How To Care For our Jewellery and Prolong It's Life by Nisha Halo
Find out how to care for your jewellery to prevent damage and prolong its life and clean your jewellery without using harsh chemicals below:
Like a lot of people I have sensitive skin that gets easily irritated. (It’s not naturally thick either – I have had to work on that - but thankfully that also gets easier with age.)
I also do not want to be responsible tipping chemicals down the drain in the process of making jewellery for Nisha Halo, so I use natural, environmentally friendly options instead of chemicals or acids for oxidising silver, cleaning soldered metals and polishing jewellery such as alum, vinegar and salt.
To care for your jewellery more naturally, keep your jewellery in its original box in a dry, dark and cool place; do not leave your jewellery next to heaters, in strong sunlight or damp bathrooms as this can cause it to tarnish.
To prevent damage, always store jewellery pieces separately so they do not scratch against each other and to prevent chains becoming tangled and weak
Skin, lotions, perfume and hair products can react with jewellery and cause it to erode and tarnish, so always put your jewellery on last after applying your products
Always take off your jewellery before any physical exercise including going to the gym and gardening where delicate jewellery can be accidently damaged; perspiration also causes jewellery to tarnish
Take off your jewellery before cleaning and washing up
Keep your jewellery away from harsh chemicals such as acetone (nail varnish remover), cleaning solutions, and anti-bacterial cleaners as these can damage jewellery, especially resin pieces
The mixture of chemicals and water in hot tubs and swimming pools will damage your jewellery so always take your jewellery off. Remove your jewellery before using natural springs, showers and baths
Take your jewellery off before you sleep
Avoid hitting hard services with pearls and stone-set jewellery as this can cause irreplaceable damage
To Clean Your Jewellery
Gold & Sterling Silver both have beautiful lustres, but can darken and dull over time. To restore gold or sterling silver back to their original shine, clean your pieces with warm soapy water (or a solution of warm water and washing-up liquid) and a soft toothbrush. Afterwards, rinse the jewellery thoroughly in clean water and wipe with a soft cloth. This method also works for precious stone-set jewellery but not pearls. Avoid using abrasive jewellery cleaners or ‘dip’ polish which contain harsh chemicals; these can actually ‘eat into’ your jewellery over time.
To clean several tarnished sterling silver items at the same time, line a plastic tub with aluminium foil, cover the foil with one to two tablespoons of bicarbonate of soda (depending on the number of jewellery items you want to clean), and put your jewellery into the tub, then cover the jewellery with boiling water. You should see the items becoming clean quickly, then rinse the jewellery in warm water. Repeat the process with fresh foil and bicarbonate of soda if there is still traces of tarnish on the jewellery. (Do not use this method for gold, any plated jewellery or any jewellery that has gemstones and other metals).
Pearls are delicate and can be cleaned with a soft and slightly damp cloth - never use a brush, soap or chemicals as these can cause damage to the surface of the pearl.
Gold & Rose Gold Vermeil can be cleaned by gently wiping the piece with a soft cloth; you can dip the cloth in a bowl of warm water and soap and gently rub the vermeil jewellery piece, but do not dip or soak the vermeil piece in the water. Do not treat vermeil with any chemical products, as these products can remove the vermeil.
Copper and Brass naturally tarnish over time due to their exposure to the air and the perspiration on your skin. To clean copper and brass naturally – as long as it is not combined with resin or pearls - cover the copper or brass jewellery with a solution of lemon juice combined with a little salt, this will remove the tarnish. Remove the lemon juice and salt with a soft cloth. If you prefer you can rinse the jewellery but make sure you dry the jewellery thoroughly with a soft cloth.
Resin jewellery is prone to a build-up of oils from your skin over time and this can dull the finish. Resin can be cleaned with dish soap, warm water and a soft cloth. Do not use hot water, soak the resin piece or use anything abrasive to clean it.
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