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Cleaning & Caring: Stainless Steel
Cleaning specific jewellery pieces
Jewellery consists of many different materials, metals, stones, gems and organic materials.
Each material brings its own cleaning challenges. If in doubt please just wipe your piece over with a soft cloth after each wear. This will remove dirt, grime and body oils before you place it back into storage which will keep it looking its best longer.
In some designs the stones or focal pieces are glued into position and some cleaners (even water) may loosen the hold over time causing the focal to fall out.
Caring for Stainless Steel Jewellery
Stainless steel jewellery does not generally tarnish as fast as silver jewellery but the rate of tarnishing depends on how often it’s used. 100% stainless steel will NOT rust.
Stainless steel jewellery is easy to clean using a mild dishwashing liquid in a bowl warm water, rinse and dry with a soft cloth. It will polish to a natural sheen in which you should be able to see your reflection.
Using a bowl will limit the chances of the item going down the drain. If using a sink remember to remove all items before pulling the plug!
Stainless steel jewellery is very durable and can withstand a lot of wear and tear, as opposed to silver which is a very soft metal. As with any jewellery it is best to avoid contact with chemicals (lotions, chlorine from pools etc.) in order to keep it cleaner longer.
There are some unscrupulous traders out there who may sell a lighter aluminium or alloy material as stainless steel. These are generally lighter in weight, may tarnish badly, have red/brown rust marks and can cause irritation to the skin.
If in doubt, see if a magnet holds firmly to your piece. If it does then it is likely stainless steel. Another hint is to tap the piece with a brass key. It should ring out, sometimes for an extended time.
If you have one of the alloy pieces you can try to clean the rust marks off with a paste of baking soda and lemon juice. Apply it thickly to the affected spots and let dry. Once dry rub the surface with a cut potato which has been dipped into salt. Rinse and dry thoroughly.
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Most of my earrings can be altered to include stainless (surgical) steel ear-wires when requested. All of my (not stitched) bracelets and necklaces are threaded onto nylon coated stainless steel, unless otherwise stated.
I have a fabulous range of original and unique one-of-a-kind pieces currently available in my online store or you can contact me to arrange a custom made piece – just for you.
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