How many times can you wash your hands while singing “Happy Birthday” in a single day? How much hand sanitizer can you squirt in 24 hours? These are questions you never thought you would have to ask, but these are strange times, and getting stranger by the minute.
If you are out and about to the shops for neccesities, you might be wearing your jewellery. Perhaps because you always wear them, or simply that it cheers you up to look down and see them on your body, twinkly steadfast companions at a time when sadness and fear threaten to envelop us.
But rings, necklaces, earrings and bracelets and hand soap (or alcohol-heavy sanitizer even more so) are unhappy bedfellows. Serious cleansers can cause metal to oxidize or stones to become dull and cloudy.
Cleaning your jewels is as essential as cleaning your hands. For example, if you take off your ring and put it back, you can recontaminate your hands again. The same can happen with bangles and earrings.
Here are a few tips you can follow to keep yourself clean and safe:
- Avoid heavy jewellery
It’s best to keep it minimal with jewellery at home. Avoid wearing semi-precious and precious stones and jewellery at home, as they can be tough to clean. - Don’t use a sanitizer
There is a possibility that an alcohol-based hand rub can damage your jewels. Avoid using sanitizer especially on gems, as it can damage the surface. - Take off your jewels before washing
Whether you’re washing your face or hands, it’s best to remove the jewellery first. Germs, soap and even lotion can collect under jewellery items and even behind the stones and diamonds. So, take them off and wash them before wearing them. - Wash it with lukewarm water
One of the best ways to clean jewellery is with a mild soap. The best practice is to remove them, wash them separately with soap and warm water. Now, wash your hands following the 20-second rule and let them dry.
