Stop Jewellery From Tarnishing
How To Stop Costume Jewellery From Tarnishing With 4 Easy Tricks
Costume jewellery, unlike fine jewellery, is a blend of different metals which makes it susceptible to rust and tarnish more easily in comparison. Being relatively inexpensive, widely available, and fashion-forward, this is about the only downside when it comes to costume jewellery but then nothing is perfect!
Perfection, however, can be achieved with some proactivity; we’ve already talked about the best ways to clean costume jewellery but prevention is better than the cure, so if you want to stop your costume jewellery from tarnishing here are our best tips:
Keep Your Costume Jewellery Dry
Moisture is known to interact with metals easily and yet it is common practice to wash hands or do the dishes with rings on. To stop your costume jewellery from tarnishing, it’s best to keep it dry and wipe away any moisture with a towel or tissue paper as soon as possible.
Put On Lotion To Block Out Moisture
Make sure to put some lightweight lotion onto your skin to add a protective layer between your skin and the metal accessory of your choice. Depending on the kind of skin you have, you could potentially speed up the tarnishing process which is why using a lotion, especially a fragrance-free and water-based one, is important.
Don’t apply the lotion with your pieces on though!
Use A Protectant Spray
If your costume jewellery is on the cheaper side, using clear nail polish can work fairly well as a protective coat. If they are on the medium to high-end, a quality protectant spray can not only stop your costume jewellery from tarnishing for a long period of time, but it will also take longer for the bottle to finish, leaving you with plenty of product to reuse.
Pay Attention To Storage
One of the most important prevention methods is proper storage. Fill a ziplock bag with your jewellery and then press on it to release excess air before sealing it shut. Much like moisture, air reacts and tarnishes costume pieces overtime as well, which is why ziplock bags are a great idea, along with anti-tarnish strips.
You can also use a lidded container or box to keep away the air and pop in a gel pack (the kind that comes for free with shoes) to keep away any moisture.
Have you ever used any of these methods to stop your costume jewellery from tarnishing? If you’ve got something to add let us know at 08002884741 or contact@sanars.co.uk.
Best Ways To Clean Costume Jewellery
There are many pricey jewellery cleaning kits available that combine cleaners, polishers, microfiber cloths, and more. Although effective in general, they are not easy on the pocket. Moreover, most of them have been designed keeping real jewellery in mind which means that the ingredients used prove too harsh towards costume jewellery.
This is why home cleaning remedies work best; they are simpler, easier on the pocket, aren’t too abrasive if used right, and make do with everyday household items and materials.
So if you want to remove the dirt and discoloration from your once shiny pieces, use these tips to clean costume jewellery at home:
Recapture The Allure With Aluminum
Place your costume jewellery pieces in a dish or tray covered with aluminum foil. Sprinkle bicarbonate of soda on your pieces before slowly pouring clean, boiled water on them. It would be better to use less bicarbonate and warm water instead of hot water to lessen the chances of abrasion, but it’s totally up to you!
Flip and repeat to make sure your items have been properly cleaned. In the end, rinse and dry with a clean cloth or towel. This method works best for sterling silver jewellery!
Using Baby Shampoo To Beautify
Dilute baby shampoo with an equal amount of water, using a soft cloth or toothbrush (or even a Q-tip/ toothpick) to clean through your pieces. Don’t douse your jewellery into the water since the adhesives may give way. Instead, pull them out after a short while or simply dip your tools into the mix before rubbing them onto the jewellery pieces.
Don’t forget to rinse with cold water and dry with a towel or microfiber cloth.
From Mild Dish Soap To Magnificence
The ratio for this method isn’t exact but it is recommended to take a large amount of warm water and mix in a few drops of mild dish soap.
Rub and scrub the pieces with a soft cloth after dipping them into the mixture, and then rinse and dry using a soft cloth or towel.
Lacking Luster? Throw In Some Lemons!
Mix equal parts water and lemon juice before soaking your jewellery for 10 to 15 minutes. The measurement helps dilute the acidic properties of the lemon, yet retain its grime-eating quality. Again, if you’re worried about the soaking loosening the glues, you can either dip in a cloth and use it to rub the pieces or leave them inside for a lesser time.
Use cool water to rinse the pieces and dry with a soft, clean cloth.
Using A Toothbrush For That Tarnish
Brush your beauties clean of the toughest dirt and gritty textures with a toothbrush and a smidge of toothpaste. Rinse clean and dry gently as mentioned above!
Were you able to learn something new about cleaning costume jewellery at home? Do you have even better ideas to contribute? Let us know at 08002884741 or contact@sanars.co.uk.
