In this guide, we'll cover how to clean your jewelry & tips to help them last longer. We all love our pieces (maybe a little too much!), and taking a few little steps can keep them shiny for longer. We recommend cleaning your pieces once a month to keep them in great shape. 

How to Care for Gold Filled Jewelry

Gold filled jewelry is amazing for everyday wear. You can shower and even sleep in it without the gold rubbing or flaking off, like gold plated jewelry. Usually, gold filled jewelry requires very little cleaning; however, with everyday wear, dirt and dust will accumulate on the pieces. We'll outline the best ways to clean your jewelry, as well as give tips on what to avoid! 

Cleaning gold filled jewelry:

• Use mild soap and lukewarm water and soak your piece in the solution for 5 minutes. 
• Gently scrub your piece with a soft bristled toothbrush or with your fingers. Make sure to really focus on the areas with the most build-up.
• Gently pat your piece dry with a soft cloth.
• Rinse and repeat if needed. 

You can also use a polishing cloth to help restore its original shine. Our favorite is the Sunshine Polishing Cloth - it seriously works wonders! 

Day-to-day preventative care:

Gold filled jewelry is amazing for everyday wear, but avoiding certain things will help prolong its lifetime and shine. Here are some guidelines to follow: 

• Don't apply harsh chemicals directly on the pieces (e.g. hand sanitizer, lotion, perfume, sunscreen). If you are applying these on your body, put your jewelry on after everything is applied.
• Avoid pools and hot tubs, as the chlorine will damage the gold. 
• Avoid swimming in the ocean, as the salt water can harm the gold.
• When you are not wearing your gold filled jewelry, store it in a sealed zip lock bag or jewelry case.

If you do accidentally do these a few times, not to worry! Your pieces are very durable. But - if you follow these guidelines, your pieces will last longer. 

How to Care for Gold Vermeil Jewelry

Like gold filled, gold vermeil is also amazing for daily wear. If you're wondering what the difference between the two are, you can read our blog post for more information - Types of Gold Jewelry. Caring for your vermeil pieces is very similar to caring for gold filled pieces!  

Cleaning gold vermeil jewelry:

• Use mild soap and lukewarm water and soak your piece in the solution for 5 minutes. 
• Gently scrub your piece with a soft bristled toothbrush or with your fingers. Make sure to really focus on the areas with the most build-up.
• Gently pat your piece dry with a soft cloth.
• Rinse and repeat if needed. 

If you notice some spots of tarnishing, you can also use a polishing cloth to help remove the spots. Be careful to not rub too much though, because the cloth is essentially rubbing the gold off. If you are using the cloth for another brand's gold vermeil piece, be very careful as some companies may use less than 2.5 microns of gold.

Day-to-day preventative care:

Here are some guidelines to follow for your gold vermeil pieces: 

• Don't apply harsh chemicals directly on the pieces (e.g. hand sanitizer, lotion, perfume, sunscreen). If you are applying these on your body, put your jewelry on after everything is applied.
• Avoid pools and hot tubs, as the chlorine will damage the gold. 
• Avoid swimming in the ocean, as the salt water can harm the gold.
• When you are not wearing your gold filled jewelry, store it in a sealed zip lock bag or jewelry case.
• If you can, avoid washing your hands/showering with gold vermeil pieces. 

If you do accidentally do these a few times, not to worry! Your pieces are very durable. But - if you follow these guidelines, your pieces will last longer. 

How to Care for Sterling Silver Jewelry

Sterling silver is a very gorgeous and shiny material, but with time, your pieces can oxidize and lose their shine. Here, we'll outline how to clean for your sterling silver pieces and give tips on how to keep your pieces shiny and looking good as new. 

Cleaning sterling silver jewelry:

There are a few methods on how to clean sterling silver. If the previous step doesn't help, use the following step.

• Using a polishing cloth is the most effective way to clean your sterling silver jewelry. Don't use rough cloths, paper towels, or tissues as these can scratch the silver.
• Soap/water method:
• Use mild soap and lukewarm water and soak your piece in the solution for 5 minutes. 
• Gently scrub your piece with a soft bristled toothbrush or with your fingers. Make sure to really focus on the areas with the most build-up.
• Gently pat your piece dry with a soft cloth.
• Rinse and repeat if needed. 
• Baking soda/water method: 
• Mix a small amount of baking soda and water together until it makes a paste.
• Use a pea sized amount on your jewelry and gentle scrub (this can be done with a soft-bristled toothbrush).
• Rinse after with warm water.
• We recommend this option if you are having a difficult time removing the tarnish with the steps above.

Day-to-day preventative care:

• Don't apply harsh chemicals directly on the pieces (e.g. hand sanitizer, lotion, perfume, sunscreen). If you are applying these on your body, put your jewelry on after everything is applied.
• Avoid pools and hot tubs, as the chlorine will damage the gold. 
• Avoid swimming in the ocean, as the salt water can harm the gold.
• When you are not wearing your sterling silver jewelry, it's very important to store it in a sealed zip lock bag or jewelry case. If it is left out, it will oxidize with air and tarnish. 
• Put your jewelry on last when getting ready! Perfumes, lotions, and some cosmetics can accelerate tarnishing. Let these items settle into your skin before putting on your jewelry. 

Following these guidelines will prolong the lifetime of your favorite pieces and keep them beautiful for years to come! If you have any questions regarding maintaining or cleaning your jewelry, let us know at support@simpleanddainty.com! Enjoy your pieces!