| A large handful of people make the mistake of | | | | three minutes, and then rinse thoroughly with |
| cleaning their jewelry the wrong way by using | | | | water that does not contain any soap. You must |
| improper practices that will actually damage your | | | | then dry your jewelry completely before placing |
| jewelry far more than it will clean it. When you | | | | inside a plastic bag. |
| clean jewelry, the safest way to do so is to just | | | | When your jewelry has become especially |
| simply soak in warm soapy water. However, you | | | | tarnished, polish it with a 100% cotton cloth and a |
| don't have to do this all the time. To keep your | | | | good nonabrasive metal cleaner. After doing so, |
| jewelry in good condition, all you have to do is | | | | make sure you rinse your jewelry with non-soapy |
| wipe off excess makeup, sweat, and skin oils with | | | | water and get rid of any remnants of cleaner |
| a soft cloth after each wearing. A good thorough | | | | that may be stuck between the clasps or gems |
| clean once in a while is recommended as well. | | | | of your jewelry. |
| When you wish to slow down the tarnishing of | | | | Never use ammonia or toothpaste. Ammonia will |
| sterling silver, keep the piece in a plastic Ziploc bag | | | | eat away metals such as gold and silver because |
| wrapped in jeweler's tissue paper. Sterling silver is | | | | they are soft and cannot handle the strong toxin. |
| a soft metal and can easily be damaged by a | | | | They also damage the prongs holding your gems |
| fingernail or any rough pressure against its | | | | in place, which will cause you to lose your |
| surface. Be careful when cleaning sterling silver. | | | | expensive gemstones. Toothpaste will damage |
| Any of the following methods work for cleaning | | | | the surface of metal and will have to be taken to |
| sterling silver. | | | | a professional to be buffed and refinished. It will |
| To remove fingerprints or dirt from your jewelry, | | | | also damage the surface of soft stones such as |
| mix a soapy water solution by adding mild soap to | | | | amber and turquoise, causing the fine polish to be |
| a half cup of water. Soak the piece for two to | | | | permanently spoiled. |