+HOW DO YOU CLEAN YOUR JEWELRY?

Brass is popular metal! I mainly work with brass and gold filled or gold plated items, which also are likely to easily tarnish. Tarnishing can be due to environment factors, such as where you keep your jewelry, so a good first step is to prevent the tarnish by keeping it in a cool and dry place. If you are getting it in water, out in the elements, exposed to moisture or anything from cosmetics to perfumes and lotions, it will effect your jewelry. Some people don't mind this - it develops a gorgeous colour, which gives it more of a run down antique look! I personally love working with coppers and brass items because of how they age and show character.

 

here is a good blog post and explanation of pros and cons of gold and gold plated items... click here. 

 

Here is another article explaining gold and gold filled here

 

If you want your jewelry to look like new again though, you can use a polish, dip or a polishing cloth. Google will tell you where to get a polishing cloth, they are super easy to use to bring your jewelry back to life! Make sure you follow the directions on the product you bought to get the best results.

If you don’t want to use a cloth, There are many different natural and effective ways to take care of your brass jewelry that can eliminate any harsh effects of chemical cleaners. Often the tools needed for these remedies can be found right in your own home.

First and foremost, it is important that you are actually sure that your jewelry item is brass. A general rule of thumb is that if you hold a magnet against your jewelry and it sticks, then the item is not brass but simply brass-plated. It’s also good to know whether your item is lacquered or non-lacquered, which would simply be determining if it is coated with a protective finish or not. If it is lacquered, the jewelry item can generally be simply wiped with a damp cloth in order to clean it.

I would be happy to let you know what your specific piece is made out of! Please just send me an e-mail with a photo, and I can let you know what materials I used for it so you can find the best way to clean it.

Regardless of the natural cleaning remedy you choose, always clean in the direction of the metal’s natural grain. Brass is also prone to retaining water spots, so dry immediately and thoroughly after cleaning. 

△ Warm Water & Soap

This is one of the easiest methods for naturally cleaning brass jewelry. Starting off with warm water and a small amount of liquid dish soap, use your fingers or a soft toothbrush to gently scrub the surface of your item with soapy water. Once you have finished scrubbing off the grime, rinse the item thoroughly until the water runs smoothly over the surface. Be sure to dry the metal well afterwards to avoid water spots and damage.

△ Lemon Juice

There are several cleaning techniques using lemon juice out there to try. I find that using the juice of a lemon works best. Pour one cup of water into a container, then squeeze half a lemon into the water. Stir in a teaspoon of salt until dissolved. Place your jewelry in the mixture and keep an eye on it until it has reached cleanliness. Wash off the item and dry completely.