Maintaining the Luster in Your Cufflinks

Vanity is not a sin. If you love dressing up and looking smart every time you get out of the house on your way to the office or a formal event, then that's perfectly fine. If you dress in blazers, jackets or suits more often, then you should have a handful of cufflinks. Cufflinks are a great way to make statements. It does not only to match your suit, but the occasion and your mood as well.

While cufflinks are classic accessories for men, you cannot discount that it is also subject to wear and tear especially if you wear them every now and then. Scratches and abrasions tend to depreciate your cufflinks as well as dirt and grime.

It is therefore important that you take care of your cufflinks to preserve their original good looks. This part is despised by most cufflink wearer but it is imperative. It simply has to be done.

Natural oils from your body, skin lotion and other environmental pollutants come in contact with your cufflinks and accumulate over a period of time. The build-up that is gathered in your cufflinks creates some sort of thin sheet that reduces your cufflinks' luster and sheen. Good news is that, regardless of the make of your cufflinks, gold, silver, gems or porcelain, it is always easy to clean. You don't have to wash it after every event or party that you wear it to since it's not like your clothes that easily gets dirty.

And to make things easier for you, I have listed here a step-by-step guide to cleaning your cufflinks and restoring them to what they were like when you bought them:

If you're not sure where to start, you can simply use mild soap and water to maintain your jewelry. Commercial jewelry cleaners are not necessary. They can be expensive and their effect, practically the same as that of soap and water.

Step # 1: Check the label. Before cleaning your cufflinks, make sure that the washing detergent that you're using does not have bleach or any other coarse ingredients that can chafe the metal or gem stone in your cufflinks. Ammonia or white vinegar are also options. Mix water and a couple of drops of your selected detergent in a large bowl. For tougher stains, you can use a solution of glass cleaner to ensure removal.

Step # 2: Soak your cufflinks in the prepared solution and leave it for a few minutes.

Step # 3: After soaking your cufflinks for a few minutes, brush the furrows and crevices with a soft toothbrush while holding your cufflinks under water. A new toothbrush is not advisable since new brushes have firm bristles and could easily damage your accessory. An old toothbrush perfectly suits this purpose.

Step # 4: Remove the cufflinks out of the solution gently and rinse thoroughly with clean and warm water.

Step # 5: Using a cloth made of 100% cotton, polish the metal, stone or porcelain. Don't rub too hard. Use soft brushing techniques.

Lastly, keep your polished and newly cleaned cufflinks in their original box or if you don't have it, invest on properly cushioned jewelry box to keep your accessory.

And you're done! Very easy, wasn't it?

Autor: Alain Picard

Alain Picard invites you to check out the latest neckties offered at Linkyourshirt.com. Specialists in sterling silver cufflinks, mens neckties and groomsmen gifts, you're sure to find something to your liking.

Added: December 5, 2009
Source: http://ezinearticles.com/