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Important: Avoid applying lemon juice, vinegar, or any other cleaning substances to jewelry with pearls, gemstones, or any soft stones.  The acid can damage soft stones and pearls.  Be especially careful with turquoise, malachite, and pearls. Don’t soak jewelry in the cleaning liquid, unless you are certain that it is safe to use with the specific stones you have.  If you think your stones could be easily damaged, clean the bracelet by just rubbing it with the cleaning solution, and work carefully around the stones.

 

Note: Removing tarnish from antique jewelry may make it less valuable in the eyes of potential buyers, if you ever plan on selling it.

 

Lemon juice: (For chains or pieces without soft stones) Pour some lemon juice in a cup or a bowl and add some salt to the liquid. Dip your jewelry in the juice and leave it there for 5-10 minutes. Rinse the item with water and dry it with a soft cloth.

 

Using Metal Cleaner

If your jewelry is heavily tarnished, you can use commercial cleaner prepared specifically for jewelry.

Drop some cleanser on a soft cloth and wipe the piece until the tarnish goes away. Rinse with water.

Note: Avoid applying commercial cleaner directly on any gemstones or pearls in your jewelry.  Some cleaning brands may damage them.   TARN-X is useful.  Wipe it on and rinse your piece.  Avoid getting it on the  stones or pearls.

 

Keep your copper and silver jewelry in plastic air-tight bags.  The air-tight bags reduce oxidization. 

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Commercial silver polishing cloths work well with most silver and copper items. Sunshine and Connoisseurs brands, among others, make cloths treated with chemicals to fight tarnishing.

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      **If you have any questions, drop us a line at staff@elysiangems.com.