DO NOT use any harsh abrasives on the jewelry.  Some gemstones are very porous and chemicals can be damaging.  Instead, use warm water and soap to gently remove any dirt or residue.  A new, soft toothbrush may also be used to clean rough spots.  *See below for more in depth instructions on how to clean various elements.

 

DO NOT bathe or shower with your jewelry on.  

 

DO NOT use hairspray or perfume while wearing jewelry.

 

DO NOT brush your hair while wearing any necklaces.  Treat them like any other delicate piece of jewelry.

 

AVOID wearing the jewelry to the beach.  The harsh elements can be damaging.  The same goes for pools as chlorine is a corrosive chemical.

 

DO NOT continuously overstretch any stretch bracelets.  They are made with an elastic cord that can withstand 4 pounds of weight, but like a rubber band, it will lose it's elasticity and strength with overuse.

 

DO NOT drop any jewelry on hard surfaces.  Some gemstones have very delicate properties and require special care.  

 

Some of the jewelry consists of smooth components while others contain rougher ones.  An example of rough would be raw gemstones, which may have some jagged edges.  Therefore, you may want to be cautious wearing clothes that snag easily.

 

HOW TO CLEAN SILVER

 

If you don't have silver polish on-hand, you can try an all natural approach.  For tarnish on sterling silver jewelry, simply combine a half a cup of white vinegar and two tablespoons of baking soda.  Allow the silver jewelry to sit in the solution for two to three hours, then thoroughly rinse and buff dry. 

 

You may also try using toothpaste to remove any tarnish.  Apply a dab of white paste toothpaste (not gel) to tarnished silver and rub very gently with your finger or a soft cloth.  Then, rinse well with warm water and buff to a shine with a soft cloth.

 

HOW TO CLEAN GOLD

 

Give solid gold jewelry a gentle bath in a solution of a few drops of dish soap and a little warm water.  Swish the items around, then take them out, lay them on a soft cloth and go over the crevices with a soft toothbrush to dislodge any dirt trapped there.  Rinse the gold jewelry under running water.  Buff dry with a soft cloth.

 

HOW TO CLEAN GEMSTONES

 

It's easy to restore the sparkle of precious and semi-precious stones.  You can use the same instructions as the ones above for cleaning gold, but instead of using regular water, mix the dish soap with seltzer water.  The carbonation helps loosen any debris trapped in crevices.

 

Brush stones with a soft toothbrush; then, dip in clear water to rinse or place the jewelry in a strainer and rinse under running water.  Buff dry.

 

HOW TO CLEAN PEARLS

 

Because pearls are so porous, they can easily lose their luster.  Whether real, cultured or faux, you must clean them with care.  To clean pearls gently, start by laying the strand on a soft cloth.  Dip a clean, small make-up brush into a mixture of warm water and a little shampoo, and go over each pearl.  To finish, rinse the pearls with a clean, well-wrung damp cloth.  Let the strand dry flat.  

 

NOTE:  This no-soak treatment also works well for turquoise and opals, which are also porous stones.