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caring for your pearls
Pearls are a natural gemstone and are particularly subject to deterioration from contact with chemicals, including components in household cleaners, perfumes, cosmetics and hair care products of all kinds.
Heat can turn pearls brown or dry them out and make them crack. Dry air can also damage pearls. Most safe deposit vaults have very dry air and can damage pearls. Because of their delicate nature, special
care must be taken when cleaning.
Always take your pearls off when applying cosmetics, hair spray, and perfume.
Do not handle or wear your pearls if you have just applied oil or creams to your hands or neck.
Never soak, submerge, steam-clean, or use an ultrasonic cleaner on your pearls.
Never use or expose pearls with detergents, bleaches, powdered cleansers, baking soda, or ammonia-based cleaners.
Never use toothbrushes, scouring pads or abrasive materials to clean pearls.
Do not wear pearls when their string is wet. Wet string stretches and attracts dirt, which is hard to remove.
Do not hang pearls to dry.
pearl cleaners
Only use jewelry cleaners labeled as safe for pearls. AlacarteJewelry.com recommends Joy Mangano’s Miracle Jewelry Cleaner which you can order direct from HSN, the exclusive distributor, at 1 800-846-7800. This cleaner is recommended for pearls, opals,
soft gemstones and cleans the tarnish off silver.
pearl maintenance
After you wear pearls, simply wipe them off with a soft cloth lightly dampened with water and periodically a special pearl cleaner. This will prevent dirt from accumulating and keep perspiration, which is
slightly acidic, from eating away at the pearl nacre. Use a gentle massage action over each pearl to clean them. Pay particular attention to the holes and if they have become extremely dirty you may need
to have your pearls professionally cleaned by a jeweler. Do not use a toothbrush to clean the holes, it can break off the nacre around the pearl hole and shred the string. After cleaning, lay your pearls
flat on the cloth to dry. When the towel is dry, your pearls should be dry and can then be put away. Never put away pearls that are still wet. In any event, you should clean your pearls a few times a year
to restore moisture to the pearls.
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