By Sandra Johnson
Jewelry is expensive, & very mistreated most of the time. Your jewels are an investment. Even costume jewelry can hold its value If taken care of. No more throwing your necklaces in a pile just to get all tangled. Let’s talk about cleaning your jewelry.
Fine Jewelry
-Warm water (even boiled water) & Dish soap. Let soak for a few minutes then polish dry with a microfiber cloth.
-Ultrasonic Cleaners
-Store-bought cleaners only when specified ok for your jewels metal, & gems
Pure Sterling Silver
-Store-bought cleaner, specific for sterling silver
-Rub gently in one direction with a polishing cloth
Costume Jewelry
-One drop of warm water & one drop of baby shampoo. Wipe clean with a polishing cloth.
-Never wear longer than 12 hours, wipe with a polishing cloth after each use.
-Never use any type of “cleaner” on these items.
Tips for all Jewelry Care
Keep it Dry! Remove it when washing hands, swimming, exercising, using cleaning products, and before applying any kind of personal body product. Such products include perfume, lotion, makeup, & hair products. Always store jewels in their own pouch or felt box away from all elements. Never wear Jewels 24/7 unless they are pure gold or platinum.
Follow these tips and your Jewels will hold their value.
Storage & Organization
Here are 8 ways to store your Jewels
Mirror Storage– Over the door, standup, or wall-mounted
These are great because they can easily be tucked away in a corner. Not only is it functional with the mirror, but it’s one of the best ways to keep your jewelry beautiful. The only downfall is that tarnished metals will tarnish other metals. That is why it’s always recommended for Jewels not to touch.
Jewelry Box
Boxes are a fantastic way to store jewels! They usually have a variety of places to keep your jewels separate but in one spot. The only downfall is that a jewelry box can take up a lot of space.
Hanging pouch dividers
This is a great idea if you’re looking to save space! These can be tucked away in your closet or behind a door. They offer lots of different compartments to store all your jewelry.
Felt Trays for in-drawers
If you are blessed with drawer space in your primary then these trays are a must! Keep all your jewels safely in one spot. You can find lots of different tray orientations to fit all your jewels organized and separate. Just make sure and measure out your drawers, a lot of times you can also stack trays on top of each other.
Jewelry Armoire
An armoire does not always fit every room’s aesthetics. It’s a fancy stand-alone furniture piece for jewelry. If you have the floor space and it fits your room’s style then it’s worth the money. It offers a significant amount of space for all your jewelry pieces.
Pouches
Pouches, or Dust bags are an easy and affordable way to store your jewels. This way they stay separate and out of the elements. The only annoying thing is you can’t see inside the bags to know what you have. If you chose this method long term you will want to go with clear sealing bags.
Trays for everyday wear
Having a tray in your primary room or bathroom is great for those everyday items. Like we talked about with cleaning, it’s important to take your jewels off. Give them a little break, inspect them, & clean them. If you have pieces on your tray that you haven’t worn in a while then it’s time to move it to another storage solution.
Travel cases
I have come across many cool and unique travel cases. Pick one that best suits your travel needs. I usually only pack one pair of statement earrings. Two or Three different Necklaces. My biggest jewelry fetish is bracelets. I will wear at least 5 daily. For bracelets, I usually put them all in dust bags and into another small travel case.
Hopefully, these ideas have brought you some inspiration to better organize your jewelry. If you get stuck and don’t know what to do next, always reach out to us! Our professional organizers know how to find the best solutions.
