| Making sure that your pearls are well preserved is not | | | | specially formulated for pearl cleaning. |
| difficult. Pearls are usually passed on from one | | | | Do not clean your pearls using jewelry cleaners made |
| generation to the next, so pearls are most often family | | | | for gold or silver. They contain an ammonia base that |
| heirlooms. If you have inherited a string of pearls from | | | | is harmful to your pearls. Do not use bleaching agents, |
| your grandmother or has bought one for yourself that | | | | baking sodas or powdered cleaners. Some liquid soap |
| you're planning to hand over to your granddaughter, | | | | can damage pearls. Use only a mild soap and water |
| you should be taking care of it now, shouldn't you? | | | | solution. |
| Cleaning your pearls is not difficult, but because of their | | | | Use soft, lint-free cloth to get rid of accumulated dirt, |
| delicate nature, you must remember some points | | | | perfume, makeup, body oils or perspiration. Do not use |
| when cleaning your pearls. | | | | a toothbrush or abrasive cloth to clean your pearls. |
| Dangerous Skin | | | | They can scratch the surface and they can also wear |
| Some women's skin is more acidic than others. If | | | | away the pearls' coating, leaving you with marked and |
| pearls are constantly used, they would absorb the acid | | | | plain-looking beads. For more thorough cleaning, use |
| from the skin. Eventually, the acid from the skin would | | | | soft soapy cloth. Then using another damp cloth, gently |
| slowly eat the spherical-shaped pearl and the pearl will | | | | wipe the pearls to remove all soap residue. |
| become permanently damaged. | | | | Clean the drill holes where the dirt particularly collects. If |
| This can be avoided by taking care to wipe the pearls | | | | your pearls are especially old, you could try washing |
| with a soft cloth after every use. If you immediately | | | | them with water and very mild liquid soap. Wipe them |
| wipe your pearls free of acid, this acid will not have | | | | with detergent-free damp cloth and leave them flat on |
| time to seep through and damage your pearls. | | | | a kitchen paper to dry. Once dry, coat them with olive |
| They Beautify and Harm | | | | oil to try and restore their sheen. |
| The products that do most damage to pearls are | | | | After the olive oil treatment, lay the pearls on wash |
| those that women love to wear most: perfume, hair | | | | cloths or a moist kitchen towel to dry. Do not hang |
| spray, cosmetics, and face creams. Thus, if you want | | | | your pearls. When the wash cloth becomes dry, the |
| to ensure that your pearls will last a long time, then | | | | pearls will usually be dry as well. |
| you'd better make sure that your pearls are not | | | | However you clean your pearls and whatever cleaning |
| ecxposed to such cosmetics and fragrances. Set your | | | | agent you use, you should remember to be very |
| hair, do your make up and spray your perfume on | | | | careful as you may be doing your pearls more harm |
| before you even take your pearls out of your jewelry | | | | than good. |
| box. Moreover, remove your makeup. | | | | If your pearls have not been properly maintained and |
| Proper Pearl Cleaning | | | | they are now full of dirt and grime, you should bring |
| When cleaning your pearls, use only jewelry cleaners | | | | your pearls to a trustworthy jeweler or a professional |
| that are safe for pearls. In fact, avoid commercial | | | | jewelry cleaner for professional care. |
| jewelry cleaners altogether unless they have been | | | | |