So you've done it.

You finally went and bought that new ring, necklace, bracelet, pair of earrings, or whatever new piece of jewelry you had your eye on. Three months later, you've been wearing that new piece almost every day and you've noticed it's lost its shine and it's getting dirty! Panic ensues because you wonder how do I fix this? Do I clean it in the sink? Do I polish it? Do I take it back to the store and get it looked at? What am I supposed to do?!

Well, have no fear! Because here are some tips and tricks to take care of your jewelry so you won't have another panic attack over it!  

Cleaning

When cleaning your jewelry, it is important to know what the cleaning material you're using is made of. The safest option is to clean your jewelry with warm water and soap that has no form of detergent in it.

If your piece is made of silver, you will need to clean it by polishing it with specially made silver polish, or silver polishing cloth you can find online. If your piece has any treated precious gems on it, you're going to want to do some research on how to clean the specific gemstone. Some gemstones need to be soaked in a special solution, some need to be cleaned in a solution that you can make from materials often found at home. Always be careful to avoid cleaners that contain lots of chemicals because they can damage the gem or metal. Finally, there are UltraSonic cleaners out there that are safe to use, but be careful when using them as they might be too harsh. 

Storing

It is important to keep all of your jewelry off of wooden surfaces since they have been treated with harsh chemicals. You will want to put all your pieces in clean, dry places and you will want to put each piece in its own separate compartment (ideally in a soft pouch, if your jewelry is from us, keep it in the cotton pouch it comes with) to avoid it scratching, discoloring, and getting tangled up with other pieces. If you own lots of jewelry it would be nice to invest in a special jewelry case with many compartments. For pieces like earrings and rings, you will want to get a special “jewelry tree” (like the kind you see the pieces on in stores) to put those pieces on because they should stored hanging. As previously mentioned, you will want to put the tree in a cool, dry and dark place to keep them from getting damaged. 

Wearing

You will want to put your jewelry on last when getting dressed because skincare products, deodorants, lotions, makeup products, and perfume all contain the kind of harsh chemicals that will damage your jewelry. In addition to this, to avoid exposure to harsh chemicals, you will want to take your jewelry off when you are cleaning your house with household cleaners, when swimming in chlorinated water (or any water),when gardening, when working out at the gym, when cooking, and any time that you feel it might not be a good idea to keep your jewelry on. Trust your instincts! 

When Do I Need a Professional?

Only take your jewelry to a professional if you want it cleaned with an UltraSonic cleaner, you want dust or buildup cleaned that is hard to reach, a part of it is broken or missing, you need a ring resized, any gems are loose, or your piece has some very deep scratches. 

Of course these tips are just the tip of the iceberg, so be sure to do some further research on the materials in your pieces and specific ways to best wear, clean, and store them to make sure you are taking great care of your pieces. This will save you time, money, and anxiety about keeping your pieces safe and allow you to continue wearing them for as long as you see fit!