With the proper care,
your Keta Handmade pieces
should last a lifetime!
Follow these tips to help you:
First step to caring for your jewelry is to identify what it is made of. Look for hallmark stamps on the inside of rings, backs of earrings, etc. Precious metals will be marked with “925” or “ster” for sterling silver and solid gold items will be marked with the number karat. Base metals like copper/bronze/brass don’t typically have a mark. Gold plated jewelry / gold fill jewelry might not be marked. Refer to where you originally purchased your jewelry if you are not sure.
To remove general dirt, grime, and oils, use warm water with a mild dish detergent. Get into small cracks and crevices with a soft bristle tooth brush, soft paint brush, or cotton cloth. Always rinse and dry completely before storing.
To remove tarnish on solid gold, sterling silver, and gold plated/gold fill: items will usually just need a good polishing cloth to remove tarnish. I like this one. Rub gently in differing directions until tarnish is removed. Do not use anything abrasive on gold plated/gold fill jewelry as it may cause the gold layer to come off quicker and the base metal will show underneath. If that happens, you can always get the pieces re-plated in gold.
To remove tarnish on copper/bronze/brass OR on stubborn tarnish spots on sterling silver: if you’ve tried steps 2 and 3 above and your jewelry is still not clean/tarnish free, there are a few things you can try:
Take equal parts salt and flour in a bowl. Add drops of white vinegar to it until it makes a workable paste. Rub paste onto the surface (or fully submerge) and leave on for about 5-10 minutes. Gently rub off paste and rinse under warm water. Repeat if necessary.
You can also make a paste from baking soda and lemon juice. This paste will bubble slightly when you mix it, but don’t worry, that’s supposed to happen! Once again, gently rub onto your tarnished pieces. If the pieces have a lot of tarnish, you can leave it on the surface for 5-10 minutes. Rinse and repeat if necessary. The baking soda acts as a light abrasive, so don’t rub it on the surface too hard if you don’t want a slightly matte finish.
Last trick that works really well on copper/bronze/brass: ketchup! Yes, I said ketchup! The acidity of the tomatoes and the vinegar in ketchup work really well to remove tarnish and clean your metal. Similar to the other tricks, wipe ketchup onto surface. Leave on for 5-10 minutes if tarnish is bad. Sometimes, buffing the ketchup on gently with an old cloth will also help. Rinse and repeat if necessary.
If your jewelry already has a matte finish that you would like to restore, using a fine steel wool will also help remove tarnish. Keep in mind that this method lightly scratches the surface and gives a matte finish. I like this steel wool.
Always dry your jewelry completely before storing it.
Be wary of harsh chemicals/metal cleaning products as they may ruin the surface of your metal. Also, take extra care when your jewelry has stones in it. Unless they are diamonds, stones (especially porous ones like opals, pearls, etc) are susceptible to damage if you use harsh cleaning agents/leave them soaking in solutions for too long.
Good practices for preventing tarnish in the first place:
Try to store your jewelry away from air and water. It is the contact with air that oxidizes metal. I try to keep my jewelry in an air-tight container when it’s not being worn.
Wiping off jewelry with a cotton / micro fiber cloth before storage will help prevent tarnish. This ensures that you are not storing your jewelry away with oils from your skin, etc.
Put your jewelry on after you get ready. Lotions and makeup will get caught in little crevices and will make your jewelry tarnish faster.
Salt water from the ocean and chlorine from pools will also tarnish your jewelry.
I offer refinishing of any work originally made by me, for free. You just have to pay for shipping.
Please reach out!
wood: all wooden pieces are food safe, unless noted otherwise. Spot clean with a cloth or with dish soap and water, when necessary. Always dry completely. Do not leave submerged in water. Should your piece become dry over time, simply add a food safe oil to the surface to rehydrate it.
plants: unless noted otherwise, all planters are sold with the plants they are pictured with.
Air plant care: these like bright, indirect light. To water, soak them (every 7-10 days) in water for about 15-20 minutes. Be sure to dry them completely before replacing them in their holders - to prevent root rot, dry them upside down with the bases up. I am not a plant expert, but please reach out if you are having any issues!