How to clean pearls at home, simple and effective techniques. How to clean pearls at home: useful tips

- one of the few gems of organic origin. Beautiful, but vulnerable, sensitive to external stimuli. However, it is not difficult to care for pearls at home. Natural and cultured material do not differ in this respect.

Natural or farm-grown pearls are fragile and must be stored properly.

Microclimate

It is created without problems by the conditioner, but this is not always possible. Owners comply with the following conditions to the extent possible.

Humidity. The air in the room should not be dry, otherwise the pearl will begin to dehydrate, and the aragonite will peel off. But if there is a lot of moisture, the stones will become cloudy. In order for the humidity level to be optimal, on a hot day or during the heating season, a container of water is placed near the box.
Temperature. We need an average one - the stones will crack from the heat, they will become cloudy from the cold.
Sun. The mineral is afraid of direct sunlight. Prolonged exposure to the sun makes the stones dull, yellowish.
Dust. From it, microcracks appear on the surface of pearls.
Tobacco smoke. Pearls are contraindicated in a room in which they smoke. He dies from tobacco smoke.

If the jewelry is rarely worn, it is rubbed with velvet from time to time. This keeps the pearly shine.

Storage

As a container, a plastic bag or other sealed packaging is excluded - they prevent the penetration of moisture, which causes the pearls to suffocate and the mother-of-pearl to fade. 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 exclude external influence;
spacious, where even a large necklace will fit freely, and the locks do not come into contact with the beads;
tightly closed to create a barrier to dust or light;
lined with soft natural material.

It has no place for other jewels. It is also the best solution for transporting stones.

« How to clean pearls at home?»- this question worries beauties who prefer to wear such jewelry.

Pearls are a truly unique type of precious stone, which is extracted from the shells of mollusks that live in the seas and rivers. Pearls are used to make jewelry. Owners of natural pearls should know how to properly clean and store them so as not to damage the jewelry.

Humanity has known about pearls since ancient times. There is evidence that Queen Cleopatra had two of the largest pearls in her earrings. Quite often you can find jewelry in which pearls are present.

Pearls can be found in precious items made of gold and silver. This jewelry looks very impressive, whether it be a necklace, earrings or a brooch with pearls.

There are 2 types of precious products: natural pearls and artificial ones. Today, most women who wear pearl jewelry have artificial gemstones.

Despite this, artificial pearls need to be looked after no less responsibly than natural jewelry. In order to preserve the extraordinary brilliance and whiteness of the product for as long as possible, it must be stored very carefully and handled delicately.

Due to the fact that it consists of 2% water, with its lack, the product loses moisture over time, the pearl begins to fade and exfoliate. Excess water can also adversely affect the condition of the jewelry: it will become cloudy, lose its natural whiteness and stop shining.

4 things are bad for pearls:

Too bright lighting.
Heat.
Excessive humidity in the room.
Dust particles.

The mother-of-pearl layer of a pearl directly depends on the types of mollusks, the habitat and the time spent in the shell. Accordingly, the longer the pearl is in the shell, the thicker the mother-of-pearl layer will be. In terms of quality, such a pearl will be better than those that have spent a much shorter period in the shell.

The neck of absolutely any woman will be very attractively decorated with a pearl necklace complete with earrings made of this precious stone. In order not to harm the product dear to the heart, as well as the unique image of the owner, you need to clearly know how to properly clean the pearls in the walls of the house without harming the product.

For many centuries, pearls have been valued for their beauty and rarity; they serve as a symbol of femininity and impeccability. Due to the fact that the beads of this precious jewelry are afraid of dust and pollution of various nature, they are very demanding in care and very fragile.

You can find out how to quickly and easily bring jewelry back to its original form in the next section.

How to clean pearls?

To date, there are a large number of all kinds of tips and recommendations on how to properly clean pearls (natural or artificial). Some of them are really very useful and priceless, but others (untested) can damage pearls.

Before you start cleaning pearls yourself, you must first clearly know what kind of product you have (natural or artificially obtained). After that, it is necessary to choose the right method for cleaning pearls and further care for them. It is also worth providing appropriate storage conditions for the product. After all, even the most delicate care without proper storage will be reduced to zero. Pearls may lose their luster and become yellow in color.

The environment equally affects both natural pearls and its artificial counterpart.

The following external factors can spoil the appearance of pearls:

perfumes and various cosmetic components (essential oil and others);
showering in jewelry, frequent contact with hot water;
external impact on the decoration of ultraviolet rays and aggressive detergents;
constant contact with dirty skin and improper care (untimely cleaning of the product from contamination).

To clean gold or silver pearl earrings, do not use the following tools:

acid, which contains aggressive components;
cleaning or dishwashing detergent, powder and cream;
coarse brushes, washcloths or grater;
baking soda and other folk remedies (hydrogen peroxide, ammonia, vinegar);
means for bleaching (stain remover, bleach);
toilet water or perfume;
hot or cold water.

In order for the product to always look great, it is necessary to remove dirt from it in a timely manner so that they do not accumulate in a thick layer..

Simple Ways

To clean pearls easily and quickly, you need to know some simple ways, using which you can return the original shine and whiteness to the jewelry in a short time. It is necessary to act as carefully as possible and be extremely careful, then an excellent result is definitely guaranteed.

Here are 4 effective ways to clean pearl beads:

For this method, you will need a soapy solution of lumpy baby soap and water.

For this you need:

Prepare a solution of baby soap and water (you can use any shampoo instead of soap).
Lightly dip a cotton pad into the solution.
With gentle movements, wipe the pearls on the necklace or beads.
For a short amount of time, dip earrings or a ring in a soapy solution.
Remove items from soapy water.
Gently wipe the pearl beads dry, finally removing traces of soapy water.

To restore the decoration of the lost shine, high-quality olive oil will help.

You need to do the following:

Drip a little oil on a cotton pad.
Carefully process the product with them.
Remove any remaining olive oil with a paper towel.

A great way to remove dirt from jewelry is to clean with potato starch.

Clean the beads like this:

A small amount of starch is poured onto a small piece of velvet fabric.
A pearl product is placed there and the fabric is wrapped.
Then carefully clean the product with your fingers until visible contamination is completely eliminated.
After that, the pearls are rubbed with a soft napkin or cloth, removing the remnants of potato starch.

Fourth.

Brooches and rings with pearls, the original brilliance and whiteness will help to return finely ground salt.

This will require:

Take a small piece of linen fabric.
Pour a handful of edible fine salt into it.
Wrap the decoration in cloth.
Rinse in non-hot water until the salt is completely dissolved.
The jewelry should be dried.

It is necessary to dry the jewelry only in a horizontal form, placing a dry, well-absorbing fabric under the bottom. It is not recommended to hang the product vertically because in this position the thread can stretch.

Special funds

In order for a pearl product to serve as long as possible and always look like new, you can use special products for cleaning pearl jewelry at home.

These may include cleaning agents such as:

Product name	Method of application and dosage
jewelry paste	On a cotton pad or a dry soft cloth, add a small dose of special jewelry paste for jewelry. Gently rub the pearl beads with it. Then the product should be well polished to shine and white pearls. After that, the pearl jewelry must be wrapped in velor or suede fabric and stored in it until the next publication.
Dry tooth powder	Pearl beads are placed in tooth powder, then lightly moistened in malic or hydrochloric acid. Then you need to let the water drain from the product. Do not rub the beads with a rag.
Acetic or hydrochloric acid	Jewelers advise cleaning pearls with a weak solution of hydrochloric or acetic acid.

Jewelery paste is often not recommended, but for rare use it is fine.

These methods of cleaning pearl products are simple, and anyone can use them. But it is always necessary to remember that pearls are very fragile (both natural and artificial), so manipulations should be carried out very carefully and carefully.

Product care

As mentioned earlier, pearl products are very delicate, requiring careful care. If you follow the recommendations of experts in the field of jewelry, you can extend the life of your favorite jewelry for a long time, giving the image elegance and impeccable taste.

Here are some of them:

Do not expose to moisture. It is undesirable to wear a product around the neck immediately after taking a bath or shower. As mentioned earlier, excess moisture is detrimental to decoration. If the weather is rainy outside, pearl jewelry should be discarded. Together with raindrops, harmful acids contained in atmospheric precipitation may well get on the product. Under the influence of such a substance, the mother-of-pearl shell of pearls will gradually lose its luster and become dull and cloudy.
Do not wear in too hot season. If you are planning a trip to exotic countries where the air temperature in summer reaches +40-45 ° C, then it is better to leave the decoration at home right away. After all, the sun, like water, is the worst enemy of pearl beads. From too bright sun and extreme heat, pearls lose their luster and may begin to crack.
Store in a dark place. Jewelry should only be stored in a dry and sun-protected place.
Do not use aggressive substances or hard brushes. For the cleaning procedure, do not use substances that contain acid and alkali. Abrasive cleaners can also damage the outer pearly surface of pearls. Metal brushes or coarse washcloths can scratch the pearl's delicate mother-of-pearl layer.
Do not wear coarse woolen clothing with the product. If you decide to wear a pearl necklace or beads around your neck, you should not choose an outfit made of woolen fabric for this occasion. A product made from this type of fabric can damage the decoration.
Handle the product with a damp cloth. After returning home from a social event or a party, pearl jewelry should be wiped with a damp cloth to remove accumulated sweat and sebum.
Take off the necklace, holding on to the lock. When the necklace needs to be removed, you should always hold on to the metal clasp, in no case should you take on the beads with a thread.
Put on the product after completing makeup and hair. This must be done so that the components of cosmetics and hairspray do not accidentally get on the jewelry.
Periodically update the thread on the product. On a pearl necklace, from time to time it is necessary to change the thread and, if possible, separate each bead with a knot.

If the product has knots between pearls, they will protect the jewelry from constant friction. The knots also protect the beads from dirt getting inside.

Whitening

For the procedure of whitening pearls and eliminating traces of sweat and fat, you can use the following tool.

You need to take 1 large spoonful of rare soap (or detergent) and dilute with 1 glass of hot water. Then you need to prepare the necessary container for the whitening procedure. Soap must be thoroughly mixed with water to form a soapy foam solution. After that, the pearls, which have lost their whiteness, are dipped into the solution and, with the help of a soft cloth, the accumulated dirt and yellowness are carefully removed from the product. Then the necklace is removed from the soapy solution and rinsed under running water, dried and the beads are wiped with a dry cloth. Finally, a cotton pad or napkin is moistened with nail polish remover and the product is treated. This manipulation will fix the action of the composition and allow you to return the lost whiteness to the product.

Gradually, the pearl product acquires a yellowish tint. It appears due to improper care of the jewelry, if drops of sweat and fat were not removed in a timely manner, or for a number of other reasons.

If you use the proposed method for bleaching pearl jewelry, then the yellowed product can return the lost whiteness and add shine.

Storage

For the proper storage of pearls, there are also certain recommendations, following which you can extend the life of the product.

Let's dwell on some of them.

Even a small amount of dust that settles on the product over time can leave small cracks and scratches, which will subsequently lead to a loss of luster. Jewelry should be stored in a special box, inside which contains a soft cloth. Pearls should not be kept together with other jewelry.
Try your best to protect your pearls from dust and dirt. Timely cleaning of the product is a rather laborious process that requires a certain amount of time, but nevertheless it must be carried out periodically. Jewelers do not recommend cleaning pearls often.
The condition of the skin of the owner of the jewelry directly affects the appearance of the pearl. Simply put, if the owner of a pearl necklace has an acid-base balance, then the jewelry will absorb acid from the body over time. This will lead to the gradual disintegration of the mother-of-pearl layer of the beads. A ring and earrings with pearls are not so susceptible to oxidation, beads and a necklace take the main blow. Timely rubbing of pearls in the manner described earlier will stop the process of decay of the outer and inner layers of pearls.
If the hostess prefers to store jewelry in a safe, then you definitely need to make sure that there is a sufficient level of humidity in it so as not to harm the product.
It is not recommended to visit a swimming pool or a gym in a pearl necklace. Chlorinated water adversely affects the pearl layer of the product, and sweat drops create excessive acidity, which will also adversely affect the appearance of the jewelry. You should also not swim in the sea in a pearl product, as salt water can ruin the thread on the beads, as a result, they will last much less.

The most important thing in caring for pearls is wearing them. It does not matter at all what kind of pearl product you have (gold or silver). In contact with a clean body, it can "come to life" right before our eyes.

Pearl jewelry emphasizes the femininity and elegance of every girl. But in order not to spoil your appearance and the overall impression of the image, you need to know how to clean pearls and do it in time. In this article, we will reveal all the secrets of how to cope with such a task with the help of improvised means in 10 minutes.

What is the difficulty of cleaning pearls?

For the manufacture of jewelry, 2 types of pearls are used - natural and artificial. The first is very demanding in terms of care, the second is somewhat easier in this regard, but still can suffer if the wrong approach is taken.

When exposed to the environment, both types of stone begin to fade, fade, and even crack, delaminate or change color. This process can be triggered by many factors:

essential oils from cosmetics and perfumes;
too hot water and generally constant wetting of jewelry;
exposure to ultraviolet and solvents;
frequent contact with dirty skin without cleaning after wearing.

How to clean pearls?

Since the decorations from this material are very demanding in their care, only gentle products can be used to clean them. These include:

fine-grained table salt;
baby soap or shampoo;
warm water;
starch;
olive oil.

You will also need:

soft fabric (flanel or cotton with good moisture absorption);
cotton pads to apply and remove the cleaner;
corduroy or suede for wrapping jewelry.

How can you not clean pearls?

In order for the cleaning procedure to really benefit, and not nullify all efforts, please note that you cannot clean pearls using such means:

aggressive acids;
household cleaners - powders, creams and concentrates;
abrasive brushes, sponges, graters;
soda and other universal cleaning powders from the “folk remedies” category;
bleaching agents - peroxide, ammonia, vinegar;
perfumes and toilet water;
hot plain water.

Important! Please note that all these substances can lead to scratches, discoloration of pearls and even crumbling. Therefore, do not experiment, but if you decideclean pearls at homestrictly adhere to these recommendations.

How to clean pearls at home?

You can cope with such a task in just a few minutes, if you use the right tools. Take note of one of the suggested methods below and use it regularly for self-cleaning. But follow the procedure as carefully and carefully as possible!

Method 1

If there is a special jewelry paste available or you have the opportunity to buy it, use this tool. For this:

Apply a small amount to a clean, soft cloth.
Gently rub the beads.
Polish to a shine.
Wrap in velor or suede until the next time you wear this decoration.

Important! Use this paste infrequently and very carefully. The active substance of this product makes it easy to remove all traces of dirt and temporarily restore shine to the jewelry, but at the same time reduces the life of the stones.

Method 2

This is the simplest option. For cleaning, you only need baby soap or shampoo, which can be found in the house. Proceed in this case in this way:

Prepare a mild soap solution.
Soak a cotton pad in it.
Gently rub the beads if you have a necklace or choker.
Dip the items in soapy water for a few minutes if you are cleaning a brooch, ring or earrings.
Take out the decorations.
Wipe gently to dry, removing soap residue on the surface.

Method 3

If your favorite pearl jewelry has lost its luster, a quality olive oil can help bring it back. In this case, do this:

Apply the oil to a cotton pad - just a few drops.
Rub the decoration.
Remove any remaining oil with a soft paper towel.

Important! Do not use other types of oil to clean pearls - they will not help restore shine, and it will be very problematic to remove fat from them from beads.

Method 4

An excellent tool for removing any dirt from jewelry is ordinary potato starch. Clean your pearls like this:

Sprinkle the powder on a piece of velvet.
Wrap pearls in it.
Wipe until dirt deposits are completely removed.
Rub with a clean, soft cloth to shake off any remaining starch.

Method 5

Fine salt will help restore the attractiveness of the brooch and pearl rings. For this:

Take a soft piece of linen.
Put a pinch of salt in there.
Wrap your jewelry in fabric.
Rinse in warm water until all salt is dissolved.
Dry the decoration.

Important! Do not wash pearls strung on a string under water - it can become thinner under pressure and break.

So that you as little as possible have to wonder how to clean pearls at home, follow the simple rules for wearing and caring for such jewelry:

Store all pearl items in a separate box, wrapped in velor or suede. Separate from all jewelry made from other precious metals and stones.
Do not wear such products with coarse woolen clothing.
After each wear, be sure to wipe the jewelry with a slightly damp cloth to remove all traces of sebum.
When removing a necklace or necklace, grab the metal lock, not the beaded thread itself.
Wear jewelry after you have completely finished your makeup and hair to prevent makeup from getting on the surface of the pearls.
Protect pearls from direct sunlight and high humidity.
On the beads, change the thread regularly and separate the beads with knots.

Pearl jewelry is extremely popular among the female half of the population. Pearls are unique and perfect in their beauty. Just imagine that these perfectly round pebbles are the creation of the deep sea, because this is truly a miracle of nature. Of course, now pearls are not only natural, but also cultured, but they do not lose their beauty, but only gain fans. Pearl jewelry is worn by ladies from high society, ladies who know their own worth. You can look at the stars of the screen and see for yourself: Princess Diana, Marilyn Monroe, Elizabeth Taylor, Cameron Diaz and Milla Jovovich prefer pearl necklaces and earrings. They say that even Cleopatra herself loved to wear pearls!

To preserve the beauty and brilliance of pearls, you must handle them very carefully: any careless attempt to wash a pearl necklace with detergent will result in you having to say goodbye to it. Probably, every girl who has pearl items in her jewelry box has a question about how to clean pearls at home, because no one wants to spoil the product.

What not to do when cleaning pearls at home
Pearls tend to become cloudy and lose their natural luster due to the fact that it contains only two percent water. On the one hand, high temperature leads to "dehydration", overdrying of pearls, cracking and delamination of its coating. On the other hand, with high humidity, the pearls fade, fade and eventually become completely unattractive. Yes, pearls are very picky, but still there are a few simple and affordable rules for cleaning pearls that all owners of pearl jewelry can follow.

To begin with, it should be noted what cannot be done with pearls. So, in no case should pearls be cleaned with a brush or washcloth. Any hard matter will simply scratch the coating, and you obviously do not want this. Do not use bleaching detergents, solutions with ammonia, soda, strong vinegar in cleaning pearls. It is also impossible to allow eau de toilette and perfume to get on pearl jewelry, otherwise, over time, you can get a red necklace instead of a pleasantly milky one, because essential oils tend to leave greasy marks on mother-of-pearl. It is also not recommended to take water procedures in pearl jewelry.

How to properly clean pearls at home?
All you need to remember when you are going to clean your pearls at home is the rules of care and accuracy. Pearl dirt is removed with a light soapy solution and a cotton pad. A soapy solution can be made using baby soap, mild baby shampoo and warm water. Pearl beads and necklaces should be wiped with a cotton pad soaked in soapy water. Earrings, brooches and rings can be dipped into the solution for a few minutes, then removed and wiped with a dry cotton swab.

To make pearls shine again, use extra virgin olive oil. To do this, apply a few drops of olive oil to a cotton pad and wipe the pearl jewelry. Remaining oil can be removed with a paper towel, remember not to use hard materials! In addition, it is not recommended to use other types of oils for cleaning pearls - you will not return the shine to pearls, but greasy traces will remain.

Another well-known way to clean pearls at home: if you need to clean your jewelry from dirt and water, use potato starch - this is a proven remedy. To do this, pour a little powder on the velvet fabric and wipe the pearl product.

Tarnished pearls with traces of fat can really be brought back to life in the following way: wrap the pearl item in a soft linen cloth, after pouring a teaspoon of finely ground salt into it. Rinse in water until the salt dissolves, then dry. Note - the product does not need to be rubbed with salt, otherwise it can be damaged! It is not recommended to use this method to clean beads and bracelets strung on a thread: it can become thinner from water and break.

How to keep pearl products in their original form?
It's simple! After each time you wear your pearls, wipe them with a damp, soft cloth to remove any traces of sebum. It tends to gradually soften the mother-of-pearl coating of pearls - over time, the pearls will crack and shine. If you have pearl beads, it is recommended to separate individual pearls with knots on a thread. So they will not come into contact with each other and scratch the coating. Often change the thread on which the pearls are strung. It is recommended to do this with a frequency of one to three years. Store pearl jewelry separately from the rest, it is better if they are wrapped in a soft linen or velvet cloth. With these simple rules, you will keep the beauty and brilliance of your pearl jewelry for years to come!