you're looking for a special bauble for your mother, sister, girlfriend, or favorite aunt, J&M Jewelry Designs has the perfect gift that one can cherish forever!