Are your SPARKLERS STARTING TO DULL? Jewellery editor NATASHA SHERLING shares some SIMPLE CLEANING TIPS …
Are your sparklers starting to dull? Gemstones love grease and they attract dirt – everyday wear and tear is bad enough without throwing in summer activities like gardening, applying suncream and eating juicy barbecue burgers.
Unfortunately, costume jewellery doesn’t fare so well in times like these – once the base metal is tarnished that tends to be it. But if fine jewellery is the name of your game, the good news is that cleaning can be done with minimum effort and very basic tools at home! Here, a few simple steps:
First and foremost, as far as I’m concerned, gin is for drinking – so ignore the old wives’ tales about using spirits as a cleaning agent and instead reach for a humble bottle of fairy liquid. Over a bowl of warm water (if you must use the sink, make sure the drain is plugged!) pop some detergent on a toothbrush and start scrubbing – it really is the best tool for removing surface residue and fits really well between prongs! I personally love the soft bristles of these ones by Muji. If there are really tight areas to be accessed, the interdental brushes found in most pharmacies are particularly brilliant to get into hard-to-reach areas. Rinse well then dry with a soft cloth – and you’re done!
Plain gold and silver can be cleaned in the same way, although silver polishing cloths (which can be used for both metals) are no-fuss options that can be purchased in most jewellery shops.
One caveat comes with pearls, which need to be handled with greater care – they should always be put on after makeup and fragrance in any case (the chemicals can dull their lustre) – but simply wipe with a soft, damp cloth after each wear and that will be satisfactory.
For more, see the step by step video guide on my Instagram, but for a really deep clean, it’s always a good idea to bring special pieces into a jeweller once a year – while they’re at it, they can check prongs and clasps as well, to make sure everything is as secure as it should be!
Natasha Sherling
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