Cleaning Your Pearls

JEWELRY CARE CLINIC
How to Properly Care for your Pearls

Cultured Pearls are very soft and require special care. You should never toss your pearls on top of or next to other gems in a jewelry box. They should be stored in a jewelry pouch.

Some women's skin is naturally more acidic than others. If a pearl necklace is worn very often some of the pearls will constantly be in close contact with the woman's skin on her neck and the shoulder line. Pearl pendants do not always have such constant contact with a woman's skin. The pearls in the necklace will gradually absorb acid from the skin and the acid will slowly eat into the spherical pearl. Generally over time, the pearl will not only lose its luster but will become barrel-shaped. You can slow this process by regularly wiping the pearls with a soft cloth after wearing them.

Besides being soft, cultured pearls are easily damaged by chemicals such as perfume, vinegar, and lemon juice. Heat can turn pearls brown, dry them out and make them crack. Dry air can also damage pearls. Keep in mind that most safe deposit vaults have very dry air and can damage pearls.

When taking off a pearl ring, grasp the shank, or metal part, rather than the pearl. This will prevent the pearl from loosening and coming into contact with skin oils on your hand.

- Because of their delicate nature, special care must be taken when cleaning.

- Only use jewelry cleaners labeled as safe for pearls.

- Never use an ultrasonic cleaner.

- Never steam-clean pearls.

- Never use toothbrushes, scouring pads or abrasive materials to clean pearls.

- Have your pearls restrung once a year if you wear them often.

- Do not hang pearls to dry.

- Never use (or expose pearls) to dish or wash detergents, bleaches, powdered cleansers, baking soda, or ammonia-based cleaners (like Windex).

- Do not wear pearls when the string is wet. Wet strings stretch and attract dirt, which is hard to remove.

- Take your pearls off when applying cosmetics, hair spray, and perfume, or when showering or swimming.

- Avoid wearing pearls with rough fabrics like Shetland wool.



Cleaning Your Pearls
The best way to clean your pearls is to soak them in warm water and a mild detergent such as Ivory soap. The best way to distinguish between a natural or cultured pearl and an imitation pearl without sending them to a GIA Lab for X-ray is to use the "tooth test". Softly rub the pearl on the edge of your teeth. If it feels smooth, then pearl is most likely an imitation. If the pearl feels rough or gritty, it is probably natural or cultured.

Keep any hairspray and cosmetics etc. away from your pearls. A good rule is to put your pearls on last and take them off first. Whenever you wear your necklace, check to see if the silk the pearls are strung on is stretching and if the knots between the pearls are becoming dirty. If either of these things happens, it's time to restring.


Your cultured pearls are generally strung and knotted using a silk thread. Remember to regularly inspect this silk thread for stretching, fraying or discoloration. If any of these occur take your pearls to your local jeweler for restringing.

After you wear pearls, simply wipe them off with a soft cloth or chamois, which may be damp or dry. Doing so will prevent any dirt from accumulating and keep perspiration, which is slightly acidic, from eating away at the pearl nacre. You can even use a drop of olive oil on the cloth to help maintain their luster.

If pearls have not been kept clean and are very dirty, they can be professionally cleaned by your local jeweler or they can be cleaned using special pearl cleaner. Pearl Oasis sells pearl-safe jewelry cleaner. Be careful using other types of jewelry cleaner or soap. Some liquid soap, such as Dawn, can damage your pearls. Pay attention to the areas around the drill holes where dirt may accumulate.

After washing your pearls, lay them flat in a moist kitchen towel to dry. When the towel is dry, your pearls should be dry.

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