How to properly care for pearls at home? Rules for caring for pearls at home

Pearls are a magnificent gift from nature for luxurious ladies. In the East, this stone is considered a means of restoring youth. Queen Cleopatra drank a glass of wine a day, into which she immersed a pearl. So she tried to preserve her youth and beauty. Every woman dreams of such a luxurious gift. If you already have it, then our article will be useful to you. We will tell you how to care for this wonderful mineral.

Pearls are very sensitive to environmental factors.

What and how should pearls be protected from?

Over time, the product may lose its shine, become covered with dark spots and a yellow coating. This is usually due to illiterate handling. Pearls are capricious and whimsical; they especially need proper care and storage conditions.

The main enemies of pearl jewelry are sun rays, dust, high humidity, dry air and body cream.

Negatively influencing factors

The most destructive factors for this stone are:

• heat;
• high humidity;
• contaminated air;
• excessive bright light;
• perfumes, hairspray;
• dry skin;
• cigarette smoke.

• do not wear it when going to the pool or beach, take it off when taking a bath or shower;
• do not wear the product with other jewelry, especially with sharp corners and patterned metal - you can easily scratch it;
• Wear pearl beads 10 minutes after you have applied cosmetics or used perfume to your body.

Important! These are the simplest rules on how to store and care for pearls.

How to store pearls

Natural or farmed pearls are fragile and need to be stored properly.

Microclimate

It can be created without problems by an air conditioner, but this is not always possible. Owners of pearl jewelry comply with the following conditions whenever possible.

1. Humidity. The air in the room should not be dry, otherwise the pearl will begin to dehydrate and the aragonite will flake off. But if there is a lot of moisture, the stones will become cloudy. To ensure that the humidity level is optimal, on a hot day or during the heating season, place a container of water near the box.
2. Temperature. You need a medium one - the stones will crack from the heat and become cloudy from the cold.
3. Sun. The mineral is afraid of direct sunlight. Prolonged exposure to the sun makes the stones dull and yellowish.
4. Dust. This causes microcracks to appear on the surface of the pearls.
5. Tobacco smoke. Pearls are contraindicated in a room in which smoking occurs. He dies from tobacco smoke.

If the jewelry is rarely worn, it is rubbed with velvet from time to time. This is how the pearlescent shine is preserved.

Storage

As a container, a plastic bag or other sealed packaging is excluded - they prevent the penetration of moisture, which is why the pearls suffocate and the nacre fades. A fabric bag is also not suitable - here the pearls will wear out.

The place that ideally meets all the requirements for storing pearls is a box. She must be:

• durable to prevent external influences;
• spacious, where even a large necklace can be placed freely, and the clasps do not come into contact with the beads;
• closed tightly to create a barrier to dust or light;
• lined with soft natural material.

There is no place for other jewelry in it. It is also the best solution when transporting stones.

Storage rules

For pearls, the storage location and climatic parameters of the room are important.

Place

Pearls are delicate and need to be stored in a special box:

1. Strength. A casket or box of rigid construction is suitable. Fabric bags and plastic bags are not suitable: the beads will rub against each other or the metal parts of the frame.
2. Softness. For interior upholstery, choose soft fabric: silk, satin, velvet, suede, flannel.
3. Dimensions. The box is spacious so that the decorations are arranged in one layer.
4. Tightness. The box should close completely, but not tightly. Pearls are protected from light, dust, and access to air and moisture is maintained.

The presence of other minerals in the pearl box is excluded.

Climate control

Pearls need appropriate “weather in the house.” Conditioner is ideal; If this is not possible, take into account the storage conditions of the products:

• Temperature and humidity are average. In a cold or damp room the stones will become cloudy. If it is very hot, it will crack if it is dry. Sudden temperature changes are unacceptable.
• Dust. Creates microcracks on beads.
• Light. Stones worn for a long time on the beach or on a summer walk become dull and yellow.
• Smoke. Pearls that have become yellowed or tarnished by tobacco smoke cannot be restored.

A box of pearls should not be placed near working heating appliances. In hot weather, place a container of water nearby.

Cleaning jewelry

Products with or without frames can be cleaned at home in different ways.

General rules

For natural sea pearls, freshwater pearls or cultured material, the following conditions apply:

1. Wash with filtered or purified water at room temperature or slightly warmer.
2. Dry naturally at normal temperature.
3. Traditional bleaches (vinegar, hydrogen peroxide, ammonia alcohol), abrasive powders are excluded.

Ultrasound cleaning is contraindicated for all types of pearls.

After each wash or cleaning, rinse the jewelry with clean water. Then they need to be wiped dry with a soft cloth.

Wipe the pearls with a napkin

Materials

The following familiar remedies can help you care for your pearls at home:

1. Soap (baby or dye-free), mild shampoo. Dissolve with warm water.
2. Salt. Sea or cook. Salt solution - a teaspoon per glass of water.
3. Starch. Used to clean pearls when others have failed. The beads are rubbed with it. You can put one at a time in a cloth with starch and rub it. Excess moisture is absorbed with dirt.
4. Paste. Apply to a cloth that is used to wipe the inserts. This is followed by polishing with a lint-free cloth. Disadvantages: sold only by jewelry stores; natural stone beads wear out due to frequent use.

Any contaminants are removed immediately before the mother of pearl is absorbed.

Framed

The frames of pearl jewelry are cleaned with special products, so whenever possible, the inserts are removed:

• Gold. The frame is cleaned with a stick of cotton wool moistened with cologne or a special paste. The composition should not get on the pearls.
• Silver. Use a napkin moistened with baby soap or shampoo. If the frame has darkened, place it in a bag (or a bundle of fabric) with salt. Immerse in water until the latter dissolves.

Silver does not tolerate contact with water well, so the procedure is not delayed.

Frameless

Caring for stones in beads and necklaces is not troublesome:

1. The products are left in a warm solution of baby soap or delicate shampoo for half an hour. You can wipe the beads with a cotton swab moistened with soap. Remove the remains with a napkin.
2. It is worth buying jewelry, each bead of which is separated by knots. They fray less, and if the thread breaks, the necklace or beads will not fall apart.
3. The thread is renewed after two to three years. Silk is ideal, but delicate synthetics are also suitable. The beads on the new thread are separated by knots.

Dry accessories on a soft cloth. Store in a horizontal position.

Framed products

Before cleaning, it is advisable to remove the pearls from the frame and clean the metal frame and beads separately. But this is not always possible.

Gold

Wash gold earrings or other jewelry with a solution of baby soap with a soft brush and dry. The metal is cleaned with a cotton swab soaked in cologne. Make sure that the product (or other special compounds for gold) does not come into contact with the pearls.

Silver

The decoration is washed with a weak solution of baby soap using a cotton swab or soft cloth. Pearls and silver do not like long baths, so the product is cleaned and rinsed quickly. Dry with a soft cloth.

For heavily darkened silver, a special procedure is performed. The decoration is placed in a bag or on ordinary fabric, the ends of which are tied with a knapsack. Sprinkle generously with salt and immerse in water. Rinse until the salt dissolves. The pearls shimmer again, the silver glitters.

What and how to clean pearls

As jewelry is worn, the pearls and settings become dirty. There are simple ways to clean your jewelry.

General principles

They are used regardless of the type of pearl, frame material, degree of contamination:

• use a soft cloth or sponge;
• wash with filtered warm water (chlorinated or hot water will destroy the stones);
• folk remedies such as ammonia, vinegar, hydrogen peroxide, and other aggressive and abrasive compounds are excluded;
• dry at room temperature.

Washed jewelry is returned to the box after drying.

Methods and means of cleaning

You can clean pearls at home using manual means:

1. Baby soap or mild shampoo. Jewelry such as rings or earrings is dipped into the solution for a quarter of an hour, then wiped dry. Beads or bracelets are washed differently. Each pearl is wiped with a damp cotton swab. Soap residues are removed with a clean damp cloth. Dry on a soft cloth.
2. Potato starch. It is used in problematic cases when other methods have proven useless. The beads are wiped with a velvet cloth on which starch is poured. Excess moisture is removed from the dirt.
3. Special paste. Apply to soft fabric. Each bead is wiped and polished with a dry lint-free cloth.

The last method is the easiest and most reliable, but it is only applicable. The paste is not sold everywhere, and the method is not suitable for frequent use. The pearls will shine again, but the cleaning components of the paste will shorten their “life.”

Bringing back the shine

Jewelry with pearl inserts fades. Shine and shine are restored in several ways:

1. Olive oil. It is highly refined olive oil that is safe. A few drops are applied to a cotton swab, which is used to rub the pearls. Remaining oil is removed with a paper napkin.
2. Sunbathing. Prolonged exposure to direct sunlight is detrimental to pearls, but sessions for a couple of hours can whiten them. After the procedure, the beads are wrapped in cloth. Sometimes a series of sunbathing is required. It is important to monitor natural pearls to avoid overheating.
3. Sea water. Place it in a container with sea water for several hours. It is obtained by dissolving sea salt in water (from a supermarket or pharmacy). Any water, including tap water.

You can use a special paste, but this is a last resort, since it wears away the pearls.

Soap bath for sissy

If the pearls have become dull, yellowed and have a coating on them, wash them with clean water. For severe stains, you will need a mild soap with a low alkali content, baby soap is suitable. This method is safe for any type of pearls: sea, river, artificial.

1. Dissolve the soap in water and whip into foam.
2. Apply it to the pearls and massage with your fingers. Rings, earrings, pendants can be soaked in soapy water. Do not immerse the necklace completely in water. Often the beads are strung on a silk thread, which stretches and deteriorates due to water.

   Beads should not be completely immersed in water.

3. Remove the remains with a dry soft cloth and wipe the beads with a damp cloth, and rinse the rest of the jewelry in running water.
4. Place clean accessories on a linen cloth, blot and let dry.

   Let the washed pearl products dry on a napkin.

Products with gold and silver frames also require cleaning of the metal. Gold and rhodium-plated silver do not darken or oxidize in air. Simply wash them with soapy water. Non-rhodic material does not have a protective coating, darkens and oxidizes upon contact with the skin and requires careful cleaning.

Gold jewelry with pearls just need to be washed in soapy water.

It is important to clean your jewelry without damaging the pearls.

How to properly clean pearls with salt

If a soap and foam bath does not help, use salt.

1. Place the decoration in a white napkin and sprinkle with fine salt. You can't rub it, but you don't have to.
2. Tie the napkin into a tight knot.
3. Place it in a bowl of cool water and rinse until the salt dissolves.
4. Rinse the product with clean water and dry.

This procedure will cleanse the silver and make it shine, and the moist shimmer will return to the pearl, because it was born in salt water. Sometimes pamper your sea pearls with salt baths, they will be grateful to you.

Silver jewelry with pearls are cleaned with salt

Features of caring for jewelry

Pearl jewelry needs constant wearing - it's true. At the same time, contact with body cosmetics will not benefit them. If you decide to wear the product, try to do so after the cream, lotion and other products have been absorbed into the skin. Do not allow mother-of-pearl spheres to come into direct contact with perfumes, deodorants, or hair products - this will have a detrimental effect on them.

Protect your jewelry from tobacco smoke and the manifestations of nature described above, from the sun to water.

String of pearls - what you need to know about care

General rules for storage and care do not apply to a string of pearls, beads or a necklace. This is due to the special structure of the decoration. Mother-of-pearl balls are strung on a thread, so you need to care not only for the pearls, but also for the base used for fastening.

The correct fastening option is considered to be threads with knots between the beads. Inconspicuous at first glance, they are needed to prevent the spheres from rubbing against each other. In addition, the knots prevent premature fraying of the thread.

One way or another, over time, the thread, just like the beads, will require cleaning. The easiest way is to take the jewelry to a workshop for dressing. But you can try to refresh it at home on your own. A convenient and safe option is updating in potato flour. Just “bury” a string of pearls in a container of flour for a day. This is enough to remove traces of dust and dirt from both the thread and the surface of the beads.

Proper care of gold pearl jewelry

In combination with gold, pearls require special treatment. The safest way to care for gold pearls is by periodically refreshing them with soapy water. Alkaline soap is grated, dissolved in warm water, and the decoration is immersed in the solution for no more than 5 minutes. Remove and wipe dry with a soft cloth. Stubborn traces of dirt are additionally removed with a brush with natural bristles.

After wet cleaning, it is important to dry the gold item. Lay it out on a soft cloth in a horizontal position.

Silver frame of mother-of-pearl spheres – what you need to know about operation

Everything is clear with gold, but how to care for pearl products if they are made of silver? Unlike gold, silver jewelry is susceptible to aggressive substances due to the rhodium included in the composition. They are stored in the same way as any other in a separate box, cleaned in such a way as not to damage the metal and pearls.

Do not completely immerse the jewelry in the soap solution. To remove dirt from metal, jewelry paste or tooth powder diluted with water is suitable. The pearls are carefully wiped with a cloth soaked in soapy water. A convenient and safe method is potato starch. With its help, you can restore the shine of beads and clean silver from traces of dust and dirt.

One last piece of advice for those who have a weakness for strings of pearls. Choose products with silk threads. They are more durable, retain elasticity for a long time, and most importantly, they do not absorb dust and dirt so quickly. Wear pearl jewelry in such a way that it comes into contact with the skin and not with fabrics. This way, abrasions do not form on the spheres over time.

Beads and necklace

To properly care for your beads, you need to consider the following:

1. When purchasing, it is better to choose a product with beads separated by thread knots. This insulates each bead, reducing fraying.
2. The thread on which the pearls are collected gradually stretches and frays. Dirt accumulates between the beads, which can damage them from the inside. Therefore, the thread is changed after two to four years, depending on the degree of use.
3. When stringing beads onto a new thread, it is advisable to make knots between them, as on the old one. The best thread for pearls is silk. It is delicate, does not stretch well, and reluctantly absorbs foreign components.
4. The necklace or beads are stored and dried in a horizontal position so that the thread does not stretch.

We recommend reading: How to identify a diamond at home?

If you are unsure of your abilities, entrust the necklace update to a master. Saving on precious natural pearls is inappropriate.

What is a pearl and what does it consist of?

To understand what safe storage and care of products with natural pearls should be, you need to know about the features of its composition. We are talking about a mineral of animal origin - a mother-of-pearl bead, consisting of 90% calcium, 5% organic conchiolin as a fixing agent and the rest from water.

Over time, the organic substances that make up the pearl dry out, which first leads to yellowing of the surface, and then to delamination and complete destruction. A pearl is not immortal - this is a fact, but a person can extend the period of its use as much as possible. To do this, just follow simple recommendations.

How to wear pearls

Pearls love to be worn: the sweat of the human body moisturizes, restoring radiance. Accessories require correct wearing:

1. You need to put on the products when the makeup and perfume have been applied and absorbed. Otherwise, the pearls will absorb odors and substances.
2. Accessories are removed before household work (cleaning, cooking), visiting the steam room, shower, or swimming pool. Chlorinated hot water is the enemy of pearls.
3. There are options for walking or going to the beach. Moderate sunbathing and sea water are not contraindicated. But you need to know when to stop.
4. Pearls love contact with skin or smooth fabric. On fleecy, rough canvases, mother-of-pearl will remain.
5. Upon returning, the jewelry is removed. They are held on by the frame or latch, not by the beads. Rinse, dry with a delicate cloth, and place in place.
6. If there are no going out in the future, jewelry is worn at home from time to time.

If jewelry rarely leaves the box, even natural pearls are easy to care for. It is regularly rubbed with suede or velvet to make the mother of pearl shine.

Jewelry with pearls

Restoring mother of pearl

To avoid having to look for information on how to restore mother-of-pearl on pearls, periodically give your jewelry sea baths in moderately salty water. Do not keep items in a box for months. Legend has it that forgotten pearls die.

People often look for information on how to restore pearls if the top layer has worn off. Jewelers usually use a 5-6% solution of acetic and hydrochloric acid. The damaged shell dissolves in an acidic environment, revealing a new, shining layer underneath. Just do not overexpose the beads in the solution, otherwise the decoration will be damaged.

How should you care for pearls?

When buying various pearl jewelry, you need to be prepared for the fact that you will have to regularly care for them. Caring for pearls will require compliance with the operating rules; you need to periodically clean and carefully store mother-of-pearl products. And if you do not adhere to these rules, then very soon the pearls will begin to age and lose their unique appeal.

Daily care

Always keep your jewelry in good condition and protect it from acids and other harmful substances. You need to know that if pearl jewelry is not worn for a long time, the pearls will fade, so they need to be worn from time to time.

Keep in mind: first you need to get dressed, apply makeup and perfume, and only then put on your favorite pearl jewelry. Be extremely careful when wearing rings and bracelets, because pearls are very sensitive to physical influences (scratches, chips, abrasion). There is no need to wear such products if you know that you will need to work with your hands.

Since this stone is made of calcium carbonate, it is vulnerable to various chemicals that are found in cosmetics, hairspray and perfumes. You should immediately wipe your pearls with a dry, clean, soft cloth when any acid comes into contact with them.

Acid is found in sweat, subcutaneous fat, perfume, vinegar, etc. It is this acid that destroys crystallized calcium in pearls.

Avoid prolonged exposure of pearls to temperatures above 60C, as they may dry out and crack. Therefore, do not place mother-of-pearl jewelry near heating devices and try not to wear products in hot weather.

Cigarette smoke has an adverse effect on pearls, as the nacre becomes yellowish.