Jewelry Care and Cleaning
| silver | semi-precious gemstones | |
| pearls | turquoise |
Silver
Tarnish is a product of oxidation, caused by the interaction of silver
with certain elements such as oxygen or sulfur as well as with certain acids. Tarnishing on silver jewelry, when worn on a regular basis,
usually does not occur.
Storage for a prolonged time causes silver jewelry to tarnish. Contact with rubber bands may cause tarnish - the sulfur in rubber is a catalyst for tarnish. Taking a medication that changes the acidity of your skin may cause silver jewelry to tarnish.
To keep your silver tarnish-free, frequently clean your silver in a mild dishwashing liquid diluted in water, rinse and dry well with a cotton cloth. Store silver in a dry,sealed container or a plastic bag with anti-tarnish paper, chalk or seashells!
Polishing cloths are my recommended method to clean silver. If you need to get into a tight spot on a piece of jewelry wrap the polishing cloth around a popsicle stick and rub back and forth. Once the tarnish has been removed rinse the piece in mild detergent water and again in water. Dry thoroughly.
If you use jewelry cleaning solution Limit the gemstone's exposure to the cleaner - cleaners may harm certain kinds of gemstones. Please read the cleaning product's instructions before cleaning. Thoroughly rinse jewelry after cleaning, and dry with a soft cloth until it is completely dry.
Semi-Precious Gemstones
A dilute solution of dish soap is usually adequate to clean gemstones.
Soak briefly and rinse thoroughly. Toothpicks can be used to clean any
debris from the stone. Cotton swabs can be used but be careful to not
catch the cotton fibers on any prongs or settings.
Detergents and soaps containing ammonia or acetone should be avoided completely. Be aware of wearing any jewelry consisting of semi-precious stones in chlorinated pools or jacuzzis.
Perfumes, hairsprays, lotions, cleansers, nail polish remover (containing alcohol, acetone and chlorine) are very harmful to the gemstones.
Turquoise
Avoid contact with soap or oils. Do not use a mechanical cleaning device
or liquid dip solution on your silver turquoise jewelry as this may
cause damage to the stones.
Avoid subjecting turquoise to trauma or shock, since turquoise tends to be softer than harder gemstones (like diamonds, sapphires, and rubies).
Remember to remove turquoise jewelry when doing manual work to avoid scratching the stones and do not wear while swimming in chlorinated water.
Pearls
Never use detergents, bleaching agents or powdered cleansers to clean
the pearls as they can harm the surface of the pearls.
After wearing pearl jewelry, a wet soft cloth can be used to clean the pearls slightly. Pearls will get brittle and crack when they are dehydrated.
Never keep the pearls near heaters or in places that get strong exposure under sunlight. Soft jewelry pouches or bags are a good choice for pearl storage in order to prevent scratching.
Take your pearls off when applying cosmetics, skin care products, hair sprays or perfume. These beauty aids are composed of chemicals and acids which can harm the pearls.
Moreover, take your pearls off while swimming or bathing. It's worse to get the string wet. Pearl rings should be taken off when washing hands or dishes. When taking off a pearl ring, grasp the shank or metal part rather than the pearl. This will prevent the pearl from loosening and coming into contact with oily skin.