To keep your jewelry in the best condition, it's best to clean it on a regular basis. The best solution for most jewelry is to gently wipe/buff it with a soft, damp cloth soaked in lukewarm water with a touch of mild dishwashing detergent. Always be sure to dry your jewelry completely after each cleaning.
Keep your jewelry safe from hairsprays or perfumes and don't expose them to hot steam or hot water. To prevent tangles on necklaces, it's always best to keep the clasps closed when not worn - and we've found that hanging them in jewelry armoires is the most clutter-free way to store them. *the Laurel Jewelry Armoire (below) from RedEnvelope.com is one we love and use ourselves. PS - it's on sale right now for $49.99 so hurry before they sell out!
Here are a few more tips to keep your jewelry clean, bright and sparkly:
1) Sterling Silver Jewelry: to remove tarnish, use a silver polishing cloth or silver polish from time to time. Be sure to keep silver jewelry dry - water speeds up the tarnishing process - and try to store silver in sealed polybags when not being worn for long periods of time. *If you don't have any cloths or polish handy, dishwashing detergent and/or toothpaste will also do the trick!
2) Vermeil (gold plated) Jewelry: the silver under the gold plate will tarnish after a while, and these blemishes are best removed by using silver dip. One quick dip followed by immediate rinsing in water, then drying with a soft cloth should be enough to clear up the tarnish. If the jewelry needs further cleaning, try re-dipping and repeating the process rather than soaking for prolonged periods in the dip solution. *Be very careful when using dips - they are very strong - and be sure to avoid them entirely if there are pearls or other porous stones in the jewelry (the dip will destroy the shine/lustre of the pearls/stones). If there are pearls or porous stones set in your vermeil jewelry, use a silver polishing cloth and wipe down the metal.
3) Costume Jewelry: simply clean with a soft, damp cloth and dry thoroughly. If needed, use a soft toothbrush to scrub out any dirt or residue. Do not soak in water or solutions.
As the October issue of the WWD Accessories Supplement points out, pearls are back and in a big way! Forget Grandma's boring pearl necklace - the modern take on pearls (both real and faux) is to have some fun with them.
