Cleaning and Care for Your Jewelry and Piercings

Cleaning and Care for Your Jewelry and Piercings

You just got your new piece of jewelry and can't wait to wear it!  But wait, there's some important steps you need to do first.  Giving your body jewelry regular and proper cleaning will keep your jewelry looking bright, long lasting, and lead to stable and healthy piercings.

PREPARATION AND CLEANING

Before touching your piercings and new body jewelry wash your hands thoroughly with antibacterial soap and warm water, drying your hands with a clean dry cloth. 

Set your new jewelry out, using a clean dry cloth underneath so you don't lose any pieces.  Fill a small container with a solution of antibacterial soap and warm water.  I find empty pill bottles that have been sterilized work well since you can put on the lid to keep clean while it soaks.  Soak for no more than 5 minutes, then rinse in luke-warm water.  Set your jewelry on the clean dry cloth to dry with another clean dry cloth over the top.  Let your jewelry air dry so you don't get any towel lint on it and inside your piercings.  Clean everything thoroughly before putting it in and after taking anything out. Metal, glass, and acrylic pieces clean well with this solution. 

Gemstone and Wood

For gemstone or wood elements use hypoallergenic oil on a toothbrush or a jewelry cloth to clean off dirt. Afterwards, soak in your antibacterial and warm water solution for 3 minutes, rinse, and air dry. 

What to Avoid

Be careful not to use rubbing alcohol to sanitize or clean. This can cause your jewelry to discolor, smell, have residue build up, or damage your skin.  Also, avoid using tissue paper to dry or spot clean.  Tissue has chemicals that can discolor your jewelry and leaves tiny pieces of debris behind.  Avoid using a Q-tip as the fuzz from the head can drift off onto your jewelry, irritating your piercing.

Deep Cleaning - Autoclave

If you need deep cleaning, most jewelry can be autoclaved.  Visit your local piercing shop to get this done.  Do not autoclave jewelry that's been set or wrapped with stones, or wood, bone, and other organic materials. 

Bad Reaction?

If you think your jewelry is causing an allergic reaction remove it immediately, clean thoroughly, and put in another clean piece that is suitable.  

If you think you are developing an infection, you may need to visit your piercer or doctor, and follow some at-home remedies to help get rid of it.  Our next blog will be speaking about eliminating your risk of infection and what to do if you need to get rid of one!

 

Each order comes with cleaning instructions to help remind you of these basic cleaning tips.

 

If you have any questions about cleaning and care for hand made body jewelry, send me an email at info@highpassbodyjewelry.com

 

Kind Regards,

K. Marie Lane

High Pass Body Jewelry

Quality Care

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