Source: Wikihow
Beaded jewelry should shine and be bright. But over time, being exposed to the dirt and dust, daily soaps and lotions, the shine and brightness of the beaded jewelry fades. Or, even moisture and air can dull your beaded jewelry.
Fortunately, most beaded jewelry items are able to be cleaned by yourself without going to a professional jeweler. Properly cleaning and caring, your gemstone beaded jewelry, crystal beaded or pearl beaded jewelry will sparkle again and look as pretty as it should be for a very long period.
This blog is here to help you. We explain how to clean your beaded jewelry and care for it. Let’s delve into them without wasting more time!
Why Clean Beaded Jewelry
Wearing beaded necklaces or beaded bracelets on a daily basis leads to the accumulation of dirt and other pollutants such as oils, makeup, hairspray on them. To keep the natural shades of prized beaded jewelry shiny and polished as well as the jewelry itself long-lasting for years, it’s vital to remove these dirty particles on them.
Besides, natural and eye-catching gemstone and crystal beaded necklaces, rings, earrings, and bracelets usually absorb your negative energy as well as the energies around them. Regularly cleaning the beaded jewelry, their favorable and healing power benefits your body and mind better. For example, have the beloved lava rock bracelets cleansed helping them highly replace your anger and negativity with strength and courage.
Steps to Cleaning the Beaded Jewelry
Beaded necklaces, beaded bracelets, beaded earrings, and beaded rings require their cleaning regularly to retain their amazing luster and polish as well as beneficial effects. When start cleaning your beautiful beaded jewelry, take a look at the following steps that help clean your precious beaded jewelry
1. Know Your Beads
It’s important to understand the basic chemical and physical properties of the bead materials on your jewelry. Even though natural beaded materials used for making jewelry are quite hard and durable, they might be destroyed by different kinds of chemicals or liquid in addition to suddenly changed temperature.
So before you start to rinse your dainty beaded jewelry, make sure to figure out if the beads on your jewelry can be safely washed by liquid or chemicals or not. For instance, Sapphire beads are going to be cracked if rinsed using acid liquid like vinegar.
Source: Piqsels
2. Prepare Right Things to Clean Beaded Jewelry
A. Bowl.
Prepare a bowl. Remember that glass will scratch the glass. So when cleaning beaded jewelry, especially glass beaded necklaces, glass beaded bracelets, glass beaded earrings, and glass beaded rings, it is preferable to choose a plastic bowl to contain your beaded pieces.
B. Proper Cleaners.
Lukewarm water is commonly used to clean fragile stone beads such as Amethyst, Aquamarine, Citrine, Labradorite, Moonstone, Marcasite, Opal, Tiger Eye, and so on. And the jewelry made of these beads such as labradorite beaded jewelry, Opal beaded jewelry, etc. ought to be cleaned using warm water only.
However, be minded that not all beads can be rinsed by water. Beads for jewelry making like Rock Crystal, Spinel, Topaz, Turquoise, Hematite, Howlite, Rose Quartz, and Morganite should not come into contact with water. Besides, porous beads like bone and wood beads cannot be washed by water. These beads easily get oxidized, cracked, or discolored by water. Thus, use a dry and soft cloth only to gently wipe the jewelry with these beads on them.
To visibly brighten the beaded jewelry, the beads like Agate, Amber, Cat’s Eye, Jade, Onyx, Ruby, Sapphire, Lava stone beads can be rinsed with lukewarm and mild soapy water. Besides, soapy water is such a good choice that it is easy to get for cleaning your pearl jewelry.
Source: Pexels
Acid cleaner like adding a little vinegar to the warm soapy water provides powerful cleaning. For the extremely rusty beaded jewelry made from metals, add a higher concentration of vinegar. However, turquoise jewelry will be damaged by the acid solution and acid-cleaning chemicals. Also, the acid-cleaning liquid results in the fracture of Sapphire jewelry.
Warm water with a tablespoon of lemon and salt is the most effective solution for rinsing copper and brass jewelry, especially without being lacquered, because they tarnish over time. But, if your copper or brass has an antique finish, don’t use the solution because it severely damages it.
In addition, the dish soap with seltzer water effectively makes the jewelry clean. It’s said that in Good Housekeeping Institute Cleaning Lab tests, the carbonation helped to loosen soil and remove debris trapped in the settings and on the surface.
Avoid harsh salty water, chlorinated water, or harsh detergent, it’s not advisable to use them because they will rust the polishes and finishes of the gemstone beads.
C. Soft brush.
To remain the beaded jewelry shiny and bright, a soft brush like a soft toothbrush is commonly used for wiping off the residue on the beaded jewelry thoroughly such as handcrafted Turquoise bracelets, silver beaded jewelry, or any other flattering beaded jewelry pieces with more complicated facades. In particular, it’s preferred to have your beaded jewelry soaked in the cleaner when rubbing them using a soft brush.
D. Soft cloth/towel.
Instead of using paper towels and tissue paper that could scratch the jewelry, a very soft cloth/towel like polishing cloth is preferable when it comes to cleaning your beaded jewelry such as handmade pearl necklaces, handmade glass bead necklaces, handmade beaded bracelets, handmade beaded earrings, etc.
Usually, you can use a damp cloth to enhance the glitter of your handmade beaded necklaces, bracelets, rings, and earrings. And for thorough rinsing, wet soft cloth with mild solutions helps indeed.
3. Clean Beaded Jewelry Step by Step
Source: Youtube
Now that you better understand what tools to prepare and which solution to select for your beautiful pearl jewelry, gemstone beaded jewelry, and crystal beaded jewelry.
Exclude those beads on the jewelry as previously mentioned can not be washed by water or acid solution and chemical cleaner, there are general steps you should follow while cleaning your handcrafted beaded jewelry:
Step 1. Add two cups of lukewarm water into a plastic bowl you prepared previously. Too hot or too cold water could damage your beaded bracelets or other jewelry, especially the jewelry with beads that you are not sure about their properties.
Step 2. Have a mild soap, or other cleaners, added to the warm water and mix the solution with the soft brush to disperse the liquid evenly till bubbles occur. The step is optional. But when you are looking for a thorough rinsing or the beaded jewelry is extremely dirty, it’s an effective step that helps you a lot.
Step 3. Soak your beaded jewelry in warm water or a soft solution. You may let the beads submerge for at least 5 minutes or longer depending on how dirty your jewelry is.
However, be noted that do not soak your beaded jewelry, which is made from silver or gold, for over 20 minutes. Placing your pearl jewelry in soapy water for a long time will damage it, so dip your pearl necklaces/bracelets/earrings/rings for only a few minutes in the mild soapy water.
Step 4. Mildly scrub the residue and particles on the beads with a non-abrasive cloth or soft brush. Typically, it’s of preference to do this when the beads are still submerged in the soapy water.
Step 5. Repeat Step 3 and Step 4 for more powerful cleaning.
Step 6. Rinse your beaded jewelry with clean warm water after removing them from the cleaner.
The last step. Gently dry them with a soft and dry cloth. Congratulations, your beaded jewelry is lustrous again.
If you are still unsure how to wash your beaded jewelry, looking at tutorials via wikiHow or YouTube helps a lot. And here’s a video that may help you:
How to Clean Lava Stone Bracelets
Source: Youtube
Lava rock beaded bracelets are known for wearable natural diffusers beloved by men and women. Regularly clean the lava stone beaded bracelet making it last longer.
Here are some steps for you to follow when rinsing the Lava beaded bracelet:
- Get lukewarm water in a bowl and add any mild soap to it. (Or, put water as well as a little vinegar in it.)
- Stir the soap and water till bubbles come up.
- Submerge your prized lava beads bracelets for a few seconds in the mixture.
- Dampen a clean and soft cloth and gently scrub your bracelet.
- Take your bracelet out after the dirty particles are wiped out.
- Dry it with a soft and clean cloth after it’s rinsed with clean and warm water again.
How to Care for Your Beaded Jewelry
Now that you have a better understanding of how you can clean various types of beads, let’s take a look at how you can care for your beaded jewelry. Taking proper care of your beaded jewelry is crucial as it can help you extend the lifespan of your jewelry as well as maintain its beauty and gleam.
Here are tips to help you take good care of your beaded jewelry.
1. Clean Your Beaded Jewelry After Every Use
It is no secret that a bracelet or necklace that is in close contact with your skin the entire day can be affected by natural body oils and sweat. That’s why you need to clean your beaded jewelry after every use. You can do that by using a clean, soft, damp piece of cloth to wipe the jewelry, and then allow them to dry before you store them in an airtight jewelry container.
2. Take Them off When Showering or Swimming
It might be quite tempting to take a bath or swim in your favorite beaded jewelry, but this is absolutely wrong. The salty water from the sea and chlorine are more likely to cause damage to your beaded jewelry, such as gold or silver jewelry and seed beaded jewelry. Besides, you will run the risk of losing your beaded jewelry in the swimming pool.
In addition to that, when your beaded jewelry combined with leather is repeatedly exposed to water, the leather will become brittle. Therefore, it is advisable to remove your beaded jewelry before you jump into the pool or head to take a shower.
3. Take Them off When Doing House Chores or Vigorous Exercise
You shouldn’t wear your beaded jewelry when doing house chores or working outdoors. This is to avoid any unfortunate accident that may occur. It can also prevent your beaded jewelry from being exposed to high humidity, intense sunlight, harsh chemicals, or extreme temperatures, which can damage them.
Even beaded jewelry like beaded earrings with stable and secure designs may accidentally fall off and get lost or damaged during vigorous exercise.
4. Avoid Exposing Them to High Temperatures and Direct Sunlight
Want your handmade bead jewelry to last longer? Please take them away from direct sunlight as well as high temperatures. These elements can significantly fade the colors and luster of beaded jewelry such as glass seed beaded jewelry if they are repeatedly exposed to them.
5. Schedule a Regular Check and Thorough Cleaning
Have your beaded jewelry checked regularly by yourself or by a trustable jeweler to make sure the beads are in good shape and the settings are secure.
To extend the lifespan, schedule regular cleaning for your handmade jewelry beads and clean them thoroughly. How to rinse them depends on what the bead materials are on the jewelry. You can refer to the above-mentioned ways to clean different types of beads.
6. Properly Store Your Beaded Jewelry
Source: Pinterest
Remember that how you store your beaded is as important as cleaning it and wearing it. Proper storage can extend the longevity and retain the natural radiance of your beaded jewelry. The best way to store your beaded jewelry is to look for a designated place like a jewelry bag, box, and jewelry organizer that is clean and dry.
Additionally, you should store the various beaded jewelry differently to prevent tangling and scratching. A ziplock bag or plastic bag is ideal for storing your beaded jewelry, especially if you have limited space. It is also advisable to store your beaded jewelry pieces flat. Avoid hanging them on hooks if possible.
For the beaded jewelry made from silver or have silver on it, don’t make it lay in the jewelry box but wear it. The more you wear, the shiner it is because friction slows down tarnishing.
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Wish the blog we prepared for you will do you a great favor with your beaded jewelry cleaning! Meanwhile, it’s our great pleasure to help you with questions on jewelry care or any other jewelry-related question, just feel free to send us an email at info@tttjewelry.com.
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