Caring for your handmade treasures

Every piece of the Misolei jewelry collection and accessories are unique and made by hand. Wondering how to care for your handmade pieces? We've put together tips to help you care for your Misolei treasures.

Sterling Silver Jewelry

Storage

To prevent tarnishing, store clean, dry sterling silver in a dry, airtight container like a Ziploc bag. Placing an anti-tarnish strip in the bag will also help prevent tarnishing. Keep all of your pieces separate from one another to prevent scratching.

Don't leave silver jewelry in the bathroom, as humidity can speed up the oxidation process that produces tarnish. Minimize sterling silver's contact with chemicals such as hairspray, body lotion, and cleaning products and do not wear it in the water. After taking it off, clean it with a dry, soft cloth before putting it back into an airtight container.

Cleaning

To clean your solid sterling silver pieces, use a jewelry polishing cloth. Ours is designed with a treated interior cloth for cleaning and an exterior cloth for polishing.

Clean your jewelry with the inside cloth first. Moisten the cloth slightly for extremely tarnished pieces. After your jewelry is cleaned, lightly buff it with the outer cloth to create a rich luster.

If your silver jewelry needs a little more attention, immerse it in warm water with a few drops of mild dish-washing liquid and gently hand wash. A soft toothbrush can be used for more abrasive cleaning when needed. Thoroughly rinse and completely dry the silver before storing, as moisture is one of the factors that contribute to tarnishing. Never clean your jewelry in bleach, as this will break down the metal in your jewelry.

If the jewelry contains gemstones or pearls, do not submerge the whole piece into the water. Instead, use a cotton swab with mild dishwasher liquid to wash only the sliver.

Brass Jewelry

Storage

Natural brass will oxidize over time, turning a darker, more muted color. To maintain a shiny, bright finish for as long as possible, store your brass in a sealed plastic bag with an anti-tarnish strip and keep it dry. Do not wear in the shower or store in a humid environment.

Take off jewelry before showering and before applying perfumes, hairspray, lotions or make-up. Avoid contact with household cleaning products. These can speed up the tarnishing process.

Cleaning

To return brass to its original shine, make a paste of baking soda, water, and lemon juice and gently rub it onto the piece with a soft cloth. Wash the mixture off using running water, then dry and buff with a clean cloth.

Leather & Suede Items

For colorfastness and protection of leather and suede pieces, use a stain and water resistant spray safe for leather. Please follow directions closely to prevent any damage to your piece. As with any fabric, test a small, unseen patch first. Brands such as Scotch Guard, Kiwi, and Fiebing work well.

Gemstones

Cleaning

Gems should be cleaned regularly to keep them looking their best. The safest way to clean them is to soak loose stones (not all gems can be soaked) or jewelry in warm, soapy water and then gently clean with a soft brush. Dry with a soft cloth or air dry (not under strong or direct sunlight). Use only a mild soap if needed and avoid harsh cleaners, such as bleach or ammonia.

Soft porous gemstones, such as pearls, coral, turquoise, how lite or amber, should never be soaked. Simply wipe them down with a clean and moist cloth. Organic gems can be damaged by improper cleaning. Filled gems and dyed gemstones, such as fracture-filled ruby or dyed turquoise, should avoid acids or chemicals when cleaning. Even something as mild as lemon juice can cause damage to the color of gems that have been filled or dyed.