8 Tips For Cleaning Costume Jewelry

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It may only happen once, but if you make a mistake in cleaning your jewelry, you can ruin a beautiful piece of vintage costume jewelry or a precious heirloom. Here are some ways to avoid disaster:

1. Always work in a well-lighted area. Use a piece of felt or soft cloth on the work surface in case you drop the piece of jewelry or one of its components.

2. Examine the piece closely with a jewelers loupe or magnifying glass. Look for any loose stones rhinestones sometimes come loose from their settings.

3. Spray some glass cleaner into a small container, and use a very soft baby toothbrush, barely dipped in the cleaner and tapped almost dry, to gently brush the piece. Be careful not to get any cleaner into the setting, as it can get into the foil backing of rhinestones and dull their brilliance.

4. If the brush catches on a prong, very gently press the prong back into place.

5. Clean the back of the piece carefully there may be remnants of perfume, make-up or perspiration on it. Dry with a soft brush a sable water-color brush will work well, or use a dry baby toothbrush.

6. Some stones are glued in. If one comes loose you can glue it back in with a jewel craft glue, found in craft stores. A tiny drop can be applied with a toothpick.

7. Let the piece air dry for several hours before putting it away.

8. Never, Never, Never put any jewelry that has pearls or stones of any kind into a sonic type jewelry cleaner! Never, Never, Never!

Regular cleaning of your costume jewelry, and initial cleaning of a new-to-you vintage piece will keep them brilliant and beautiful, protect the settings, and maintain their value.

About the Author:
I'm Deena O'Daniel, an artist, writer and entrepreneur from Austin, Texas, by way of Southern California. I love jewelry and I love to write about it. I realized that I was a collector when I sold a particularly beautiful piece of jewelry and immediately regretted the sale. Please visit my blog at http://www.oakhilljewels.com, and for a great selection of jewelry, collectibles and gifts, please visit my web site at http://www.oakhillboutique.com. You can also become a fan on Facebook.



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