HOW TO CLEAN CHAINMAILLE, SILVER CHAIN, ETC.
Take a soft toothbrush, wet it, and apply small amount of toothpaste – Colgate preferred but any will do. Lay the item on hard surface (like counter top) and brush it gently, turning it over to access all areas. Rinse in warm running water. !Don’t forget to put in sink stopper! Soak item in small dish of warm water for a few minutes to dissolve any remaining toothpaste. Remove from dish and rinse again in warm running water. Lay on soft cotton towel or cloth and lightly dab to absorb moisture. Lay item flat on a soft towel to air dry. They will shine like new!
PREVENT TARNISHING...PROPER STORAGE AND CARE OF STERLING SILVER
*The best way to prevent tarnishing is to store clean, dry sterling silver in a dry airtight container, like a zip lock bag.
*An anti-tarnish strip with the silver jewelry in a zip lock bag will help fight against tarnish.
*Don't leave silver jewelry in the bathroom, and do not wear it the shower, swimming pool or hot tub. Humidity can speed up the oxidation process that produces tarnish.
*Minimize sterling silver's contact to chemicals (hairspray, perfume, body lotion, bleach, etc. Apply all cosmetics, perfumes and colognes before putting on colored gemstone jewelry. Make sure to wipe your jewelry after wear to remove any chemicals, oils or perspiration.
*After taking off silver jewelry, clean it with a dry soft cloth before putting it back into an airtight container.
*Do not use rubber bands to bundle jewelry because when rubber bands age, they release sulfur that causes tarnishing.
*A general rule of thumb for silver jewelry: it should be the last thing put on before leaving the house, and the first thing removed when returning home.
*If an item does begin to tarnish, cleaning it right away will make it easier to restore the shine.
*Use a silver polishing cloth to remove oxidation from silver (like a Sunshine cloth)
*Wash silver jewelry (without gemstones or pearls) in warm water containing a few drops of mild dishwashing liquid. Immerse the sterling silver in the water and gently hand wash. Use a cotton swab for tight corners. A soft baby toothbrush can be used for more abrasive cleaning when needed.
CARE OF STERLING SILVER WITH GEMSTONES (except Pearls/Amber)
*Do not submerge the entire piece into water. Instead, use a cotton swab with mild dishwashing liquid to wash only the silver. Thoroughly rinse and completely dry the sterling silver before storing, as moisture is one of the factors that contribute to tarnishing!
*Sunshine Polishing cloths are OK. The chemicals in the Sunshine Cloth won't hurt the gemstones.
*Silver dips should be avoided. Stones like black onyx, malachite, lapis and the like do not survive long when cleaned with dips. A lot of their shine comes from an oily polish which is dissolved by the dips.
*Apply all cosmetics, perfumes and colognes before putting on colored gemstone jewelry. Make sure to wipe your gemstones after wear to remove any chemicals, oils or perspiration.
PEARLS...NEVER
*Hang pearls as this weakens the silk threads holding the necklace together
*Store pearls in plastic bag as plastics emit a chemical causing pearl's surface to deteriorate
*Leave pearls near direct heat source, i.e. fireplace, TV, stove
*Store pearls in very dry room or in safe deposit box for long period of time as they need a bit of moisture or will dry out
*Allow pearls to make contact with household cleaners, perfumes, cosmetics, and hair care products
AMBER...CARE OF
On Mohs hardness scale from 1 to 10 (diamond being at 10-the hardest), Baltic amber, which is the hardest of ambers, averages around 2.0-2.5. It is considered to be a fairly soft substance and you should take care of it as you would any other semi-precious jewelry, making sure it doesn't come into contact with any sharp objects.
*Baltic amber requires minimal care to keep it in good condition.
*When not wearing, keep amber jewelry away from light in a jewelry box or cloth pouch.
*Never use ultrasonic cleaners or solvents of any type on amber jewelry.
*Clean amber jewelry gently with a soft cloth dipped in lukewarm water, and wipe with a dry soft cloth.
*If necessary, a tiny drop of olive oil may be used to restore luster. Place very small amount of oil in palm or on finger tip and gently rub amber. Let sit for a few minutes then gently wipe with soft cotton cloth.
*Do not put amber jewelry on before hairspray and perfume is applied as it will likely create a permanent whitish coating on the amber
*Never put amber jewelry in an ultrasonic or steam cleaner which could shatter the gem
FOSSILIZED AMMONITES...CARE OF
Although these fossils feel and look very hard, they are in fact quite delicate. If they are dropped on a tile floor or in a sink, they will shatter so please handle with care!