How Do You Properly Care for Your Costume Jewelry?

Costume jewelry is a fantastic way to elevate your style without making a big investment. With countless options in shapes, sizes, colors, and designs, these pieces are perfect for adding a touch of personality and flair to any outfit. However, keeping costume jewelry in pristine condition can be a challenge, as it’s more susceptible to tarnish, wear, and damage compared to fine jewelry. If you want your beloved accessories to retain their sparkle and charm for years to come, it’s essential to care for them properly. By following a few simple maintenance tips, you can ensure that your costume jewelry remains vibrant and beautiful for the long haul.

How Often Should You Clean Costume Jewelry?

While many people only clean their costume jewelry when it looks dirty, regular cleaning is key to keeping it shiny and lustrous. For the best results, it’s a good idea to give your pieces a quick clean after each wear. Daily exposure to sweat, hairspray, lotions, soaps, perfume, and even natural oils from your skin can cause buildup over time, dulling the appearance of your favorite jewelry. Pieces that you wear often are especially prone to this, so they may need more frequent attention to prevent tarnishing and maintain their like-new sparkle. By making jewelry cleaning a regular part of your routine, you can preserve the beauty of your collection for longer!

Keep Your Fashion Jewelry Dry to Prevent Tarnishing

Avoid wearing your costume jewelry while doing household chores, bathing, or swimming. The reason? Many cleaning products contain harsh chemicals that can discolor or damage your jewelry when they come into contact. Additionally, chlorinated pool water can react with the metals in your bracelets, necklaces, and earrings, particularly earring hooks, leading to discoloration or rusting.

Avoid Using Jewelry Cleaners on Fashion or Costume Jewelry

Jewelry cleaners designed for real silver, gold, or platinum are typically too strong for fashion or costume jewelry. Since fashion jewelry is often only plated with these precious metals, rather than made from them, the chemicals in standard jewelry cleaners can damage the plating, leading to further deterioration of your favorite pieces.

At DanaTyler, we offer our very own jewelry cleaner, specially formulated to meet the needs of our customers. Our high-quality cleaning solution is designed to gently and effectively clean cubic zirconia, along with most metals and gemstones, without causing damage. Whether you're looking to restore the brilliance of your favorite pieces or keep them sparkling for longer, our jewelry cleaner is the perfect solution to maintain the beauty of your DanaTyler jewelry collection.

Put Your Jewelry on Last and Take It Off First

To keep your jewelry in top condition, put it on after dressing and applying lotions or perfume. When changing clothes, remove your jewelry first. This practice helps prevent your jewelry from coming into contact with lotions, creams, or perfumes, which can lead to tarnishing or color changes. 

As women, we often apply perfume to our pulse points, such as behind our ears, on our necks, and on our wrists. To protect our jewelry—earrings, necklaces, and bracelets—from tarnishing, it's important to put it on after applying perfume or lotion. This also applies to makeup and hairspray, which can affect the longevity of your jewelry.

Taking off your jewelry before changing clothes is key to keeping your pieces safe. Imagine the frustration of your necklace or earrings getting caught in your top or dress while you're removing it, only to find that a beloved piece of jewelry has snapped. This kind of mishap can easily be avoided. Make it a habit to remove all your jewelry, whether it’s a delicate necklace, earrings, or bracelets, before undressing. It’s a simple step that will help ensure your favorite pieces stay intact and beautiful for years to come!

Properly Store Your Costume/Fashion Jewelry

Many fashion and costume jewelry pieces tend to deteriorate faster than they should simply due to improper storage. Unlike fine jewelry, these items often feature materials that are more susceptible to tarnishing, discoloration, and damage when exposed to air, moisture, or friction. Without the right care, such as storing them in a dry, cool place or using separate compartments to avoid scratches, your favorite pieces can lose their shine and appeal over time. By taking just a few extra steps to store your fashion jewelry properly, you can extend their life and keep them looking fabulous longer!

To further protect your fashion and costume jewelry from premature deterioration, it's important to minimize exposure to air, which can cause oxidation and tarnishing. One effective method is to store your pieces in airtight bags, making sure to squeeze out all the air before sealing. For an extra layer of protection, consider wrapping your jewelry in anti-tarnish paper or strips. These specialized materials help absorb moisture and other elements that can lead to discoloration, ensuring your pieces maintain their beauty for longer. Taking these small steps will keep your collection looking fresh and vibrant for years to come!

Clean Your Fashion Jewelry Before Storing

Maintain the fresh and fabulous look of your fashion and costume jewelry by giving them a quick clean with mild soap and water. Afterward, wipe them down and gently pat them completely dry before putting them away. 

Take the best care of your jewelry with DanaTyler's exclusive cleaning products! Our foam pump cleaner, click clean pen, and jewelry bath are specially designed to bring back the brilliance of cubic zirconia and most metals and gems. These easy-to-use tools will help you maintain the shine and sparkle of your favorite pieces, ensuring they look as stunning as the day you got them. Whether you’re cleaning rings, necklaces, or earrings, our cleaning solutions are perfect for keeping your jewelry collection looking pristine. Order yours today and give your jewelry the care it deserves!

Properly caring for your costume jewelry is essential to keeping it looking beautiful and extending its lifespan. From cleaning your pieces after each wear to storing them correctly in airtight containers or using anti-tarnish materials, these small steps make a big difference in preventing damage and tarnishing. By taking the time to maintain your jewelry with the right care techniques, you can ensure that your favorite fashion pieces stay shiny, lustrous, and ready to wear for years to come. Treat your costume jewelry with care, and it will continue to elevate your style effortlessly!