How to Care for Your Jewelry

Most good jewelry will last for many years if properly taken care of. Taking care of your jewelry includes several important steps.

Storage
Store jewelry in an organized container, with plenty of room so that different jewelry pieces do not touch each other. This serves a dual purpose. First, it prevents tangling of chains, a phenomenon with which most women are unfortunately familiar. Second, it prevents tarnishing. Often, if different metals such as gold and silver touch each other, there will be a chemical reaction and the color will turn. Of course, storing your jewelry in an organized fashion also prevents you from losing those tiny earrings and earring backs. In addition to a standard jewelry box, a great way to store earrings is on a special earring rack. Also, necklaces can be hung on mini hooks. Inexpensive jewelry displays can be purchased at accessory stores in the shopping mall, such as Claire's Boutique. You can also make your own using pretty pieces of fabric and wall hooks.

Wearing and Removing Your Jewelry
If you want your jewelry to last, it is imperative that you take it off when you bathe and go to sleep. This flies in the face of what many people do. Some people are stuck in the old tradition of never taking off a ring or necklace because of its sentimental value. But in reality, if you really love a piece of jewelry, you are only showing it care by removing it. Sleeping in chains causes them to weaken and eventually stretch or break. Leaving rings and earrings on all the time causes them to get filthy dirty with globs of lotion, soap, and who knows what else.

Also, certain types of gemstones are simply not meant to be worn every day. For example, soft stones such as aquamarines or citrines will eventually get scratched and lose some of their shine if worn every day. It is best to wear them only occasionally, and remove them when you get home. Harder stones such as diamonds are much more durable, and can be worn daily, which is one of the reasons they are used for wedding and engagement rings.

When you put your jewelry on in the morning, it should be the last part of your routine. That way, you will not get lotions and makeup on it. Be sure to spray perfume and let it dry before you adorn yourself with jewels. This is especially important for pearls, whose delicate luster can be deteriorated by the chemicals in many beauty products.

Cleaning
Just as you clean your clothes, your home, and your self, you should also clean your jewelry. Pieces that you wear often should be cleaned about once a week. Gold and most gemstones can be placed in store-bought gold jewelry cleaner. This comes in little jars for about $4. The jewelry should be placed in the basket inside the jar, and left to soak for a little while. It should then be scrubbed with a small brush and rinsed in water. Some cleaning products such as Mr. Clean can also be used in a pinch. While some people use toothpaste, this is not a good idea, as it is too abrasive and may scratch stones. Electric or sonic jewelry cleaning machines can also be purchased for about $25. As for silver jewelry, special silver cleaner should be used. Silver can also be polished with chemically treated silver cleaning cloths, available for purchase in many jewelry and department stores. When it comes to cleaning other types of jewelry, such as pearls or even wood or vintage plastics, the best thing to do is use a damp cloth and gently wipe the jewelry down and let it air dry.

With these easy steps, your jewelry will look more beautiful than ever, and will last for many years to come.