All jewelry needs to be cleaned and cared for, but baby jewelry is especially important to keep clean and damage-free. The process itself is quite simple at home, and whether it’s your child’s favorite everyday piece or reserved for wearing during special occasions, proper care and cleaning of your infant and child jewelry is important for keeping it in good condition.
With only a few household products, you can keep your child or infant’s special pieces sparkling, bright, and fit for your princess.
Pure gold is always 24 karats, and if it’s marked as any less, this indicates that the gold has been mixed with other metals. Adding additional alloys to gold usually makes it stronger and less prone to damage, but we’ll cover the proper care and cleaning of that type of jewelry later.
Cleaningpure or alloyed gold infant or child’s jewelry isn’t expensive and can easily be done at home with a few household products, like ammonia and dish detergent. If you child’s jewelry also contains a colored stone, hold off on the ammonia and just use detergent instead, as this will prevent any accidental discoloration or damage. If using ammonia, make sure to rinse the piece or pieces thoroughly to avoid irritating baby’s skin.
Sterling silver oxidizes naturally when exposed to oxygen, and while it’s not harmful, this can lead to baby’s jewelry appearing tarnished or dirty. This is just a natural reaction to the chemical bonding that occurs when the oxygen hits the surface, and with a little bit of effort, you can make sure her special necklace or bracelet looks pretty again.
The purity of the metal will determine how soft it is and how quickly it tarnishes - .950 sterling silver is more fragile and prone to bending and tarnishing more quickly than jewelry labeled .925, so pay attention to what your child’s jewelry is made of. Frequent wear is actually a good way to keep baby’s silver jewelry clean, as oils from her skin will keep it clean and shiny, but it’s a good idea to properly clean it every once in awhile, especially the pieces are for special occasion only. Unlike gold jewelry, it’s a good idea to clean silver with NO ammonia, as this can damage the metal.
If the silver tarnishing is light and not severe, simply using a lint-free flannel or microfiber cloth will remove impurities. Use gentle back-and-forth motions and periodically alter the section of cloth. A q-tip can be used to polish small, detailed areas.
Stainless steel jewelry contains chromium as well as steel. It doesn’t corrode or rust and can be very resistant to scratches or stains, but it’s still important to protect your child’s stainless steel jewelry and keep it in good condition. It’s one of the easiest metals to clean.
It’s important to avoid discoloration or damage when it comes to cleaning your baby’sgemstone or crystal jewelry, but most pieces will be just fine using any of the methods above. As an alternative, you can also use white vinegar to care for your baby’s jewelry at home.
Keep in Mind: Infant jewelry with pearls or other opaque stones should be wiped with a damp cloth, briefly rinsed with warm water and a few drops of detergent, and wiped clean. Never use ammonia or toothpaste.
By spending a few moments of your time with a few simple household products, you can keep baby’s jewelry as shiny as new and ready to last a lifetime.Visit our website to shop for high-qualitybaby jewelry, orcontact customer service for more information about child and infant jewelry care and cleaning.
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