| Author | Content |
Tir_Na_Nog
May 13, 2006
9:46 AM Post #2275084
| Do you have a household product that really shines up costume jewelry?
I've bought liquids that smelled to high heaven and had to be scrubbed in for a minimal look of clean.
I've bought special wipes that can't get in the groves of necklace chains.
I just don't know what I can try next? I know this type of jewelry won't last forever but I have some pieces and I'd like to wear them more than just 1 year. But after the 1 year mark and they are tarnished I just chuck them now figuring I can't get them clean.
Also, if you have a tip on cleaning costume jewelry with fake pearls I'd appreciate it. All the cleaners and wipes I've seen say not to use on these, I imagine it'd wipe the shiny finish off.
Thanks in advance!
This message was edited Jun 1, 2006 2:18 PM |
MaVieRose
High Desert, CA
(Zone 8a)
May 14, 2006
3:42 AM Post #2277598
| i do not know about costume jewelry, but i have always use an old toothbrush and any toothpaste available to clean my jewelries. never failed me yet. hope it work for u too. lmk if it does. |
Tir_Na_Nog
May 14, 2006
11:02 AM Post #2278058
| Thanks for the tip. Will try anything! HA. |
PeggieK
Claremore, OK
(Zone 6a)
June 24, 2006
1:24 PM Post #2428104
|
I recently used some baking soda and vinegar on a necklace chain, and it looked much better. I just put it in a small bowl and poured in the vinegar and added some soda. I just swished it around for a few seconds and took it right back out. No soaking. A little soda on a toothbrush with this solution got all the darkness out of the grooves. Rinse in clean water and dry. I think it works best on the nicer quality stuff though. The really cheap stuff sometimes isn't really dirty, just the finish is gone. I've got lots of that junk...LOL. If you're worried about damaging the piece, maybe to dilute the vinegar first might be a good idea. But I didn't see any bad effects on mine. It was costume anyway, so what have I got to lose, it was so dirty looking I never would wear it anyway. |
Tir_Na_Nog
June 24, 2006
3:23 PM Post #2428496
| best tip i've had yet! thanks! |
PeggieK
Claremore, OK
(Zone 6a)
June 25, 2006
12:37 AM Post #2430502
|
Let us know if you try it and how it works for you. I don't know of anyone else that's ever done it, so I guess we'll be the guinea pigs. Seems like I might have read it somewhere years ago, but can't remember...might have even dreamed it...who knows. LOL |
Tir_Na_Nog
June 25, 2006
12:39 AM Post #2430509
| Peggy,
Well I have no qualms with trying it, as you said:
| Quoted: | | I think it works best on the nicer quality stuff though. The really cheap stuff sometimes isn't really dirty, just the finish is gone. I've got lots of that junk...LOL. |
I almost gave up wearing jewelry altogether because I don't want to spend my money on the real stuff (only have a few pieces of that) and the costume just doesn't last. So I'll try it!
This message was edited Jun 24, 2006 11:40 PM |
Tir_Na_Nog
June 25, 2006
12:42 AM Post #2430516
| ANOTHER QUESTION
I used to wear earrings all the time. I would even wear them to bed, studs or small hoops with no problems.
I got my ears double pierced and in the second hole earrings would always make it itch so I stopped wearing them there and they healed over.
These days I find that I can't wear my costume earrings for more than a few days...not even to sleep in it bothers me, but even day wearing of them (any pair) ends up making my ear sore or creates a small pink bump behind the ear. DH says I should be cleaning my earrings but I never did this as a teen. Have I just developed a sensitivity to wearing them? Or is there some solution you use to just soak earrings you've worn in that won't damage them? |
PeggieK
Claremore, OK
(Zone 6a)
June 26, 2006
2:23 PM Post #2435822
|
Hmmm, sounds like me talking there. Mine are the same way. I used to wear earrings 24 / 7 when I was a teen...but can't stand to have them in for long now. Makes my ears so sore.
I don't know if I've developed an intolerance to the metals, or if I've developed an intolerance to any discomfort. As a kid, I'd just bite the bullet and go on. But the older I get, the more EVERYTHING hurts, so I'm a lot less willing to accept anything that I can add to it by putting it on myself. LOL. I used to dress for style and cute, now I dress for comfort and good taste. Same goes for shoes. I used to wear the cutest shoes, even if they were a little uncomfortable. Now I can't stand anything that dosen't feel good on my feet. I must be becomming my mother. Said I never would...but the older I get, the smarter she seems.
The earings would probably not hurt so much if I would wear them long enough to get used to them again. Don't see that happening though. LOL |
Tir_Na_Nog
June 26, 2006
3:24 PM Post #2436047
| Peggy,
Hopefully a DGer will come on here who can tell us what's wrong with our earrings!
It doesn't hurt to have them in, as long as I don't lay down on my earrings...but when I go to take them out the earring hole feels a bit sore and often the next day a small dark pink bump at the hold will have developed behind the ear. So then I just nix wearing them again for weeks.
I to used to be so good about always being fashionable! Never leaving the house without makeup...at least mascara for anything...I look at people like Kelly Ripa and wonder how that girl can wear those high heels all day like that! it always looks nice but I've actually had my arch bones be sore for days from wearing high heels and being on my feet for just a few hours. Do you just have to get used to them?
Or is the ol' saying true: beauty IS pain!? |
ecrane3
Dublin, CA
(Zone 9a)
June 26, 2006
3:29 PM Post #2436066
| Some people are allergic to nickel which is a common ingredient in earring posts...I'm not sure if this is something you can become allergic to over time or not. The way to find out is to get some earrings that are nickel free (high karat gold ones would be fine, or I think silver colored ones that are marked hypoallergenic are also free of nickel) and try those for a while to see if you have the same problem.
Or I know if I go without earrings for a while, my ears will tend to get a little irritated when I occasionally wear them, the way to fix that of course is to wear them more regularly. |
Tir_Na_Nog
June 26, 2006
3:30 PM Post #2436068
| Thanks. =) |
PeggieK
Claremore, OK
(Zone 6a)
June 27, 2006
9:40 AM Post #2438684
|
I have 14K gold earings that make my ears sore too. I think with me, it's just that I got un-used to wearing them. Now, it's just dressy occasions.
You're probably right about wearing them regularly. I think that would help too. If a person can just make it past that first week or so until they get used to it. I think the skin around the pierced holes gets somewhat calloused after a while. |
DanceyTx
Midway, TX
(Zone 8b)
July 5, 2006
8:00 PM Post #2471910
| I wear my earring studs 24/7. Once in a while I will take them out and clean them with just dishsoap and water using a toothbrush and lay them on paper towel to dry. The posts are small and not uncomfortable at all.
Lin |
carmi604
HAIFA
(Israel)
July 5, 2007
3:32 PM Post #3699193
| To revive inexpensive jewelry I put them in a bowl with dishwasher liquid plus water. Two hours of soaking does it, then rinse and dry on towel. However, I never tried this on pearls.
Also, vigorous buffing with eyeglass cleaner cloth is good for instant last minute sparkle. |
Tir_Na_Nog
July 5, 2007
8:34 PM Post #3700820
| Thank-you! |
stovetop
Bunkie, LA
May 13, 2008
9:22 PM Post #4947660
| I have always used toothpaste & a toothbrush. Then my daughter started working at a jewlry store & she said that they used Mr. Clean. So now I use Mr. Clean & a toothbrush. |
