How to Clean and Preserve Costume Jewelry: Tips & Tricks

Costume jewelry -- the gift of the jewelry gods to mere people like us. These jewelry pieces are worth the hype; they're affordable, beautiful, and look just like the real thing. However, the apparent difference between costume jewelry and actual trinkets is that they lose their quality faster than the real ones. This issue can be very frustrating. However, hope is not lost. There is a way to clean fake jewelry and retain its splendor. Here are some tips on how to clean costume jewelry so you can use them for longer!

First, what is costume jewelry? Fake jewelry, with a fancier name called "costume jewelry," are baubles and trinkets imitations of the real thing. They can be gold or silver plated (sometimes, makers also use brass or nickel), and they use fancy diamonds and gems to embellish these jewelry pieces. The materials used for these kinds of bling are of lesser quality than the expensive ones. Some of the fake diamonds used are usually types of cubic zirconia. Beads can also take a considerable part of costume jewelry as they are an attractive but affordable alternative.

Perhaps one of the most common concerns of owners of costume necklaces, earrings, and rings is that these precious accessories don't take long to change colors. One of the easiest colors I have found so far is the green one that usually happens on rings and necklaces. No matter how much you love your fancy jewelry, the green color's sight can make you avoid it like the plague. I had experienced avoiding wearing green-tinted jewelry pieces because of my fear that it could irritate my skin. But what causes the change of color in these affordable accessories?

The ultimate culprits of this phenomenon are all around us. Yes, exposure to some aspects around us can significantly diminish the quality of our jewelry. Sometimes, we do daily activities like washing the dishes, gardening, and dipping in the pool that can subtly ruin our loved fancy jewelry pieces. When your costume pieces get wet, it could mean trouble. The reason is that these sensitive pieces, when exposed to water, can have watermarks on them. Some of these watermarks are hard to remove and could often lead to discoloration and rust. Certain cleaning chemicals can also contribute to the loss of quality of a fancy trinket. When exposed to certain chemicals, jewelry tends to lose its luster because chemicals tend to remove the accessory's finish. Cosmetic products should also be stored away from your jewelry box as their substances can harm your favorite bling. The most common jewelry destroyers are perfumes and hairsprays.

Costume jewelry care also involves storing jewelry pieces properly, as oxygen is not a trinket's best friend. When a metal is exposed to open air for long periods, a specific reaction tends to result in metal discoloration. The same thing happens when our jewelry pieces come in contact with sweat. If you are to do strenuous activities involving heavy sweating, take off your jewelry because sweat is a powerful culprit. A few times, jewelry loses its quality because of certain allergies. When our bodies react negatively to specific brings, it's time to keep them away.

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Although this jewelry comes at a lower price, it doesn't mean it can't be appreciated anymore. Some of us may have sentimental fake jewelry pieces from our first childhood best friend, our favorite teacher, or our first puppy love, and these fancy pieces still need our love and care. So, how do we do fancy jewelry care? Here are some tips on cleaning costume jewelry that may be useful for you and your favorite fashion accessories.

As mentioned earlier, water can cause long-lasting damage to the jewelry, so wet jewelry cleaning should be avoided as much as possible. One of the best tips for cleaning costume jewelry is to use the dry cleaning method. Here are the ways that you can do this process:

Sometimes, when we clean our jewelry in an area where the lighting is not very good, it casts a shadow on some jewelry. This can either cause you to mistake the shadow for dirt or make you think there's no dirt in the jewelry anymore. Clean your jewelry by putting on a clean cloth and positioning the cleaning area with good lighting. For example, you can clean using a professional lamp or place your cleaning area near the window for better, well-distributed lighting.

When you plan to brush your jewelry, use brushes that have soft bristles. You can use a baby's toothbrush for this. Using the brushing techniques helps eliminate the build-up of dirt usually found in hard-to-reach jewelry places. After cleaning your rings, necklaces, and bracelets, finish cleaning by using a soft cloth. Use a can of compressed air to rattle the dirt if there is still soot between gems and crystals. Use a magnifying glass to see the areas that need cleaning. You can also use a toothpick to clean the jewelry thoroughly.

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The great thing about having costume jewelry care is that you don't always need to get them professionally cleaned. Even in the comforts of your home, you can ensure that your jewelry pieces can sparkle and be new. Here are some of the jewelry cleaning stuff found at home that can wonderfully clean your trinkets.

Lemon on fake jewelry works so well. This fruit has been used for quite a while to clean and remove the oxide layers built up in your jewelry for years. To have better cleaning power, add some baking soda to your lemon. Clean your fancy sterling silver jewelry pieces by submerging them in water for lemon concentrate overnight. This will bring back the old sparkle to your silver accessories. You can also rub the lemon directly on the jewelry for better cleaning.

Tired of your old jewelry and wants the shine back? Worry no more because this DIY technique can bring back their glimmer. Make a solution composed of white vinegar and warm water. Soak the jewelry in the solution you made. Let it stay for 30 minutes. After that, rinse the jewelry and clean it with a soft cloth. This will make your sterling silver and gold metals sparkle like new again.

If you want to try simpler and safer materials for cleaning, you can use toothpaste and baby shampoo. These substances can thoroughly clean your jewelry without taking away so much of its beauty. Use a soft toothbrush or a rough cloth to remove dirt from your trinkets. To go within the hard-to-reach areas, you can use q-tips as well.

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If you want more robust cleaning materials for your jewelry, you can go for

There are special mixtures made to clean jewelry faster. Before using this, make sure you are using the suitable polish for the right metal, as it can cause deterioration to the jewelry. When you buy this, ask the salesperson to give you the kind that works well with costume trinkets. Some of these jewelry polish products are made especially for authentic accessories, which could harm your fashion jewelry pieces. You can clean your jewelry with jewelry polish by soaking your jewelry in this for not more than 30 minuAlcoholRubbing Alcohol.

Your alcohol rubbing alcohol can also do the trick when cleaning your fancy jewelry! Just soak your jewelry in it for 30 minutes, and you'll get it as sparkly as new.

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No matter how much cleaning you do to your jewelry, it will still be of no avail if you don't know how to store them properly. Jewelry pieces, especially the costume ones, are prone to deterioration, scratches, and discoloration once it's left alone to be exposed to certain chemicals and airborne elements that can harm them. Place them inside small plastic sachets to avoid exposure and scratching, and ensure they're stored in a box that is not moisture-prone.

Just because they're fancy jewelry pieces doesn't mean you can't keep them sparkly and well-maintained for long. Follow these tips and get the most out of your favorite costume bling. For more affordable fancy jewelry, browse through iceCarats.com's collection!