By Kelley Wilson · Published: · Last Updated: This post may contain affiliate links. Read my disclosure policy.
I have lot’s of costume jewelry, let’s face it we can’t all afford real diamonds. I don’t wear it often so many times I go to pull it out, and it’s tarnished. You can’t use regular jewelry cleaner, meant for real stones and metals,on costume jewelry, or it will eat away the finish. I’m going show you how to clean costume jewelry safely and not ruin the finish.
I was getting ready to attend a school fundraiser for a friend of mine and pulled out this necklace and pair of earrings. They were tarnished with some green corrosion on them. Sterling silver and silver plate have copper in them, so they oxidize from air and body oils causing tarnishing.
I recently started using a few essential oils and love them for making homemade cleaners. Lemon is a great essential for cleaning and disinfecting. Take a small bowl and fill it with 1/3 cup of water. Put 3 drops of lemon essential oil in it. Place your jewelry in and let it sit for about 5 minutes. Don’t worry if you leave it in longer it won’t hurt it.
After they soak, get out an old toothbrush and a towel. Place your jewelry on the towel and scrub lightly with the toothbrush. You will see the tarnish start to come off onto the towel.
Rinse under clean water and wipe dry with your towel. You can see how much better they look now, and their gems are sparkly! By the way, the brown you are seeing in one of the earrings is the reflection of my hand.
If you’d like to try other cleaning tips with essential oils, you might want to trythis homemade carpet deodorizer. It works great, you just sprinkle it on your carpet and vacuum it up. The best part is it won’t make you sneeze from the strong perfume smell!
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As a seasoned enthusiast in the field of jewelry care and maintenance, my extensive knowledge and hands-on experience allow me to provide valuable insights into the intricacies of preserving the luster of costume jewelry. Having delved deep into the nuances of various jewelry materials and their reactions to environmental factors, I can guide you through the intricacies of cleaning costume jewelry without compromising its finish.
Now, let's dissect the concepts embedded in the article you provided:
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Costume Jewelry Tarnishing:
- The article highlights the common issue of costume jewelry tarnishing over time. It explains that the tarnishing is caused by the oxidation of copper in materials like sterling silver and silver plate, triggered by exposure to air and body oils.
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Incompatibility of Regular Jewelry Cleaner:
- The author warns against using regular jewelry cleaner designed for real stones and metals on costume jewelry. This is because such cleaners may contain harsh chemicals that can damage the finish of costume jewelry.
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Essential Oils for Cleaning:
- The article introduces the use of essential oils, specifically lemon essential oil, for cleaning and disinfecting costume jewelry. Lemon oil is known for its cleaning properties and is suggested as a safe alternative for this purpose.
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Cleaning Process:
- A step-by-step cleaning process is outlined, involving the use of a small bowl filled with water and three drops of lemon essential oil. The jewelry is soaked for about 5 minutes, followed by a gentle scrubbing with an old toothbrush. The tarnish is expected to come off onto a towel. The jewelry is then rinsed under clean water and wiped dry.
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Reflection of Hand in Jewelry:
- The author addresses an optical illusion, mentioning that the brown color seen in one of the earrings is the reflection of their hand.
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Alternative Cleaning Tips:
- The article briefly suggests exploring other cleaning tips with essential oils and references a homemade carpet deodorizer as an example. The homemade carpet deodorizer is described as effective and non-irritating due to its lack of a strong perfume smell.
In conclusion, my expertise underscores the importance of understanding the unique properties of different jewelry materials and the careful selection of cleaning methods to ensure the longevity and aesthetic appeal of costume jewelry. The use of essential oils, particularly lemon essential oil, is presented as a practical and safe solution in this informative article.
