We all love our jewelry and want them to last as long as possible, but life doesn't always make it easy. With the hustle and bustle of work, school, or just everyday life in general it's not necessarily our first priority. Here are some tips to keep them lasting as long as they can!
What can I do?
One of the best ways to keep your jewelry lasting as long as possible is by being aware of what can be done to preserve your jewelry.
PRO TIP:
Wear jewelry AFTER makeup, perfume, and/or lotions has been applied and dried.
Make up and perfumes often contain various chemicals that can degrade jewelry faster, causing them to tarnish more quickly.
Here’s how to do it:
1. Store jewelry in dry safe place preferably in a jewelry box out of direct sunlight.
Storing your jewelry in a safe dry place prevents it from getting lost or exposed to anything that may cause it to become dull or tarnish faster. Depending on the type of jewelry you have, temperature and humidity can effect how quickly your jewelry will tarnish.
2. Keep away from acids, perfumes, or chemicals that can be found in various make-up, lotions, oils, household cleaners, etc.
Various products can contain chemical agents that make jewelry become dull and tarnish quicker. If you want your jewelry to last longer, it is best to keep them away from products that may cause tarnishing.
3. Apply makeup and perfume BEFORE wearing jewelry.
Makeup, perfume, lotions, creams, oils, etc., often contain various degrees of ingredients that will degrade jewelry. To help reduce contact with these tarnishing agents it is recommended to limit exposure by applying your cosmetics before wearing jewelry.
It is important to allow enough time for your lotions and creams to absorb into the skin and dry before putting your jewelry on.
4.Use polishing cloth to clean jewelry to help remove tarnish.
Polishing your jewelry is a great way to keep your jewelry looking shiny and brand new. Consider purchasing a polishing cloth used only for jewelry. Using cleaners can help to keep your jewelry clean but do lots of research before using a cleaner on your jewelry.
5. Take jewelry off before going in water, exercising, or anything that would involve getting wet or sweating.
Water can cause jewelry to degrade and tarnish more quickly. It can also make items that contain iron alloys to turn pink, and brass alloys to turn dark. Many jewelry components have traces of iron, brass, zinc, and copper. These components are usually an alloy of varying percentages and effect how long your jewelry will stay shiny without discoloration. You must be careful with handmade jewelry, because the components may not be durable against water.