| If your jewelry is looking a little dull, it might be time | | | | worth paying a few dollars for the peace of mind of |
| to give it a good clean. Over time dirt, grime and | | | | having it cleaned professionally. |
| even oils from your skin are deposited on your | | | | Perhaps you're not comfortable leaving your jewelry |
| jewelry, and these need to be cleaned off. But you | | | | at the store, but they don't sell any cleaning |
| need to find the right jewelry cleaner for the job, | | | | products. In that case, ask them to recommend a |
| because not all cleaners are as effective on different | | | | supplier or two. Quite often they will know of a good |
| types of jewelry. | | | | product you can use, or even recommend the one |
| There are plenty of places where you can buy | | | | they use themselves. |
| jewelry cleaner. Certainly your local jewelry store or | | | | If you want to clean costume jewelry, particularly |
| discount jewelry warehouse will have a few options | | | | antique costume jewelry, then you do need to be |
| for sale. Or, if you're a little more adventurous, you | | | | careful in your choice of cleaning product. Many |
| can try looking around a flea market. There's almost | | | | cleaners are designed to clean metal and precious |
| always a jewelry-cleaning booth! | | | | stones, but can actually damage your precious |
| One thing to look for is the consistency of the | | | | costume jewelry. This is because costume jewelry |
| jewelry cleaner. This can range from a thin | | | | usually uses paint to create a metal look, and some |
| consistency, like water, right through almost | | | | cleaners will attack the paint and damage it, so that it |
| paste-like. Consistency doesn't always indicate | | | | starts to flake away. A good cleaner may also |
| whether or not a cleaner will work properly, but quite | | | | weaken the glue that holds the costume stones to |
| often the thicker consistency cleaners work a little | | | | the setting. |
| better, mainly because they scrub the jewelry as well | | | | Try cleaning your costume jewelry gently with water |
| as clean it. Many stores will demonstrate their cleaning | | | | and a very soft toothbrush. A baby's toothbrush is a |
| products to you, so ask them to show you a couple | | | | good choice. If you're careful, you can avoid chipping |
| of different types of cleaner. | | | | the paint and the glue won't be weakened by any |
| If you're really worried about cleaning your jewelry | | | | cleaning products. |
| yourself, you can ask your jewelry store to clean it | | | | We often become very attached to our favorite |
| for you. Sometimes they will do it for free, | | | | jewelry, but over time any piece of jewelry |
| particularly if it's part of a jewelry cleaner | | | | becomes a little the worse for wear and needs a |
| demonstration, and other times they will charge you | | | | clean. Take the time to find the right jewelry cleaner, |
| a small amount. If you have a special piece of | | | | and you'll soon have your favorite pieces sparkling like |
| jewelry that you don't want to damage, it can be | | | | new again. |