Adding big and bold fashion jewelry to your ensemble is an easy way to show off your inner sparkle, and it's all about that upscale look at an affordable price. Sometimes called costume jewelry, fashion jewelry requires special care to prevent damage and maintain a superb sparkle. For pieces that you only wear from time to time, we recommend cleaning these before storing them away; however, for pieces you wear more often, a good rule of thumb is to clean them monthly.

 

 

Getting Started

Because fashion jewelry often uses glue to keep all the beautiful details and pieces perfectly in place, you have to be extra careful during the cleaning process. Some fashion jewelry made with glass, beads or stones can be especially delicate. Before you begin cleaning, examine each piece for loose stones.

You will need the following items to start cleaning:

  • One bowl of warm water
  • Polishing cloth
  • Soft, absorbent cloth

Step 1

Dampen the polishing cloth in a warm bowl of water and gently wipe your fashion jewelry using as little water as possible.

wiping a costume jewelry ring clean

Step 2

Dry your jewelry with the soft, absorbent cloth.

Drying off a costume jewelry ring

Step 3

Allow your jewelry to air dry for several minutes before wearing or storing.

Clean Your Fashion Jewelry with JTV's Exclusive Cleaning Essentials

If you’re looking for an even more thorough cleaning for your costume jewelry, we recommend using our JTV Cleaning Essentials Jewelry Care System. This system is a tested formula to super-clean your jewelry in just a few steps, and we love that it's gentle enough to use on costume jewelry styles.

Start by opening the cleanser and pulling out the basket inside the container. Sit your jewelry on the strainer-like surface and slowly let the basket down to the bottom of the container. Let your jewelry soak in the cleanser for about two minutes. After two minutes, slowly pull up the basket and remove your jewelry. We recommend only cleaning one piece of jewelry at a time.

Next, you'll want to take the small touch-up brush and gently clean the surface of your jewelry. Pay special attention to hard-to-reach areas. Rinse jewelry carefully with lukewarm water and blot dry with a soft, dry cloth.

After cleaning, you'll want to use your Cleaning Essentials polishing cloth and rub gently to remove any residue and add a finishing shine. Be aware of any loose stones that may need to be reglued after cleaning.

For more information about each product and its ingredients, visit https://www.jtv.com/help/jewelry-cleaner.

JTV Jewelry Cleaning Essentials System

More Tips to Care for Fashion Jewelry

  • To prevent damage or discoloration, remove fashion jewelry when swimming, entering a hot tub, bathing, doing a strenuous workout or cleaning with harsh chemicals.
  • Apply any perfumes, hair spray, makeup, or lotions before putting on fashion jewelry pieces. This allows them to settle into your hair and skin and avoid affecting your jewelry.
  • Store pieces separately to prevent damage.
costume jewelry

Erin Smith

Erin enjoys empowering fellow jewelry lovers with the knowledge and tools to care for their jewelry and keep it sparkling like the day they purchased it.

Read more about Erin on her author page

Erin Smith