Costume jewelry can look cute, but it can become dirty and tarnished if you don't take care of it. While these pieces don't have the high value of gold, they still are treasured items in your collection. For that reason, you will want to have those costume jewelry pieces looking their best. Here are the top three ways to clean your costume jewelry. 

Do you want a few items to pair with your costume jewelry? At LaCkore Couture, we have a wide selection of rings, bracelets, necklaces, and earrings to add to your jewelry box. 

Care Tips for Costume Jewelry

Why is it so hard to clean these pieces? Most costume jewelry has a thin plating of metals, like rhodium or gold. When these metals come in contact with liquids, lotions, dyes, sweat, and water, they can become tarnished. If you want to protect the look of your costume jewelry pieces, you might want to store them in anti-tarnishing bags. Make sure to put your jewelry on as the last step of your daily routine. Finally, avoid wearing these pieces at the beach, in the pool, or in the shower. All that excess moisture will break down the shiny surface. If you want to go the extra step, use a sealing spray to protect those metals from tarnish. 

Related: How To Clean Beaded Jewelry: Clean Beads Easily

Now that you know a few tips, how do you properly clean costume jewelry? You can find plenty of cleaning tips online, but not all of them are recommended. For example, some people suggest using baking soda or ketchup. Those "cleaning" remedies either have high acidity (ketchup) or are too abrasive (baking soda). As a result, it can corrode the material, changing your gold jewelry into a rose finish. Any cleaning agents designed to clean off the tarnish can damage the metal. Instead, you will want to use a soft-bristle toothbrush to remove those stuck-on spots of dirt. Here are the top tips if you are ready to clean your jewelry effectively. 

Easy Ways To Clean Costume Jewelry

If you want to clean your jewelry but don't want to damage it, look at these easy cleaning tips. 

#1 - Use Household Items

One of the simplest cleaning ethics is using some household items. You can take a combination of warm water and mild dish soap to make a jewelry cleaner. Take two tablespoons of dishwashing soap to one quart of warm water. After that, soak the jewelry for about 10 to 20 minutes to soften any build-on residue. Once that is done, take a soft toothbrush and gently brush the costume jewelry's top, button, sides, and underside. You will want to rinse the jewelry with clean water and pat it dry with a soft cloth. Cleaning your jewelry gives you the time to inspect the piece to ensure all of the stones are secure. If anything has come loose, you can quickly fix it. Another tip: always plug the drain of the sink before cleaning. If you forget to do this step, your jewelry could end up down the drain.

Related: What Are The Best Ways To Clean My Earrings?

Along with dishwashing soap, you can use white vinegar to clean the pieces. Mix about two tablespoons of white vinegar with warm water and soak for about 10 minutes. Once again, take a soft brush and gently scrub the jewelry. With that, you can remove any tarnish from the pieces. If you don't have any white vinegar, lemon will work to clean your pieces. Mix one part lemon juice and one part water. Allow the pieces to ask for about 10 minutes. When it is done soaking, you can use a toothbrush to buff away any of the oxidation. Finish up by pat drying with a soft cloth.

#2 - Grab a Cleaning Pen

Another way to clean costume jewelry is with a jewelry cleaner pen. These products contain a natural cleaning formula that you can use on all types of metals and gemstones. All you have to do is remove the cap, press the clicker button, and brush on the piece. With the brush, you can get around the gem settings and grooves. With this on-the-go option, you can easily give your jewelry a quick cleaning. These cleaning pens are a convenient way to keep up with the care of your costume jewelry. The jewelry cleaning pen is small enough to fit into your purse or jewelry box. 

#3 - Consider Specialty Cloths

You might want to purchase a silver care cloth for your pieces, even if they are not made with silver. These cloths are known for their polishing and anti-tarnish properties and are designed to clean delicate jewelry. With that, you can count on them to clean your costume pieces gently. 

Another type of cloth for cleaning is microfiber. With these clothes, you will not want to rub in circular motions since that can create tiny scratches. Always polish your jewelry in back-and-forth motions. If you want to get your costume jewelry extra shiny, try using warm, soapy water to clean them. After that, take the microfiber cloth and give them a quick polish. 

Related: Which Jewelry Metals are Hypoallergenic? 

With these tips, you can safely clean your costume jewelry pieces. Remember that water and oils can break down the surface of the metal. For that reason, you want to ensure never to wear them near water. Keep these pieces safely stored in a jewelry box or anti-tarnish pouch. By following these steps, you can enjoy your jewelry for many years to come. 

Are you searching for the right piece to compliment your costume jewelry collection? At LaCkore Couture, we have a large selection of handcrafted items that will take your look to the next level.