How to Restore Fashion Jewelry
Exposure to air, makeup and heat may darken and dull jewelry. While restoring your fashion jewelry may be as simple as using as applying a polishing cloth to add shine, you can use simple household products for more complicated jewelry cleaning problems. No need to call the pros---you can restore your fashion jewelry in the comfort of your home. Does this Spark an idea?
Things You'll Need
- Cornstarch
- Talcum powder
- Straight Pin
- Woolite
- Mild liquid soap
- Warm water
- Clean white cloth
- Cotton bag
- Ammonia
- Small bowl
- Soft-bristled toothbrush
- Lukewarm water
- Rubbing Alcohol
- Cold Water
- Baking soda
- Clean towel
- Super glue
- Toothpick
- Jeweler's cloth
- Padded jewelry box
Instructions
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1
Get the kinks out. Sprinkle knotted and tangled chains with cornstarch or talcum powder to untangle. If the knot is particularly tight, push a straight pin through the center of the tangle. Twist and turn gently to release the snarled chain.
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2
Restore the shine of your pearls. Mix 1 tsp. of Woolite or mild liquid soap in a cup of water. Submerge your jewelry in the water for 10 to 20 seconds. Dab the pieces with a clean, white cloth. Lay flat to dry. Store pearls in a cotton bag away from other jewelry.
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3
Wash gold jewelry in an ammonia solution. Mix 1 cup of warm water, 2 tsps. of mild liquid detergent and 1 drop of ammonia in a small bowl. Soak the gold for a maximum of 5 minutes. Brush the jewelry lightly with an old toothbrush. Rinse in lukewarm water to remove any ammonia residue. Add shine with rubbing alcohol.
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4
Clean silver with 2 to 3 drops of liquid detergent and 1 cup of warm water. Wipe with a cloth to clean. Rinse in cold water and blot with a towel to dry. For stubborn tarnish stains, "Good Housekeeping" recommends a paste of one part water with 3 parts of baking soda. Wet the silver with a few drops of water first. Apply the baking soda mixture with a soft cloth. Rinse the silver completely and dry flat on a clean towel.
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5
Use clear super glue to secure loose stones. Apply 1 to 3 small drops of glue to the base of the stone. Do not allow the glue to overflow or harden on top of the stone. If you do not have a steady hand, use a toothpick to add the glue to the piece of jewelry.
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Tips & Warnings
To restore shine, wipe all fashion jewelry with a jeweler's cloth after using any of the cleaning methods mentioned above.
To avoid tarnishing and discoloring your fashion jewelry, store it in a padded jewelry box after each wearing.
References
- Photo Credit Jewelry image by Sergey Yakovenko from Fotolia.com
