While it’s ideal to have our clothes remain immaculately clean all the time, wear and tear and accidents can happen over time. They get damaged and, most of the time, stained for various reasons. Stains such as jewelry tarnish and metal trim stains sometimes get on them, especially when using old accessories that rub on the clothes we wear.
Dealing with stains on clothing can be a really frustrating and stressful task. Some clothing materials are also sensitive to stain removers, often causing damage. So how do our clothes get jewelry tarnish and metal trim stains?
What Causes Jewelry Tarnish?
Metal trim stains occur when jewelry or accessories that are made with plated metals are exposed to body oils, sweat, and even makeup. These substances can trigger corrosion in the materials used for jewelry, which rub into clothes.
The three common types of materials used in jewelry nowadays are brass, sterling silver, and gold. These three materials are notorious for creating tarnish on clothing throughout the time they are used.
Brass
Brass is created as an alloy of copper and zinc, and it is popular among jewelry and accessory makers for its natural, rust-like color that complements any skin type. Since it is made from natural materials, it often undergoes corrosion because of the presence of copper. When copper in brass comes in contact with skin, it undergoes oxidation. It then causes tarnishes on clothing upon contact with the garment.
Gold
They say real gold does not tarnish. This is quite true in some aspects. Gold is the least reactive metal used in jewelry because it does not easily combine with oxygen. That is why it will stay the same despite being exposed to body oils and sweat. Tarnishing is no longer observed in 14 karat gold, and the higher the karat, the softer it is and becomes less prone to tarnishing.
However, pure gold is quite difficult to turn into jewelry. This is the main reason most of the accessories made with gold are mixed – or in technical terms, alloyed – with other metals such as copper to be able to mold it better.
Aside from body oils, oxygen, and sulfur, chemicals from perfumes and cosmetics can trigger corrosion. Consistent exposure to these chemicals can cause corrosion even to gold with higher karats (18 karats and above). When copper in gold corrodes from the jewelry, dust-like particles are smudged into the clothing, creating what we see as tarnishes or metal stains.
Silver or Sterling Silver
Sterling silver is among the most common chemicals used in jewelry. Compared to gold, sterling silver is relatively less expensive. The tarnishing of sterling silver can be caused by natural chemicals found in the environment, like sulfur, chlorine, and gases, like oxygen. Sometimes, when the pH level from people’s skin is too high, it can have the metal tarnished immediately. In turn, the corroded tiny metals from the silver jewelry will end up smudged in the clothing through the wearer’s activities.
How to Remove Metal Stains
The method to wash off tarnishes from jewelry varies depending on the material or the fabric of the clothing piece. There are materials that are in need of thorough washing, and there are some that only need dry cleaning. Luckily, most items of clothing nowadays are made of cotton and can be easily cleaned by machine washing. Here’s how to remove tarnish from clothing.
1. Turn the garment inside-out.
Once you have turned the garment inside-out, place it directly under cold, running water. This will easily remove the bigger chunks of metal that are stuck in the fibers of your clothing. Turning the garment inside-out can easily help spot the stains, especially when you are working with dark-colored clothes.
2. Use oxygen bleach and cool water.
Usually, the metal stains can be removed by putting clothes under running water alone. Unfortunately, there will be cases when smaller stains remain. Use clothing-friendly bleach like fabric bleach or oxygen bleach to deal with the stain. These types of bleach will not ruin your clothes and are perfect for white or colored garments.
A word of caution: despite being fabric-friendly, fabric and oxygen bleach should not be used in clothing made from wool, silk, or leather.
Removing Tarnishes From Organic Textiles
Dry cleaning is the go-to washing process for clothing that uses organic textiles that are sensitive to water, for instance, wool, silk, and leather. The process of dry cleaning involves using liquids like dry clean-specific detergents.
In case you experience having jewelry tarnished on your silk or wool clothing, it is best to bring your clothes to the dry cleaners immediately. Do not wait for a day or two. The sooner you bring your clothes to the cleaners, the sooner and the easier for the stains to be removed.
Your safest bet is to consult laundry professionals in terms of dry cleaning. They know the right detergents to use to easily get rid of jewelry tarnishes and metal strains and give you advice on how to avoid getting these tarnishes the next time you decide to accessorize.
Bonus Tips On Keeping Your Jewelry Clean
Having jewelry tarnishes and metal stains can be highly annoying, especially when you want to look your best. To avoid having jewelry tarnishes on your nice clothes, try these jewelry cleaning methods the first time you see a sign of tarnish.
Silver
The best way to clean silver jewelry is to use silver polish. Several silver polish brands are readily available in supermarkets or even jewelry stores nowadays. Carefully brush your silver jewelry with the polish and wipe off the polish using a soft fabric or some wet wipes.
If you can’t find a silver polish ready, you can always use dish soap and/or baking soda and do the brushing process.
Gold
For gold accessories, use dish soap and warm water. Mix the dish soap and warm water into a bowl and put the gold jewelry. Let it soak for a few minutes and wipe it with soft fabric.
Kelly’s Dry Cleaning Can Help Your Tarnish and Stain Problems
In case you are in need of dry cleaners in Durango, CO, Kelly’s Dry Cleaners is your best bet. We are equipped with the right tools and detergents to take care of your laundry, and you can be sure that the cleaners will be mindful of the materials used in cleaning.
Aside from dry cleaning, Kelly’s Dry Cleaners also offers preservation, alteration, and repair services. Call us now and let us talk about how to remove tarnish on clothing!
