In this article we will tell our readers how to quickly and effectively clean pearls at home. The stone was born in the ocean and is of organic origin. Therefore, on land it becomes susceptible to external irritants: dust, human sweat, cosmetics, sun rays. Pearls become dull and lose their attractiveness. The stones are cleaned with professional products from jewelry stores. Or using a soap solution, starch and salt.
Why do pearls get dirty?
Pearl beads require regular care. The decoration should not be left outdoors for a long time. Otherwise, dust will accumulate on it.
A thick layer of dirt will damage the surface and leave microcracks. The beads will lose their shine.
Acids corrode the layer of mother-of-pearl. In advanced cases, even jewelers are powerless. Remove your pearl necklace and bracelet before playing sports or strenuous physical activity because sweat contains acids.
The stone does not tolerate cosmetics. Do not touch the jewelry immediately after applying the cream to your hands.
Beads should not be worn on a neck moistened with cosmetic oil.
Pearls should not be worn while cooking or performing other household work. Grease and dirt settle on the stones.
The Mystery of Birth
A grain of sand wrapped thousands of times in layers of mother-of-pearl is the pearl familiar to every fashionista.
Cultured, so-called artificial pearls are only partly like that. A mother-of-pearl ball is placed in the shell for 7 years, on top of which a mother-of-pearl layer is formed.
Cultured beads are distinguished by their perfectly round shape, which is the exception rather than the rule for natural pearls. The layer of natural mother-of-pearl is up to 1 mm, the remaining 90% of the volume of the pearl is occupied by the ball. In terms of their performance and aesthetic characteristics, grown pearls are not inferior to natural ones, while their cost is 10 times lower than natural ones.
Home Decoration Cleaning Recipes
Soap solution
Now about how to care for pearls. A soap solution will help remove dirt . You will need two containers of water, liquid soap, a piece of foam rubber, and cotton cloth.
Dilute 1 tsp in 200 ml of warm water. soap Place the pearls in the solution for half an hour.
Then wipe the soap stones with a sponge and rinse in a container with clean water. The final stage is wiping with a soft cotton cloth.
Instead of liquid soap, you can use shower gel, baby shampoo, or facial wash. Do not add floor, window or dishwashing liquid. They contain aggressive components that will damage the mother-of-pearl layer of the beads.
Salt
Pearl beads and bracelets can be easily cleaned with salt. It is better to use sea water, but finely ground table water will also work. Two cleaning options are effective.
Dilute 2 tbsp in 200 ml of water. salt. Wait until the crystals are completely dissolved and place the jewelry in the liquid. After 15 minutes, rinse with cool water, dry and polish with a velvet cloth.
Place the pearls in nylon tights. Pour 2-2.5 tbsp inside. l. salt without a slide. Tie the tights and place them in a container of warm water for half an hour. Then pick the pebbles with your fingers and rinse.
If the dirt doesn't come off completely, gently scrape the pearl with the tip of your fingernail. But don't press too hard, otherwise it will leave scratches.
Beads with a metal clasp cannot be rubbed. The decorative element can damage the mother-of-pearl layer. So just hold the embellished tights under running warm water.
Instead of tights, you can make a linen bag.
Starch
And here is a way to clean freshwater and sea pearls with potato starch. Take a soft microfiber cloth measuring 25x25. Place pearls on one side and 3 tbsp on the other. starch.
Connect the ends of the cloth and massage the product with pearls for 5-7 minutes. Then rinse the pebbles under water, blot with a napkin and leave to dry.
Starch effectively removes dirt and polishes beads.
You can also clean your beads using the immersion method. Place the pearls in a jar of starch, close and shake for 1-2 minutes. Then remove the jewelry and rinse under running water.
Lightly soiled pebbles are cleaned with starch. The powder is not able to remove stubborn dirt.
Sunbathing
You can bleach light pearls with the help of the sun. In hot weather, place the product in the sun and leave until evening. After the procedure, rinse the stones with cool water to prevent them from overheating.
But there is a version that ultraviolet radiation negatively affects the surface of pearls. They lose their shine and become dull. This method definitely cannot be tested on black pebbles. Read more about them in the article “About black pearls: why they are like that.”
Cleaning the thread
Caring for pearls includes cleaning the thread. But oil, salt and other above-mentioned methods are not suitable for nylon or silk thread.
So clean the pearls first and then the thread. Potato flour will cope with the task effectively.
Pour the product into a container and completely immerse the necklace or other pearl jewelry in it. After a day, shake off excess flour, rinse with water and wipe with a cloth.
Do not hang your pearl necklace or bracelet vertically while drying. The thread may stretch.
Cleaning gold and silver inserts
Pay special attention to cleaning pearls set in gold or silver. The choice of means depends on the type of metal. We recommend carrying out the procedure every 2-3 months.
Silver is cleaned with a brush and toothpaste. But this method is only suitable if there are few beads on the jewelry and the bristles will not touch them.
Also use a mixture of 1 tsp. wine vinegar and 1 tbsp. soda Apply the mixture to the silver and leave for half an hour. No need to rub.
Then wash the jewelry in soapy water and rinse in clean water.
To clean gold, prepare a mixture of 1 tsp. soap, 0.5 tsp. alcohol and 100 ml of water. Saturate a cotton swab with the mixture and treat the gold frame.
Make sure that the cleaning liquid does not come into contact with the pearls. Alcohol will ruin their surface.
Gold can also be cleaned with baby powder or powder. Apply the product to a flannel cloth and polish the metal.
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.
- 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.
- Temperature. You need a medium one - the stones will crack from the heat and become cloudy from the cold.
- Sun. The mineral is afraid of direct sunlight. Prolonged exposure to the sun makes the stones dull and yellowish.
- Dust. This causes microcracks to appear on the surface of the pearls.
- 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.
Purchased funds
Paste
At home, pearl care includes the use of a special paste. It is sold in jewelry stores.
Apply the product to a cotton cloth and carefully treat each pebble. Then polish the pearls with a piece of velvet.
This method has disadvantages:
- The product is not sold in all stores;
- Due to the content of active cleaning components in the product, the pearlescent layer is erased with regular use.
The drug "Talisman"
Talisman makes it easier to clean pearls at home. The drug is made in Russia. Available in volumes of 100 and 200 ml.
Place the decoration in a jar of cleaning liquid. After 2 minutes, remove and rinse with water. Then dry and polish the pearls.
How to clean framed items
The jewelry stone is placed in a frame made of silver and gold. The type of precious metal is something to consider when cleaning your jewelry yourself.
Be sure to check out: Main uses of diamonds
Gold
Gold is a metal that is not afraid of the effects of salt, soap, soda and other substances used for home cleaning. To care for gold jewelry, you can use all the products used to clean pearls. At the end of washing, the remnants of the composition used should be washed off with clean water, and then the products should be wiped with a dry cloth.
Silver
Silver oxidizes quickly and darkens over time. Removing dark plaque requires the use of aggressive agents. They effectively clean silver, but hopelessly damage pearls. Therefore, it is better to give silver items for restoration to a professional craftsman.
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Is it possible to clean pearl products in hot water?
Not really
Bringing back shine to pearls
Olive oil restores shine to dull stones. Apply 4-5 drops of product onto cotton wool. Work the beads gently, but do not press too hard.
After the procedure, wipe the pearls with a napkin and polish with a flannel.
Be careful with the amount of oil. It is better to take less than to overdo it. Otherwise, oil will flow into the holes of the pearls. It will be impossible to clean it yourself.
The processing is carried out with high-quality olive oil with a valid expiration date. Almond, coconut and other options will be absorbed into the pearlescent layer. The pearl jewelry will be damaged.
How to restore shine
Olive oil can revive tarnished pearls:
- Apply three to four drops onto a cotton swab;
- Each pearl is carefully wiped;
- residues are removed with a dry paper napkin;
- The beads are polished with flannel.
There is no need to overdo it with oil: it will flow into the hole of the beads and attract new dirt.
To make pearls shine, they are treated only with highly refined olive oil, preferably not expired. Other vegetable oils - sunflower, corn, almond - clog the pores of the pearls, thereby destroying them completely.
At the same time, the oil removes dirt.
Energy cleansing
Why carry out
Pearls have healing and magical powers. Read more in the article “Properties of pearls and to whom the stone suits according to their zodiac sign.”
Therefore, in addition to soap baths and polishing, energetic cleaning is required. Pearls quickly absorb human energy. The procedure is carried out after a series of major troubles during which the owner wore the jewelry.
Energy cleansing is also necessary if pearls were received as a gift or by inheritance. In the second case, it is especially important to carry out the procedure. It is believed that the fate of the previous owner is transmitted along with the stone.
Rice
A common way to cleanse energy from negativity is with rice grains. Place the pearls in a bowl of rice overnight. It is believed that during this time the grain will take away all the negativity accumulated in the stones.
When interacting with rice, the surface will not be damaged, and the color of the pearl will remain bright.
The grain can be saved for later cleaning. But it is not recommended to use it for food.
Melt water
Pearls are cleaned of negativity using melt water. Place the stones in a bath of liquid and read prayers over it. One procedure is enough to restore positive energy power.
Moon
The moon also rids pearls of negative energy. Place the decoration with the stone on the windowsill so that moonlight falls on it. Leave it overnight.
Sound
To cleanse pearls from foreign negative energy, mantras are sung over them and a bell is rung. The ringing of church bells is ideal.
HOW TO CARE FOR PEARLS AT HOME
Any pearls sooner or later stop shining and acquire black dots and a yellowish coating. However, proper pearl care helps prevent contamination.
How to properly store pearls
Several storage and care rules must be followed:
- It is better to place pearls in a separate box.
- Mother-of-pearl jewelry is not stored together with other jewelry to avoid scratching.
- Pearl beads should not be kept hanging, as this will cause the thread with pearls to stretch.
- The organic mineral requires moisture and air, so it is not placed in boxes and plastic bags: otherwise the gem will not be able to “breathe”.
Natural pearls form inside the shell themselves, while artificial pearls are obtained by placing an artificial bead into the shell, which is subsequently covered with layers of mother-of-pearl. We recommend: MOTHER OF PEARL - the mother of pearls
The storage and care conditions for both types of pearls are the same.
What is prohibited in cleaning pearls?
- To preserve products for as long as possible, it is not recommended to use cleaning products that contain soda.
- You can clean gold with ammonia, but under no circumstances should the composition get on the pearls.
- Do not place jewelry in hot solutions or spray them with steam.
- Do not use cleaning powders with abrasives.
- Acetic and other acids can completely dissolve minerals.
- Nail polish removers and acetone are not recommended.
Energy cleansing
Jewelry is cleaned after another person: for example, if it is inherited.
- A reliable way to cleanse yourself of negativity is to place jewelry in a jar of rice for a day. Rice will not change the color of the pearls.
- You can use rice grains for this purpose 2-3 times during the life cycle of the beads, but you cannot eat rice after that.
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Prohibited cleaning methods
If you care for your pearls at home incorrectly, the stones will be hopelessly damaged.
It is unacceptable to wipe stones with soda or make baths with soda solution. The product contains alkali, which will damage the surface of the pearls.
Ultrasonic cleaning will cause microcracks, while hot water and steam treatment will damage the surface of the pearl. Organic stones do not tolerate high temperatures.
Avoid abrasive powders. They will erase the mother-of-pearl layer and the stone will become dull.
Vinegar should not be used. Pearls contain 90% calcium carbonate, so they dissolve when exposed to acid. Even weak vinegar solutions are unacceptable. Be careful if you use a gold inlay product.
Do not try to scrape off dried dirt with metal objects - a nail pusher, nail scissors, or a knife. Even the slightest impact of metal will leave deep scratches on the surface of the stone.
A common method of treating yellowed pearls with nail polish remover. But even a product without acetone is a solvent. Therefore, there is a high risk of damage to the top layer of the stone.
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:
- 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.
- 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.
- 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:
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- Dissolve the soap in water and whip into foam.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- Place the decoration in a white napkin and sprinkle with fine salt. You can't rub it, but you don't have to.
- Tie the napkin into a tight knot.
- Place it in a bowl of cool water and rinse until the salt dissolves.
- 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
