I forgot how to adult: How to clean enamel jewellery

What girl doesn’t like flowers and Karen Walker?

I have always loved Karen Walker jewellery. In fact, I don’t know a single Kiwi girl who doesn’t own a piece. My favourite range of her designs would have to be the botanical collection. When my Grandma passed away, I bought myself the KW wreath ring and I hardly ever take it off.

While I love the delicate white enamel inside the flowers, I don’t love how dirty it gets all the time.

You can see here just how dirty my ring is.

After trying many ideas on cleaning enamel jewellery (and bemoaning my general lack of adult awareness on the smaller things), a jeweller friend told me an easy at home way to clean enamel jewellery without damaging it.

YOU WILL NEED:

• An old pair of nylon stockings
• A bowl of warm water
• Dishwashing liquid
• A soft tooth brush
• A soft cloth
• Your sink and taps

1. Carefully place your jewellery inside the stocking. I like to tie a knot in the stocking to make a sort of pouch to stop my jewellery from falling out.
2. Fill your bowl about 1/2 way with warm water and add a few squirts of dishwashing liquid. Mix the dishwashing liquid into the water until soapy. Yay! Bubbles!
3. Carefully place the nylon pouch with your jewellery in it, into the bowl. Without the jewellery touching the bottom or sides of the bowl, give it a swirl around in the warm, soapy water a few times then leave to soak for 10 – 15 minutes.
4. Remove the stocking from the bowl, and carefully place your jewellery piece onto the soft cloth. With the toothbrush, gently scrub any remaining bits of dirt away.
5. Making sure that your sink is plugged, run some lukewarm water from the taps and rinse off your jewellery
6. Using a dry section of your soft cloth, dry and polish your enamel jewellery
7. Wear your shiny, clean enamel jewellery and marvel at your newfound jewellery cleaning skills.

I followed these steps for my KW wreath ring, and my KW Love Hate necklace and the difference is amazing. Do I feel grown up? Yes. Yes I do.

Have you had any success with cleaning enamel jewellery? Let me know.

xxStaci Rose

P.S. All jewellery is my own. This is not a sponsored post.