Cleaning Jewelry

Cleaning Copper Jewelry

I have cleaned a lot of copper in my years of making jewelry. Before I get started with this Blog post…..copper I am talking about is not coated with any anti-tarnishing coating. If it has a anti-tarnish coating on it, it doesn’t change color. This coating allows the copper to stay that color until such time that it warn of or eaten away from chemicals. Those chemicals being pool water, sea water, perfumes, lotions, soaps and for some people body chemistry. Body’s have the ability to change the chemistry of the metal. But that a whole lesson in Metallurgy. Which in college is what I to read to fall asleep.

In creating jewelry and buying copper I am looking at what we jewelries term raw copper, or BARE copper.

Some copper cleaning recipes are meant for your cooking pans, and shouldn’t be used to extensively, or at all. Acids rather from ketchup’s or vinegar will and could damage to your stone, or pearls. That acid will eat away your lovely stone or pearls. I have even had this method remove a baked on finish that gives a bead a jewelry term a Picasso finish. Baking soda does neutralize it (acid), but sometimes that could be to late. If applied this way, it must be done with no stones or pearls, or painted brushed on in copper area’s only and not touch stone or pearls. Which is really difficult

Stones and pearls should be treated separate from the metal. A percentage of copper is in sterling to make it stronger. So this is why you can treat copper like sterling. BUT, I say this as the artist that alters the color of copper to get the artist effect I want. So the dark effect I create to maintain, but remove the lotions and such.

The other issue with using acid like that is that it will remove a layer of metal and eventually become thin and brittle. Ask me how I know that?

Now to clean said copper has a couple options. And note this will also remove a layer of metal. BUT, over many lifetimes. If you wear it and you piece turns green. I heard, by DR OZ, that your body is lacking in copper. Apparently we all need it. I must have a lot in my system, because I haven’t had this reaction. Dr. Oz said that mushrooms, in your diet will help with that.

YES< I can here the groan from here, yes my dear friend mushrooms. You know who you are, we have been friends long enough and I know you don’t like mushrooms. Copper cooking pans could also be used, but I am sure those would be more copper on the exterior of pan. And not to say they are VERY expensive.

I am assuming by now that your reading this blog because you have or plan on buying copper jewelry.

And, while copper jewelry does require more care than sterling, and certainly  more than gold jewelry, it's can be easy to maintain. ONE- A simple, quick bath in a bit of Worcestershire Sauce (yes, you read that right), or a quick brush with a SUPER FINE steel wool pad (affordable and easily available at any diy store) is all that's needed to maintain a beautiful finish. (Avoid using steel wool on stones and pearls). You can rinse Worcestershire Sauce, but dry thoroughly. If jewelry is worn frequently, an occasional gentle scrubbing with Dawn dish liquid beneath warm water will keep your copper jewelry clean. Even a soft toothbrush. Just dry thoroughly and store in a sealed container when not worn to slow the oxidation process. Living in the Midwest, humidity is what is the case for all tarnish. Hence (I am guilty of this) do not store your jewelry in a bathroom. This method will help maintain the dark color of copper.

Most of my costumers clean there copper like they do there sterling silver. With a tarnish remover cloth. There are many on the market and I am not here to sell you another cleaning cloth. But as a someone that cleans there jewelry for selling. I use a couple of methods.

Two- is a sunshine cloth, (yellow hence the name) if you do an internet search you will find a lot of options. One will do for a single persons copper and sterling inventory. Once the sunshine cloth becomes black (all over) on both sides, you can put them in the sun for a day and get a few more uses out of it until your new one arrives. A few more uses, but that will give you time to order another. I was surprised by this myself, but when you go through polishing cloths like I do you will try anything. The cloth doesn’t go back to it’s original color, it just fades he tarnish on the cloth.

Three - is with experience in sell retail, it was required to dust and polish a lot. Sticky fingers from kids, oils from hands. You see tarnish and cosmetic cover jewelry doesn’t sell. So in that case with my trusted maid, (ME) I used a mild version that I would recommend—NORWEX WINDOW CLOTH!!!! Yes, I am not a sales rep, but I have even seen these on Etsy for 16$. But these are for light duty, you could use these as you would your glasses, polish before wearing.

Fourth - home option is the glass dish, aluminum foil and warm water backing soda. The aluminum foil shiny side up and baking soda create a chemical reaction and draws the tarnish to the foil. Google this question and you will see a lot of information. Just check if your stone could handle this, I wouldn’t use it with any pearls. The baking soda may eat the pearl, fake or real. I have to do some more reasearch on this because it’s suppose to be a neutralizer.

I am sure I will write more about this subject, but for now. Think, would I want this chemical next to my skin?

Thank you! Twisted by Design