Each piece of jewelry from a personal collection requires careful attention. Unfortunately, during the purchase, they rarely talk about the rules for caring for jewelry, the methods described on the Internet resources are also not universal, therefore, mistakes in handling jewelry and jewelry are not uncommon. Different metals and stones sometimes need different cleaning and polishing methods.
Precious metals and jewelry
Moon metal lovers know that silver jewelry darkens and tarnishes over time. The reasons are different: the influence of the environment, the action of skin secretions, high humidity. Some people remove dark plaque with tooth powder or paste, vinegar solution, soda, but do not know that the risk of damaging such a decoration is great - chemical reagents and abrasives in the composition of substances can deprive the product of its shine.
The same with gold jewelry - methods of cleaning products with powder, lipstick, as well as using a toothbrush or hard cloth are not suitable: leaving invisible scratches can damage the accessory.
It is even more careful to handle products that have gold or silver plating. Jewelry jewelry does not tolerate rough cleaning and even rinsing under a strong stream of water - metal particles will "fly off" from the base and, in order to restore the precious layer, you will have to turn to specialists.
It is best to immerse precious metal or sprayed items in warm soapy water for a while and then wipe with a soft cloth. You can add ammonia (one tablespoon per liter of solution) - it will help restore the shine of the products. If the jewelry is rhodium plated or blackened silver, ammonia cannot be used.
Natural materials
No matter how dirty products made of leather, wood, clay are, you shouldn't leave them in a bath with water for a long time - they will quickly lose their shape. It is also not necessary to use alcohol-containing and soap solutions - spots remain on the surface of the material or a plaque appears. You can wipe such jewelry with a slightly damp cloth and blot it with a paper napkin, wooden elements can be polished with a special wax.
Natural and artificial stones
Minerals do not tolerate mechanical cleaning: no brushes, needles or other sharp and scratching objects. Even if dirt has accumulated under the frame, it is not worth removing it with metal tools - there will be a trace of impact or pressure. For the same reason, do not keep jewelry together - only separate storage in upholstered boxes or "sorting" into the boxes of the box.
Some minerals such as diamonds, sapphires, rubies, topaz can be washed in warm water with a drop of liquid soap, and then rinsed with lukewarm water and wiped dry. Other capricious stones - turquoise, amber in water, especially soap solutions cannot be immersed, they have a porous structure and the effect of liquids will change color and accelerate destruction. Ultrasonic and steam cleaning are also not suitable for them.
Pearl
The magnificent gift of the sea requires special care. Mother of pearl is easy to scratch, it does not tolerate the influence of abrasives and chemically aggressive substances, temperature changes, and therefore it is cleaned by immersion in a slightly warm soapy solution, and then wiped with a soft cloth. Jewelry professionals use hydrochloric and malic acids to clean pearls, but we do not recommend using them at home - you can ruin the jewelry.
Drying pearls in suspension is another mistake, the thread stretches and becomes thinner - there is a high risk of breaking it at the most inopportune moment. It is best to spread wet pearls on fabric, avoiding sources of heat and sunlight.
Basic rules for wearing jewelry
Almost all metals and stones are afraid of moisture: when going to the gym, the beach, the sauna, the pool or even the shower, take off your jewelry. Failure to do so can cause the jewelry materials to darken, stain or build up.
Both natural and synthetic stones do not tolerate sudden changes in temperature - if you decide to rinse them in water, make sure that it is not too hot or too cold. You should also not go outside during the cold season - the stones may fade.
The sun damages most natural stones. Do not walk under the scorching rays in jewelry with minerals, the latter can change color or dim. This, for example, happens with topaz, amethyst, pomegranate, citrine, turquoise, amber.
Perfume and cosmetics also negatively affect jewelry. Hence the rule: we put on jewelry 10-30 minutes after fragrant or beauty procedures.
It is necessary to protect jewelry from dust, it can accumulate in cracks or metal fasteners, and over time the product fades. This can be avoided by wiping the precious piece with a soft cloth after each wear.
