Most jewelry does not dull because it is low quality. It dulls because of skin oils, hand cream, hairspray, and sweat building up in the tiny gaps around settings and links. Five minutes a month solves almost all of it.
The basic wash
- Warm — not hot — water with one drop of gentle dish soap.
- Soak for 5 minutes, then brush lightly with a soft baby toothbrush.
- Rinse in clean water and dry fully with a lint-free cloth.
- Let it air-dry another 10 minutes before storing.
Moisture trapped in a closed box is what accelerates tarnish, so drying properly matters more than the washing itself.
What not to do
- No toothpaste, baking soda, or bleach — they scratch plating and eat silver.
- No ultrasonic cleaners on pearls, opals, emeralds, or anything glued rather than set.
- No wearing gold-plated pieces in chlorinated pools or hot tubs.
The last on, first off rule
Jewelry goes on after perfume, lotion, and hairspray, and comes off before the shower or the gym. This single habit extends the life of plated pieces more than any cleaning product.
Storage that actually protects
Keep chains hanging or laid flat, store silver in anti-tarnish pouches with the air pressed out, and never mix hard stones with softer ones in the same compartment — they scratch each other.
For pieces built to survive daily wear, see the everyday collection at BLYN.