Jewelry tips « Handbags and Accessories

Organizing Issues, I Need Space! November 23, 2006

Posted by Rex Freiberger in Apartments, Cleaning, Closets, Furniture, Jewelry tips, Lifestyle, Organization, Style, Women, Women's Stuff, handbags.
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Home Storage Ideas to Add More Space

Do you live in an apartment building with small or no storage space? Just because a room is small does not mean you can’t turn it into your dream space. Below are some creative strategies to maximize your space and manage your stuff!

· Examine your room for hidden spaces. You do not have to look for secret doors. Look instead for spaces among your things, above and/or below. Just think of other areas where you can place your stuff.

· The suitcase stack. Typically, you can find vintage suitcases for fairly inexpensive prices at yard sales. Use them to add extra storage space to your home by stacking them up (in a horizontal position) with the biggest at the bottom and the rest placed one on top of each other creating a pyramid of suitcases.

· Make use of folding furniture. If you do not have enough room for a kitchen table, you can use a folding table that is mounted on the wall. You can easily fold it up when you don’t need it.

· Store items under your bed. Obtain a few plastic boxes in which you can place small items. This way you maintain orderliness under your bed.

· Put spare blankets in a bag to increase space.

· Stack dishes on shelves and craft multi-level storage cabinets or utilize a small cubbyhole for cans of vegetables and consommé.

· Dressers are not only meant for the bedroom. Dressers add more storage space. You can also place them in your living room or kitchen. To remove the seemingly bedroom-like impression with the dresser, try painting it a color that matches your living room or kitchen.

· Use shoe racks to organize your shoes. Do not place your shoes under your cabinet. This will only make your cabinet more disorganized.

· Containers: Classify items according to their use and place them in small or large containers. Place all your hair care products in one container and put it near the shower so that it can be easy to reach.

· Be practical yet creative in decorating your space. Build shelves on top of doors or window to add more storage space. You can add small decorative items to make it more attractive.

· You can also put up shelves for small items at the sides of your cabinets. There you can place your shoes, hats or handbags.

How to Clean Jewelry..The RIGHT WAY November 12, 2006

Posted by Rex Freiberger in Cleaning, Gold, Jewelry, Jewelry tips, Silver, Style.
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Your jewelry is an important investment, and it retains its appearance and value longer if it is properly cared for. Here are some tips to ensure the long life of your gems.

How to Clean Gold Jewelry
Gold is tarnish-resistant, although it can get smudged and grimy. Lotions, powders, soaps, even natural skin oils can cover your jewelry and cut down on its brilliance. Jewelry cleaning removes this residue and restores the original luster of your jewelry.

Professional jewelry polishing cloths are an efficacious and inexpensive way of keeping your gold collection glittering and radiant. These treated cotton cloths help to dislodge tarnish and to buff jewelry to a brilliant shine.

Never wear jewelry in the swimming pool or while doing chores. Though gold is said to be non-reactive, the fact is that contact with chemicals such as chlorine in pools or household cleaners will discolor or even damage your gold jewelry mountings.

Even though many commercial products are available to clean gold jewelry, a basic solution of detergent and water goes a long way to restore the radiance of gold, and a soft brush helps to gently clean intricate filigree designs and stones. Every now and again it can be helpful to soak the gold jewelry in a mixure of 1 portion ammonia and 6 parts water for about a minute. Make sure to dry and polish your gold jewelry with a soft cloth or chamois afterwards.

When you are not wearing your jewelry, proper storage is essential. Be careful that pieces don’t tumble together in a crowded jewel box if you want to avoid scratching and loss of radiance. Ideally, store your jewelry in a fabric-lined jewel case, or even a compartmentalized box so that every piece of jewelry resides in an individual soft cloth pouch. In damp climates, storing jewelry in small resealable plastic bags can extend intervals between cleaning, especially for silver.

It’s important to check the stone settings of your jewelry sometimes for any damage to the bezels or prongs. Immersing the jewelry in rubbing alcohol for a couple seconds will restore the gorgeous sparkle to cloudy stones. It’s critical to dry the jewelry thoroughly after cleaning prior to wearing or even storing. Pave set (glued in stones) jewelry should never be soaked in water while cleaning gold jewelry, as these glues, especially those used in older jewelry, are often not waterproof.

Special Gems

Diamonds, sapphires and rubies are relatively hard, though the later two can still sustain scratches. However, pearls, emeralds and opals are softer and need a gentler touch. Emeralds and opals contain water in their matrix and may crack if they are allowed to dry out. Regular application of cod liver oil from the drugstore every few months is recommended by antique jewely dealers. Avoid exposing pearls to vinegar and other acids, as they will dissolve. To clean pearls, simply wipe them with a soft damp cloth. Pearls should be worn frequently to expose them to skin oils. If they dry out, their luster will diminish, so don’t clean them with alcohol or detergents .

Ultasonic Jewelry Cleaners
Do not use them on pearls and opals — they will be damaged.

Silver Cleaner
Line a broad flat dish with tinfoil, then place your silver jewelry in the dish spaced out so they pieces do not touch. Mix together 4 cups of hot water with 4 tablespoons of baking soda. Pour this over the silver and leave for a few minutes until tarnish is dissoved, then rinse and polish with a soft cloth.