How to Care for Your Accessories: Expert Jewellery Care Recommendations for Longevity

Accessories, especially fine jewellery, are crafted with great care and exceptional quality. Whether you wear your pieces daily or just on special occasions, they deserve some love and attention to keep their beauty shining through the years. Taking good care of your jewellery not only keeps it looking fresh but also helps build trust and encourages you to come back for more. Here’s a friendly, easy-to-follow guide on cleaning, storing, and caring for your jewellery and accessories so they stay stunning for a lifetime.

1. Why Taking Care of Your Jewellery Matters

Jewellery, especially precious metals like gold and silver, and natural stones, are delicate and sensitive to everyday elements. Exposure to moisture, heat, chemicals, and even bumps can cause tarnishing, scratches, or dullness. But with a little care, you can slow down these effects and keep your favourite pieces sparkling like new.

2. Wear It Often — It Actually Helps!

It might sound surprising, but the more you wear your jewellery, the less maintenance it needs. Regular wear slows down the natural tarnishing process of metals like gold and silver. Plus, your pieces develop a unique patina over time — a beautiful signature of your personal story and style.

3. Simple Precautions to Keep Your Jewellery Safe

To keep your jewellery in top shape:

• Take off your rings, bracelets, and necklaces before exercising, swimming, or washing your hands to avoid sweat, water, and chemicals.
• Be gentle—avoid knocks and bumps that can leave scratches or dents.
• Store each piece separately so they don’t rub against or scratch each other.
• Try to keep your jewellery away from moisture, extreme heat, and sudden temperature changes to slow down oxidation.

4. Be Mindful of Cosmetics and Chemicals

Perfumes, lotions, and makeup can affect delicate materials like pearls and porous stones. Here’s how to protect your jewellery:

• Wait about 10 minutes after applying cosmetics or perfume before putting on your jewellery.
• Avoid exposure to harsh chemicals like saltwater, bleach, or cleaning products.
• If your jewellery does come into contact with these, rinse it gently with clean water and dry it softly with a cloth.

5. Store Your Jewellery the Right Way

When you’re not wearing your pieces:

• Keep them in their original boxes or soft pouches to protect from humidity and temperature changes.
• Pearls need a bit of moisture to stay beautiful, so storing them in a slightly humid place like a bathroom or near a glass of water works best.
• For silver jewellery (925 or 990 purity), it’s okay if they get wet, but avoid hot springs, seawater, or chemicals that speed up tarnishing.
• To keep silver looking its best, store it in velvet pouches or sealed bags to reduce air exposure.

6. Special Care Tips for 925 Sterling Silver Accessories

925 sterling silver is a popular choice because it’s both beautiful and durable, made of 92.5% pure silver mixed with other metals for strength. But it can tarnish over time, so a little care goes a long way.

Here’s how to keep your 925 sterling silver jewellery shining bright:

• Wear it often! Your skin’s natural oils help prevent tarnish.
• Keep it away from chemicals. Remove your silver jewellery before swimming, showering, or applying lotions and perfumes.
• Clean gently and regularly. Use warm water and mild soap, then softly scrub with a toothbrush or cloth. Rinse and dry thoroughly.
• Use a silver polishing cloth. For stubborn tarnish, gently polish your silver with a dedicated cloth—avoid harsh chemicals or abrasive materials.
• Try a baking soda paste. For heavy tarnish, mix baking soda and water into a paste, rub gently, rinse well, and dry.
• Store properly. Keep your silver in airtight containers or anti-tarnish bags, and consider adding silica gel packs to absorb moisture.
• Avoid hot springs and chlorinated water. These can cause serious damage and speed up tarnishing.
• Regular upkeep is key. Even if your silver looks fine, regular polishing helps keep it looking fresh.

At 925street.store, we want to make caring for your silver jewellery easy. That’s why every purchase of our sterling silver pieces comes with a complimentary silver polishing cloth you can use again and again. We also recommend regular maintenance—even if you don’t see tarnish—to extend the life of your precious pieces.

7. Quick Tips for Cleaning Silver Jewellery

Silver can darken or discolor over time. To bring back its shine:

• Use the silver polishing cloth we provide to gently buff away tarnish.
• For tougher spots, toothpaste or silver cleaning solutions work well when applied with a soft cloth or toothbrush. Rinse thoroughly and dry.
• Remember, if your silver jewellery is gold-plated, avoid frequent polishing with silver cloths to prevent wearing off the gold layer.

8. Caring for Bags and Tech Accessories

• Bags: Wipe with a soft cloth regularly and store in dust bags. Avoid overfilling to keep their shape.
• Tech accessories: Clean phone cases, chargers, and headphones with appropriate wipes, and keep them away from extreme heat or rough surfaces.

Keep Your Accessories Beautiful for Years to Come

Your jewellery and accessories are more than just items—they’re part of your story. By following these friendly care tips, especially for your 925 sterling silver jewellery, you’ll keep your pieces looking gorgeous and lasting longer. A little love and attention go a long way in protecting your treasures and letting your style shine bright every day.