Caring for Your Beadwork and Wirework Jewelry


1. Keep your jewelry out of direct sunlight when not wearing it. The sunlight can cause some colors to fade.

2. Store your beaded jewelry lying flat, as hanging it can cause the thread to stretch.

3. Keep your jewelry away from chemicals and oils, especially if the jewelry contains beads with fancy finishes such as metallic or iridescent. Chemicals and oils may ruin the finish and/or discolor the beads.

4. You can clean your beadwork when it becomes dirty. Use warm water and gentle soap (I use original Dawn dish liquid; Ivory dish liquid would also be ok to use. Don't use any anti-bacterial soap as the chemicals may be too harsh). Wet your hands and lather up some soap (use more or less depending on how large the piece is, but don't overdo it), and then very gently rub the piece between your hands. Rinse well and lay flat to dry on a towel or a couple paper towels. Let it dry thoroughly before putting it away or wearing it again. I find that my wirework pieces pick up more dirt than the beadwork pieces, or maybe it's just more noticeable on the wirework pieces. The wirework pieces can be washed frequently; I wash mine every few weeks. As long as you are gentle with them it should not be a problem. The beadwork pieces should be washed much more infrequently, because they are more fragile. I would recommend no more than a few times a year, but only if necessary. It depends how often you wear the piece.

5. Copper and sterling silver will tarnish over time. Washing these pieces from time to time helps to keep the metal brighter. There are also cloths specially made for storing sterling silver that you can use (I'm not sure if these would work for the copper wire). I actually prefer a bit of tarnish on my own jewelry; I think it lends an antique-y feel. The copper wire seems to tarnish much faster than the sterling silver. I do not recommend using any kind metal polishing agent or cleaner as the chemicals could ruin the beads and/or thread.

6. Do not clean your jewelry with jewelry cleaner; it could ruin the finish of the beads.

7. If your jewelry is made with color-coated copper wire, be very careful when wearing it. The color can be scratched off. Don't wear the piece in the shower or while swimming, because the water and chemicals can cause the color to wear off.