Jewelry Care
Copper Jewelry Care
Most of the copper I use is natural and untreated. Keep your copper jewelry clean by occasionally washing it with lukewarm, soapy water. Then, dry and polish with a soft cloth. You can also use a soft cloth to gently polish your jewelry using a polish.
If your copper should tarnish, as copper naturally does, you can clean your jewelry using one of the following methods to restore its original shine:
- Use table salt and vinegar - pour salt and vinegar over your jewelry and gently rub into the jewelry until any grime or tarnishing is removed. Rinse with water and polish with a soft, dry cloth.
- Use salt and lemon - pour salt on half of a lemon and rub over jewelry, or pour salt and squeezed lemon juice onto jewelry and gently rub in. Rinse with water and polish with a soft, dry cloth.
When your copper is not in use, store in plastic bags to slow the tarnishing process.
Over time, copper jewelry will loose its bright shine and take on a patina of its very own.
for at home remedy for you can use anything with a high acidic content such as lemon juice, tomato ketchup, or even Worcestershire sauce. Just follow these simple steps.
Supplies: a small glass or ceramic dish, the acidic cleaning agent of your choice, a old toothbrush, soap and a drying towel
Gather your supplies and your copper jewelry. Place one piece of jewelry in the dish and pour the cleaning agent over the item and allow it to set for a short time in the liquid, about 10 to 20 minutes. I usually use a couple of tablespoons of lemon juice and turn the copper over every few minutes to assure an even cleaning. NOTE: You may have to change the cleaning liquid a couple of times if the copper is extremely dirty. To move the process along, you may use your old toothbrush to gently scrub into the cracks and crevasses of the design. When you have achieved the desired cleaning, run clear water over the jewelry to rinse. Then use a little soap and the toothbrush to clean just a little more, rinse and pat dry with a towel.
Please DO NOT leave your jewelry in the acid soak for and extended period of time OR if your copper jewelry has pearls, or any other soft stone DO NOT use any of these ways of cleaning!
**How to Get Green From Copper Off Your Hand
Copper jewelry, or jewelry that is made of an alloy that is rich in copper, can begin to turn green over time, when it is exposed to water and oxygen. If you don't clean it from the jewelry quickly, it can actually begin to break down the metal and corrode the item. If you were wearing a copper ring, the green color can be transferred to your skin. Remove it from the skin quickly.
- Wash your hands with soap and water. Pay special attention to the green stains on your skin.
- Scrub the green stain with a nail brush. Be careful not to damage your skin, but work until the stains are gone, or until they are as light as possible.
- Soak a clean cloth in white vinegar, if the green stain is still visible.
- Rub the cloth over the green stain on your hand, until the stain is gone.
- Soak a cloth in lemon juice, if the stain is still visible.
- Rub the lemon juice over the green stain until it is gone.
- Rinse your hands with clear water and dry them completely.
- Place one piece of silver jewelry into the plastic bag and then close it halfway.
- Squeeze the bag so that whatever air remaining in it is released. Seal the remainder of the bag off completely.
- Specialized bags from jewelry stores are also amazing alternative containers to prevent tarnish and keep silver clean.
*There’s one major myth about jewelry that turns your fingers green-- and we want to put it to rest. Just because your fingers turn green while wearing a silver ring, does not mean that the ring is fake silver or low quality.
The real reason behind the development of a green tint on your skin lies in a ring’s metal composition.
Use Clear Nail Polish: one simple and practical method to avoid green fingers is to coat the inside of your sterling silver rings with clear nail polish. Here’s how:
- Paint the inside of your rings with clear nail polish. You can apply nail polish to any part of the ring that touches your finger.
- Leave your painted ring on a flat surface to dry for at least 20 minutes, or until the nail polish is completely dry.
- Wear your ring!
- Apply the clear nail polish as needed.
WHAT TO DO WHEN MY FINGERS TURN GREEN
If your fingers have already been colored green by your sterling silver rings, there are a few simple ways you can remove the stains. Try one of the following methods.
- Eye Makeup Remover & Rubbing Alcohol: If you have sterling silver rings, it’s a good idea to keep some waterproof eye makeup remover, or rubbing alcohol, on hand just in case you need to remove green stains.
- Put your liquid of choice on a cotton ball and rub the area gently.
- Remember to rub in the webbing of your fingers, as the green coloring often concentrates in the nooks and crannies.
- Wash your hands promptly after to avoid drying, especially when using rubbing alcohol.
- Non-Acetone Nail Polish Remover: For more drastic, dark green stains, nail polish remover may be necessary.
- Wipe the area with the cotton ball gently but firmly to remove the stain.
- If your skin is irritated or you have open wounds, do not do anything on open skin.
* Silver plated jewelry,
Avoid immersing this item into water. Gold, silver or rhodium plating means applying a layer of precious metal over base metal. The elements of this necklace have been plated with EDT coating technique, which insures high quality of coating. However, plated items are not lifetime purchase, since the layer of precious metal will eventually rub away on some parts of the chain and findings.
*Take jewelry off before you shower, swim, or get into a hot tub. All those things contain elements that lead to tarnish on silver jewelry. The chlorine, humidity, and/or moisture should be avoided at all cost since it acts as a demise for the shine and luster of silver jewelry pieces.*Cleaning Your Silver with Toothpaste
Squeeze a pea-sized amount of toothpaste onto your finger. Any toothpaste can work, but it is recommended to use toothpaste used for tartar control. The extra hydrated silica in those brands help remove tarnish more easily. Scrub the toothpaste all over the silver piece. A cotton cloth or paper towel can also be used to help massage toothpaste onto silver jewelry surfaces. The tarnish should come off instantly. Rinse the toothpaste off of the silver. Use warm water to get rid of the toothpaste. If you notice that some tarnish still remains, squeeze more toothpaste onto the silver and give it another rinse. Once it is cleaned to your liking, pat the piece dry.