care

Gilded Grotto pieces are created using traditional and non-traditional mediums and methods, and may require special care. The following tips are for jewelry, accessories, and select home decor.

SCULPTURAL JEWELRY

One of a kind, hand-sculpted pieces are created with a special blend of clay, resin, pigment, and paint. The clay is highly durable and will last a lifetime with proper care, but, if you’re not careful, some sculpted areas on your piece may erode over time, especially if consistently exposed to water. Hand sculpted pieces are also finished with a hard, clear sealant. This sealant protects the detailed hand-painted areas of your piece.

• remove any dust or dirt that accumulates with soft cloth or soft toothbrush. 

• rings may be cleaned with water and mild soap. aggressive scrubbing should be avoided so as not to damage the protective coating and paint

• dry thoroughly after every cleansing

• if your piece incorporates sculpted elements AND metal chain, please clean hand sculpted areas with the methods described above, and refer to the corresponding metal below for instructions on how to care for metal components.

• avoid coming into contact with hard surfaces 

• remove when showering, exercising, or swimming to preserve hand-painted areas and clear sealant

CRYSTALS

Almost all Gilded Grotto pieces feature a natural crystal, gemstone, or mineral. When physically cleaning your pieces, it is important that you make sure your crystal can withstand the cleaning method you choose, regardless of any other materials your piece may be created with..

• avoid coming into contact with hard surfaces

• pay special attention when hugging others or leaning over while wearing chunky, rough, or longer crystal necklaces

• remove when showering, exercising, or swimming to preserve hand-painted areas and clear sealant

• use a soft toothbrush to clean any surface dirt or dust that accumulates. You may wet the toothbrush if your piece needs deeper cleaning or if it has deep crevices or rough surfaces

 

WARNING: If your piece features a crystal whose name ends in “-ite” (malachite, labradorite, apatite, selenite), DO NOT allow it to remain wet for a prolonged period of time.

These crystals have the potential to either dissolve completely, or release harmful chemicals when exposed to water.

For example, while brass jewelry may be cleaned by soaking in vinegar, if your brass cuff features a selenite stone, you DO NOT want to let the selenite soak in ANY kind of liquid for a prolonged period of time. It WILL break down and dissolve. 

If your “-ite” crystal accidentally comes into contact with a little bit of water, don’t panic, just dry it immediately, and do not wear it again until it is dry.

If you are unsure about whether or not your crystal can be exposed to water, please refer to an online search engine of your choosing for clarification

GOLD-FILLED

Next to solid gold, gold-filled jewelry is the next best thing. Gold-Filled chains and components will never tarnish and will last a lifetime with proper care.

May be worn 24/7*

• May be worn while swimming, showering, and working out 

*please note, if your gold-filled jewelry features a crystal, do your research to make sure the crystal can get wet before you wear it in the shower.

• Water & Soap

Grab a soft toothbrush, and with a little warm water and soap, gently scrub your piece until shine is restored.

• Natural Lemon Juice

Cut a lemon and squeeze a few drops of juice over your piece. Let sit for 3-5 minutes, and then scrub with a soft toothbrush and rinse. 

• Ultrasonic Cleansing Machine

gold-filled jewelry may be professionally cleaned in an ultrasonic cleanser, however, be sure to ask your jeweler if they use any cleansing solutions with abrasive chemica

GOLD PLATED

Gold plated jewelry consists of a thin layer of karat gold over another base metal, such as brass, stainless steel, or sterling silver. The Grotto offers pieces that feature 24k, 18k, and 14k gold.

• gold plated jewelry may be worn while swimming, showering, and working out

 

• plated jewelry is water resistant, but to prolong the life of your pieces, they should  be removed before showering or swimming

 

• Soft Toothbrush

Grab a soft toothbrush, and gently scrub your piece to loosen any accumulated oils or dirt 

 

 

 • Soft Cloth

Gently rub your piece with a soft cloth*

 

CAUTION: avoid using jewelry polishing cloths that contain chemicals or abrasive compounds 

BRASS / BRONZE / COPPER

Bronze, brass and copper are our economical, higher maintenance metals that allow you to build a relationship with your piece. These metals may require routine cleaning and polishing, unless you like your jewelry to have more of an antique look and feel.

• to prevent the natural oxidation process that occurs on the surface of brass, bronze, and copper, pieces featuring these metals are coated with a protective layer of wax.

• avoid salt water and chlorine, as these may cause pieces to tarnish (*please note – tarnish is not a bad word, and it’s 100% reversible, contrary to popular belief)

• remove before sleeping or working out to prevent oxidation from sweat

• depending on your body chemistry, brass, bronze or copper jewelry may leave behind green skin discoloration. This is completely harmless and is caused by the high copper content in these metals.

•   Water & Soap

If you choose to wear your jewelry in the shower, water and soap is the easiest and most efficient way to clean your brass or bronze jewelry (copper, not so much)

• Lemon, Salt,  & Cloth

Cut the lemon, sprinkle some salt over the cut surface, and rub it over all tarnished areas, while squeezing the lemon to release its juice. If your piece features a crystal, avoid getting lemon juice on it. Let sit for 3-15 minutes, or until dirt/oxidation/tarnish disappears. Rinse with warm water and then rub with a soft cloth or polishing cloth until COMPLETELY DRY.

 

• Distilled White Vinegar, Salt, and Flour

This method works best for larger jewelry items lie cuffs, or vintage home decor.

Mix all three ingredients to create a thick paste. Apply a thin layer of the paste to your tarnished item and let it for 30-60 minutes. Rinse with warm water and dry completely with a soft cloth.

• Ketchup

If you like getting a little messy, this method is for you.

Simply apply a layer or ketchup to your piece and let it sit for an hour. Wash with warm water and dish soap, then dry completely with a soft cloth.

Please note, this method is NOT recommended for pieces with jagged or raw crystals, as it may be difficult to remove the ketchup from all the crevices in natural stones. 

SILVER

Silver, one of the 8 precious metals, has been treasured for centuries by indigenous peoples and jewelry collectors alike. Depending on which silver alloy your piece is made of, it may require a different level of care.

• Pure, 99.9% Silver (aka fine silver) will not rust or tarnish and may be worn 24/7

• Sterling Silver (925) WILL tarnish over time, but this is 100% reversible. Remove before showering, swimming, or working out. Store in a cool, dry place, and in a pouch or box away from other metals to slow or prevent tarnish. 

• Argentium Silver (930 or 960) is of a higher quality than sterling silver and is much more tarnish resistant. Remove before swimming in chlorinated water and before coming into contact with any chemicals

• White Vinegar

Place your silver piece in a dish and pour white vinegar over it until it is completely submerged. Let soak for at least 15 minutes, rinse with warm water, and then dry with a soft cloth.  

 

• White Vinegar + Baking Soda

Pour vinegar into a glass or plastic dish, and carefully add a few spoonfuls of baking soda. Place your silver piece in the dish and allow it to . Let soak for at least an hour or until tarnish is removed. Rinse with warm water and dry completely with a soft cloth.

RESIN GOODS

Resin goods such as handbags, clocks, , jewelry displays, trinket boxes, and other home decor are created with FDA approved, BPA- free epoxy resin.​

• avoid leaving item in direct heat or sunlight for prolonged periods of time, as heat may cause resin to soften and warp, and UV rays may cause clear resin to yellow over time.

• may be cleaned with water, soap, and a VERY soft cloth. Abrasive cleaning cloths may leave scratches on resin surfaces. 

• when cleaning handbags, remove chain before cleaning (if possible), and avoid submerging entire bag in water to clean. 

•DO NOT SUBMERGE CLOCKS IN WATER. Wipe clean with a very soft cloth

• AVOID USING PAPER TOWELS TO CLEAN OR DRY RESIN GOODS, unless you don’t mind lots of scratches

ART PRINTS

Smaller art prints are printed on acid-free, heavyweight matte paper, while canvas prints are printed with latex inks on acrylic primed canvas material.

• keep print out of direct sunlight, preferably in a clear sleeve or frame

• dust occasionally or as needed 

Want To Know More About Metal?

Click the link below for an in-depth look at the types of metal The Grotto offers
Learn More ⟶