Ever notice the look of your jewelry after you’ve been wearing it for a
while? It tends to dull and fade, sometimes getting cloudy looking. Body Jewelry
does that too. Whatever it is made out of: metal, acrylic, Pyrex glass, or
organic material. Here’s a few tips on how to keep your body jewelry looking
it’s best.
PLEASE NOTE: The following suggestions do NOT sterilize your jewelry. These
methods are strictly to clean your jewelry.
Metal Jewelry
For most metal jewelry, an ultrasonic cleaning is really the best way to go. It
doesn’t sterilize, but it removes any debris on the jewelry (such as dead skin
cells), and brings a luster to the jewelry like nothing else. Most body
piercing-tattoo studios, or a jeweler, will do this for you, but be prepared for
a fee and a wait. Jewelry should be in an ultrasonic bath for at least 20
minutes.
Since most people don’t have an ultrasonic cleaner, however, a good jewelry
cleaner will work well on most metals. Be sure to check the label, to make
certain that your metal can be used with your jewelry cleaner. For 14K Gold
(White or Yellow) and Platinum, jewelry cleaners can do very well, making your
piercing sparkle again. When you are finished cleaning your jewelry, be sure to
rinse well any residue before re-inserting.
It can be difficult to find a jewelry cleaner that is suitable for surgical
steel, but they are out there. More likely, you will find a surgical steel
polish, which doesn’t really clean the jewelry, just makes it shine. The polish
may also leave a residue that can be hazardous to your piercing if not fully
removed prior to insertion, so be certain to rinse your jewelry well after
cleaning. If you cannot find a surgical steel cleaner, your best bet is to have
it professionally done.
Titanium, either anodized (colored) or raw (high polish silver color), is a bit
trickier, as you don’t want to ruin the finish. For titanium, it is best to take
it to a piercing studio and have it professionally done.
In a pinch, a soak in rubbing alcohol will clean the jewelry. This will work for
most types of metals, however, 14k Gold and Platinum can dull, and anodized
Titanium can fade, should the jewelry be left too long in an alcohol bath. As
always, rinse well before you put the jewelry back in the piercing
Once your jewelry is clean, it is always a good idea to sterilize your metal
jewelry. The only way to sterilize jewelry is in an autoclave. Most piercing
studios will sterilize jewelry purchased elsewhere for a fee. Be prepared to
wait, as many autoclave cycles can take up to an hour.
Organic Jewelry
For wood body jewelry, you really don’t want to get it wet. If there are any
dents or other imperfections in it, you may want to sand it a little first, and
get rid of any slivers or dents. Once you have freed your jewelry of any snags
or imperfections, with a damp cloth, wipe the wood gently. Once dry, polish the
wood with jojoba or tea tree oil. Jojoba oil works very well in that it is not
really an oil, but is actually a wax. Jojoba will help fill in any minor
imperfections, and smooth the wood nicely. Tea tree does a wonderful job
polishing the wood, giving it great luster and shine.
Other organics, such as stone, horn, and bone – these can all be washed gently
with a mild soap, rinsed with minimal water and polished dry. Horn and bone can
also be polished with jojoba or tea tree oil to give added sheen. Stone can
simply be polished with a soft cloth.
Pyrex Glass
Caring for glass is actually very simple. Just wash gently with a mild soap,
rinse, and polish to shine. If you choose to, you can also soak in rubbing
alcohol, or even ammonia, and still get a high shine. Pyrex Glass can also be
cleaned ultrasonically as well, should you wish to have a professional cleaning.
Remember to rinse well before reinserting your Pyrex into your piercing. In
addition, Pyrex Glass can be autoclaved, should you want to sterilize your
jewelry.
Acrylic
Acrylic is the most fragile of all body jewelry worn today, so while cleaning,
be gentle with it. Use a mild soap to clean, and rinse in not overly warm water.
This type of jewelry cannot be autoclaved. Should you want it sterile, this is
best done with a UV Sterilizer – however this may not be readily available in
most studios.