Costume jewelry, also known as fake, faux, false, or imitation jewelry, is made up of semi-precious or cheaper metals and ordinary stones that give the look & feel of real ornaments. This kind of jewelry is perfect for everyday use.
The most significant issues we run across with our beloved costume pieces are tarnishing, and how to restore fake gold jewelry to the vibrant luster it once had.
By Boe has listed the best solutions to show how to clean costume jewelry so your jewelry can stay in tip-top shape.
Table of Contents
Why Costume Jewelry Gets Tarnished?
Costume jewelry is exquisite and more economical than the actual ones. But with time, it has subjected to Moisture, dirt, oil, hair, and makeup residuals, which react with the metal, resulting in a tarnished or cursory look. So rather than throwing them out, make it new again using the below procedure.
How to Clean Costume Jewelry
Even if your jewelry appears clean, sweat and body oils collect over the surface should you wear it frequently. There are several methods to clean metallic jewelry based on which it’s created. Occasionally wiping your jewelry down with a sterile cloth is all you want to brush off dirt and grime from the outside.
Body oils, sweat, and cosmetic products such as hairspray are the chief contributors to this lack of luster on your imitation gold jewelry. The surplus moisture becomes trapped on the face of the jewelry and between cracks, inducing it to seem dark and dull.
Restore Fake Gold Jewelry without Harsh Chemicals
A sterile clean should be the initial plan of action to eliminate any greasy residue and dampness. If your jewelry demands a deeper clean, use a soft-bristle toothbrush to achieve between small cracks and creases. You might also use a toothpick to dig dirt particles out or possibly just a little shot of compressed air to dismiss trapped on scents.
For hard water stains or tarnishing, add a dab of dish soap or dishwashing liquid. Smooth the soap above the jewelry along with your palms, then rinse with a moist cloth. Subsequently, dry the jewelry piece thoroughly and buff using a microfiber fabric to restore shine.
Cleaning Cheap Jewelry with Toothpaste
Toothpaste might look to be an odd jewelry cleaner. Still, it’s a powerful solution for cleaning jewelry in your home, notably cheaper jewelry, even though toothpaste is appropriate to clean copper jewelry and a few other compounds, also.
An old toothbrush and toothpaste to wash gold, as an instance, causes scratches from the soft metallic surface and isn’t suggested.
Because this is costume jewelry, there’s not much need to be concerned about scratches destroying the alloy. And of course, utilizing this procedure saves you a short visit to the jeweler and does not expose delicate jewelry bits to harsh chemicals.
To wash costume jewelry utilizing toothpaste, begin with including a little dab on a soft toothbrush. Next, scrub the surface of the jewelry gently, working the toothpaste between these nooks and crannies.
If you do not need to use a toothbrush, then you might even work the toothpaste on the costume jewelry together with your palms. Rinse off and dry thoroughly to avoid water damage. If it comes to employing toothpaste, you might choose to test a small segment of the jewelry to observe how it impacts the metal.
Cleaning Tarnished Costume Jewelry with Cleaning Products
Most chemical cleaners will ruin costume jewelry unless plated with silver or other precious metals. But, there are a few jewelry cleaners specifically made for cleaning costume jewelry. If you do not possess a commercial cleaning product that’s secure for cheap fake jewelry, then below are a few things you could also use.
- Acetone-free nail polish remover.
- Small bowl.
- Soft fabric.
A bottle of nail polish remover that’s acetone-free may even work similarly to a cleaner. To wash, dip the jewelry thing in a bit of bowl of jewelry cleaner. Leave the bit from the bowl for just 30 minutes because leaving it may damage the alloy.
Gently rub on the jewelry piece using a soft cloth, then rinse with warm water and warm. Shine jewelry subsequently by buffing it with a new polishing fabric.
Restore Discolored Jewelry Using Aluminum Foil
A fabulous solution for clean, tarnished costume jewelry is to use aluminum foil and baking soda. The mix makes a chemical reaction that works well for cleaning jewelry of all sorts, such as gold, silver, and costume jewelry.
- Aluminum foil.
- Baking soda.
- Boiling water.
- Small bowl.
- Salt (optional).
To begin with, line the little bowl using a sheet of aluminum foil. Ensure that your container is big enough to maintain your jewelry piece. Next, put your jewelry in the bowl and scatter enough baking soda on the top of it completely cover it.
For your next step, pour the boiling water into the bowl and then wholly submerge the merchandise. Some recipes suggest adding a tbsp of salt, but it’s optional. Wait for approximately 5 minutes, then remove the jewelry thing, and then wash with cool water.
Cleaning Costume Jewelry Plated with Precious Metals
Vinegar and salt have been used in several cleaning recipes, from tub cleaners to copper cleaner and much more. They add another fantastic cleansing ingredient into the mixture, such as baking soda producing a stunning homemade jewelry cleaner for costume jewelry.
White vinegar isn’t suggested to wash most costume jewelry. However, it may be utilized to clean silver and gold-plated costume bits.
- 1/2 cup baking soda.
- 1 cup white vinegar.
- 2 tbsp salt.
For cleaning with baking soda and vinegar, together with salt, combine the ingredients in a small bowl until they form a paste.
Then, employing a microfiber cleaning cloth, dab it in the solution and wash it lightly over the jewelry piece. Make sure you enter all of the cracks and crevices. Let the glue sit for many minutes to operate its cleaning magical.
For tough stains, wash jewelry with a soft brush after waiting, then rinse with cool water. Buff the jewelry using a sterile lint-free cloth. This recipe also works as a DIY metal gloss.
Read more:
https://www.byboe.com/how-to-clean-gold-jewelry-with-vinegar/
https://www.byboe.com/how-to-clean-platinum-jewelry/
https://www.byboe.com/how-to-clean-fine-jewelry/
https://www.byboe.com/why-does-fake-jewelry-turn-your-skin-green/
What is the difference between costume jewelry and real jewelry?
Fine jewelry is created out of precious stones and generally a metal such as sterling silver or stone. The line between what’s costume jewelry and jewelry that is real, nevertheless, occasionally falls into a gray area.
Some consumers comprehend costume jewelry as an imitation item of jewelry made out of artificial stones and base metals. Though this is mainly true, it will not cover each exclusion.
While costume jewelry doesn’t use real spirits, it might still utilize precious metals such as silver or gold. These jewelry items do not use pure silver and gold but rather consist of base metals which are gold or silver silver-plated. Despite elements of actual valuable metals, these jewelry pieces are still considered costume jewelry.
How to Keep Costume Jewelry From Tarnishing?
Avoid your favorite costume jewelry from tarnishing by carrying the under steps.
1. Store Properly
Storing costume jewelry into sterile ziplock bags is your ideal method to protect them from getting blackened and stained. Little lace or silk components are also a superb storage choice. Proper storage is vital since the Moisture which exists in the air may cause substantial damage to your costume jewelry.
2. Keep Away From Moisture
When costume jewelry comes into contact with liquid and Moisture, it tarnishes quickly, including body lotions, moisturizers, skin’s natural oil, moist palms, perfumes, and perspiration. If you inadvertently get your costume jewelry wet, wipe it off using a sterile cloth instantly.
FAQs about costume jewelry
1. How do you remove tarnish from costume jewelry?
Baking soda, salt, and aluminum foil. Mix one tablespoon salt and one tablespoon of baking soda and mix with one cup warm water. Pour into the dish. The mixture will create a chemical reaction with the foil and bubble as it cleans the jewelry. Rinse with cool water and buff dry with a clean cloth.
2. How do you clean old costume jewelry?
To clean your jewelry at home, 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.
3. Can I use vinegar to clean costume jewelry?
Try using a white vinegar and water solution. Soak the jewelry in the solution, and then use soft toothbrush to get into corners and holes. Cleaning fake jewelry in vinegar can leave the chains shiny. … You can simply apply the vinegar to a sponge, and use it to clean the jewelry.
4. How do you keep fake jewelry from tarnishing?
with this question, you can see more information via the video below.
See more:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LC0oWUNAkqk
Conclusion
Beautiful jewelry will help you attract people’s attention. However, to keep their attractive appearance, you must regularly clean your jewelry. And costume jewelry requires a specific cleaning regimen too.
With proper handling and care, rusted or soiled costume jewelry will not be a problem anymore. We hope this article was helpful to you.
