Earring Care
Distinctive and beautiful handmade earrings in aluminium, copper, silver and glass
Distinctive and beautiful handmade earrings in aluminium, copper, silver and glass
Dirt and grime from such substances as skin creams, perfume, salty air, sulphur, chlorine, fingerprints, hairspray and acidic skin ph will gradually accumulate on earrings and dull their lustre. Never wear it in the shower, swimming pool or hot tub.
EarringArt's copper pieces have a special crystalline wax coating, which will delay, but not prevent the tarnishing process. This wax coating will wear off in time and will be removed with cleaning. If you wish to continue to delay the tarnishing process, a good substitute for this special crystalline wax is car wax.
Please be very careful when cleaning earrings made of mixed materials, as a cleaning method that suits one material may not suit another.
Aluminium earrings are becoming very popular. All they need is a gentle rub with a soft cloth to shine them up. A gentle swirl in mild soap and water also works but don't use abrasives of any kind. Rinse well and dry your earrings well with a soft cloth or give them a blow with a hairdryer on a cool/warm setting.
Sterling silver is an alloy containing 92.5% pure silver and 7.5% another metal, usually copper. The copper content is the reason that silver tarnishes the way it does. A special impregnated silver polishing cloth, available in any jewellers, is by far the best way to clean the silver elements in your earrings.
After a while copper loses its shine and takes on a beautiful warm brown glow of its own. EarringArt's pieces are designed in such a way as to embrace this natural aging process. In order to maintain the radiance of your copper earrings, prepare a mixture of warm water and a few drops of mild soap. Then, dip a soft rag into the solution and wipe them clean. Rinse with clean water and dry gently with a soft cloth.
Warning: Some designs have an added patina in order to give the pieces an antique look. Do not use any strong cleaning or polishing solutions on these pieces as it will remove the special patina and ruin the effect. (A weak solution of washing up liquid and water will be ok.) Textured pieces may be rubbed with a cleaning cloth to restore the highlights.
Niobium does not tarnish and all it needs is a rub over with a soft cloth and soapy water. Rinse and dry.
Crystal can become dulled by body oils, lotions, perfumes, and hairspray. To wash your earrings, use warm soapy water, rinse in clean water and dry thoroughly with a soft cloth. Do not use an ultrasound cleaner.
Glass can be cared for by washing in lukewarm water and mild soap. Be sure to dry rinse your earrings and then dry them with a soft cloth.
To best care for your semi-precious stones, clean them in a solution of water and a few drops of mild soap. A soft toothbrush and a few gentle strokes are all that is needed to clean nooks and crannies, but ensure that you keep the brush away from any metal parts of the earrings to which the stone may be attached so as to avoid scratches. After brushing, rinse your earrings in clean water and dry with a soft cloth.
Birch bark beads are very lightweight and durable. They are naturally water resistant but not expose them to water for long periods. Keep out of extreme heat, such as a hot car in summer, as birch bark reacts to heat and may curl or deform.
Paper beads are very lightweight. They have been glazed to make them shower-proof but they won't survive in the shower or if you wear them swimming.
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