Jewelry Care Guide
When it comes to preserving your jewelry, a few good habits can go a long way.
Many of the pieces we design at Bleo Boutique are made with precious and semi-precious metals, stones, and gems. Although these materials are high quality, all jewelry is delicate and requires some maintenance to ensure longevity. However, with some proper care and a little upkeep, your jewelry can live a full and happy life.
Here are a few of our favorite tips for keeping your accessories in excellent condition:
Stay Dry
Keep your jewelry away from moisture as much as possible to prevent tarnishing. Try to remove it before swimming or bathing, and avoid it when applying lotions or sprays. It’s also a good idea to take your jewelry off before any activity that might cause you to sweat.
Not Too Hot!
Avoid exposing your jewelry to extreme temperatures. Intense heat can cause the materials (especially metals) to expand and then contract while cooling, leading to damage. Steer clear of leaving your jewelry in direct sunlight or inside hot cars, and never wear your jewelry while in saunas or hot tubs.
Minimize Damage
One of the most obvious ways to keep your jewelry looking nice is simply being careful. Being mindful of the accessories you are wearing (and when you should take them off) can greatly reduce the likelihood your pieces will sustain damage.
We recommend that you:
Remove your jewelry before heading to bed to prevent any potential damage from snagging or tangling during your sleep.
Be gentle when layering multiple pieces (especially mixed metals) because harder metals or stones can scratch or dent softer ones.
Take your jewelry off before getting down to work if you have a job or a chore that calls for lots of movement or physical activity.
Never yank or pull on a chain tangle when trying to unravel it. This will put an excessive amount of stress on the chain, causing it to weaken.
Storage (The Right Way)
No matter how careful you are while wearing your jewelry, your pieces can also sustain damage when in storage. More often than not, this kind of damage comes as a result of items knocking together or getting tangled. Particularly vulnerable materials include soft precious metals and stones, pearls, wood, and resin. The best, most foolproof way to avoid damage to your accessories while not in use is to store them separately from one another.
Our recommended storage solutions:
Separate cloth pouches for delicate pieces
Tarnish-resistant jewelry bags for precious metals
Compartment jewelry cases with suede, velvet, or felt lining
Individual jewelry cases for your most valuable items
Jewelry armoires, stands, or hooks to hang your pieces up
Regardless of which storage solution works best for you, know that when you're not wearing your jewelry, it's best to store your pieces someplace cool, dry, and away from direct sunlight. Excessive heat, abundant moisture, and prolonged sun exposure can all lead to tarnishing, warping, and discoloration.
! Did you know the bathroom is one of the worst places for storing your jewelry? The humid environment in the bathroom speeds up the oxidation process. This causes your pieces to tarnish much quicker, even if you never wear them in the shower!
Keep it Clean
Periodically cleaning your jewelry is a great way to keep it from looking dull or dirty. Moreover, by removing the oils and particles that accumulate over time and wear down the metals in your accessories, you are also helping to extend their life.
Before you clean any of your jewelry, you must know what your pieces are made of. There are very distinct cleaning procedures for different materials, and using the wrong method on certain, more sensitive materials can be profoundly damaging.
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Many of our pieces are designed with natural cultured freshwater pearls that we carefully select based on grade and luster. Because our pearls are organic, it is important to remember they are extremely sensitive to chemicals and excessive temperatures. This doesn’t mean they can’t be cleaned, though!
CLEANING YOUR PEARLS
Mix a drop or two of mild dish soap into a cup of lukewarm water.
Don’t forget: water that is too hot or cold can damage pearls.
Dip a soft microfiber cloth into the soapy water and gently wipe the pearls.
Pat your pearls dry with another soft cloth.
Repeat as many times as needed.
DO NOT use any abrasive fabrics or harsh chemicals when cleaning natural pearl jewelry as they can cause serious damage to the gemstones.
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Because brass is an alloy made from a blend of copper and zinc, it is affordable but highly susceptible to tarnishing and discoloration. The good news is our unplated brass jewelry is made using raw brass, which means there is no plating, coating, or other treatment over the metal that will wear down over time. If your brass jewelry begins to look dull or dirty, a quick scrub down will restore its shine - allowing it to last just as long as precious metals such as gold or silver without breaking the bank.
CLEANING BRASS
Mix a drop or two of mild dish soap into a cup of hot water.
Dip a soft-bristled toothbrush into the soapy water and gently scrub your brass jewelry.
Rinse thoroughly with clean water.
Repeat as many times as needed.
(Optional) For an extra shiny finish, mix equal parts water and distilled white vinegar together. Dip your jewelry into the solution for about 30 seconds, then rinse thoroughly with clean water. Go the extra mile by buffing your piece with a polishing cloth.
DO NOT use the vinegar solution if your brass jewelry contains stones, pearls, or crystals as this method will cause serious damage to those materials. Use vinegar sparingly when cleaning brass and ALWAYS mix it with water to minimize acidity and abrasiveness. If left on your jewelry too long, or if your jewelry is scrubbed too hard with it, vinegar can cause the metal to dull.
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As a general rule, the best way to clean plated jewelry is to wipe the surface gently with a fresh, dry jewelry polishing cloth. These cloths are specially designed with soft, minimally abrasive fabrics to protect the metal plating on your pieces.
Although our plated pieces are lacquered to protect the metals, please keep in mind that plated jewelry does not last forever. Each time you polish plated jewelry, you are stripping away the outside of the metal coating to reveal a layer of newer, more lustrous metal underneath. Once the plating has been completely removed, only the base metal will be left over. While these base metals are totally safe to wear and offer their own unique look, following the other suggestions we listed here can help lengthen the lifespan of the shiny plating on your jewelry.
Please Note:
NEVER use chemicals or jewelry cleaning solutions on your Bleo Boutique jewelry as they can cause damage to the metals, stones, and crystals used in many of our pieces.
Check, Check, and Check Again
Inspect your jewelry regularly (before and after each wear) for damages and flaws. If you find that a piece of jewelry needs repairing, it is best to avoid wearing it until the faulty component has been fixed.
Keep an eye out for:
Faulty clasps or findings
Damaged or loose stone settings
Scratches, chips, dents, fractures, or other abrasive damage
Missing stones, gems, beads, or charms
Misshapen chain links
Heavy tarnish or discoloration
Does one of your Bleo Boutique pieces need a little TLC? No worries! We offer complimentary jewelry repairs (and cleanings) as part of our Happiness Guarantee! Get started now ➜
