Care & Cleaning of Beads

Most gemstones and semi-precious stones are durable for everday wear, yet some may require special care and we do recommend you understand your beads before cleaning.

In most cases, to clean your gemstones simply wipe them down with a clean damp cloth. 

Soaking beads, with or without additive, can cause damage.  Certain soft porous gemstones ie pearls, turquoise and howlite should never be soaked.

Lava and Black stone (matte) are usually finished with a wax coating - washing these will remove the wax and they will need to be re-waxed.

Certain other beads ie Apache Jasper and Coffee Bean Jasper are a soft material and often have a protective coating which harsh washing or soaking may remove.

All beads should be stored away from direct sunlight - colours can fade (even natural colours ie. Rose Quartz, Amethyst, Citrine, Smoky Quartz and Fluorite) if they are left for prolonged periods in direct sunlight.  Particular care should be taken with Mother of Pearl  as, as well as strong sunlight, extremes of heat or very dry atmosphere can cause damage with the surface drying and cracking.

Beads should never be cleaned using heat, utrasonic cleaner, chemicals, acids, steam cleaning or detergents (particularly ammonia based).  Don't let your beads come into contact with perfume, hairspray or nail polish remover.

Pearls should only ever be cleaned with a soft dry cloth.  If they do get dirty - a damp cloth can be used with care.

Wood Beads - most of our wood beads have a wax finish and we would only recommend cleaning them with a dry cloth.  They should never be allowed to get wet.

If you still want to wash your beads, then please test on one bead of the strand before immersing the whole strand.  We are unable to refund for beads damaged by incorrect handling.  If in doubt please contact us and ask.