Pearl of Wisdom

By Hklbrries

No need to call the pros - cleaning your pearls is easy to do at home.

Wipe them off with a dry cotton cloth after wearing.

"If they become visibly dirty, dilute a teaspoon of Woolite in a quart of water. Immerse your pearls for 10 to 15 seconds, dab them with a soft cotton cloth and lay them flat to dry," says Kathy Higginbotham, Silpada Designs' director of quality control.

Store them in a cotton bag - never plastic - separate from other jewelry.

To ensure that they stay lustrous, think outside the jewelry box: Wearing them regularly will keep them polished, thanks to your body's natural oils.

Amanda Greene

For more tips on the best ways to clean all types of jewelry, go to womansday.com/jewels

Ingredients

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Preparation

Step 1

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