Cleaning your handcrafted jewelry

Sterling silver, copper and brass do darken when exposed to the air over a long period of time. If you would like to keep your Michele Grady Designs jewelry pieces looking like they did when you first purchased them there a few simple things you can do to keep them looking as good as new! Keeping your jewelry in a sealed, zip lock plastic bag when not in use will minimize tarnishing. You can also use anti-tarnish strips which can be purchased at most department stores or online. The anti- tarnish strips help to retard tarnish when placed in a jewelry box or other container with the jewelry. Using a pre-treated jewelry polishing cloth to buff away tarnish, oils and grime before and/or after wearing each item will help retard the oxidation process and keep your jewelry shining. If you notice an unusual amount of tarnish, a good quality commercial liquid polish and a soft, 100% cotton cloth or gloves will buff it away. DO NOT USE THE LIQUID POLISH ON ITEMS THAT YOU HAVE PURCHASED ALREADY OXIDIZED! You will remove the the patina from the item and you will not be able to get it back. These pieces will not tarnish due to the fact that they are already blackened. Copper pieces that are oxidized will turn a more warmer darker brown color over the years which adds to the beauty of the copper.