Whether it is one of our more expensive pieces or one of our pieces of costume jewellery you are on here because you love that item of jewellery and you want it looking its best!
Caring for faux gold can actually be just as difficult as caring for the real gold too because it can easily tarnish, and its color could potentially fade more easily if the wrong cleaning solutions are applied.
To clean your jewellery at home, high end jewellery designer Sheryl Lowe recommends keeping it straightforward by soaking it in warm water mixed with just a few drops of mild soap. "I like Kiehl's Coriander Liquid Hand Soap because it's made from natural ingredients, so it's going to be very gentle," she says.
You could also try a bit of lemon juice, which can work wonders on oxidized jewellery. One more solution to try is a bit of white vinegar. It won’t only get your costume jewellery clean, but give it a high shine too.
To clean her jewellery—costume or otherwise—Lowe uses a soft-bristled toothbrush to remove any dirt. After cleaning, she suggests thoroughly drying each piece by patting with paper towels. It’s important to remember to use a new toothbrush and clean paper towels to ensure you're not transferring dirt and germs back onto your jewelry. Another easy-to-use tool is a fresh cotton wool bud, which may also come in handy for swiping away grime from in between gems.
Personally I recently spent a holiday in the Canary Islands and wore the £3.50 Perfect Sized Hoop Earrings right through the entire holiday. I used plenty of spray on sun cream and wore them in the pool (accidentally!) once or twice. On my return home I noticed them tarnishing and I removed the tarnish using a tooth brush and some Dr Bronner's Soap. Then I dried the earrings well using a towel. It worked perfectly and they are now back in great condition!
So also please be careful what you put on your body alongside your jewellery too. Try to remember to spray perfume or apply lotions or creams before putting on your jewellery. Getting ready in this order will limit how much of the substance in question gets onto the pieces. The same goes for sweat: Always take off jewellery before a workout, although we do have some beautiful pieces by brand ONLY CHILD that are sweat and water proof.
