Hey there, if you’re like me—running an accessories brand and geeking out over every little piece that leaves our warehouse—you know how gutting it is when a customer hits us up saying their favorite necklace tarnished after two wears, or their go-to crossbody bag’s strap started peeling. Accessories aren’t just add-ons to an outfit, right? They’re the things that get you through busy weeks, the small details that make an outfit feel yours, and for us as a brand, every single one is a little piece we stand behind. That’s why I’ve spent years testing, tweaking, and nailing down the real, no-BS way to take care of your gear—no fancy products or overcomplicated steps needed, just stuff that actually works, plus a few pro tips we’ve picked up shipping thousands of orders and hearing every single customer story. Accessories
First off, let’s break this down by category, because a leather bag needs totally different love than a pair of gold earrings—trust me, I’ve messed up both enough to know the difference. Let’s start with jewelry, since that’s what most of our customers ask about first. I’m looking at you, the person who just left their silver hoops in the shower because you forgot (guilty of that, too). Here’s the tea: most of the everyday jewelry we make (the gold-plated, sterling silver, and even our cubic zirconia pieces) isn’t made for constant water exposure. Hot water, soap, shampoo—all that strips away the protective layer that keeps your jewelry from tarnishing or fading. So the first rule? Take it off before you shower, swim, workout, or even slather on perfume/lotion. I learned this the hard way when I left my go-to dainty chain on during a beach trip and it turned green by the end of the day—no amount of scouring fixed it. Now, for when it does get grimy: skip the toothpaste (it’s too abrasive and scratches the metal, ask me how I know) and the overpriced jewelry cleaners. Grab a microfiber cloth (the same kind you use for your phone works perfect) and a tiny drop of mild dish soap, rub it gently on the metal, rinse with cool water, and pat it dry immediately. For tarnish on sterling silver, we keep a little bottle of baking soda paste on hand at the office—mix a tablespoon of baking soda with a splash of water, rub it on the tarnish, let sit 5 minutes, rinse, buff. Way cheaper and safer than those fume-y cleaners you see at the drugstore. Also, storage is huge. Don’t just throw all your jewelry in a drawer tangled up—keep it separated, either in individual pockets of a jewelry roll or little small bowls. We even include a tiny microfiber pouch with every order, so you can tuck pieces away when you’re not wearing them to keep dust and moisture out.
Next up, leather goods—our crossbody bags, wallets, and those cute leather keychains, these are the workhorses of our collection, and they need regular gentle care to last for years. First rule for leather: don’t let it get soaked. If you’re caught in a random downpour, blot it immediately with a dry microfiber cloth—don’t rub, that just pushes the water into the leather and causes water spots. Once it’s totally dry (never use a hair dryer, that cracks the leather), you can use a basic leather conditioner, but wait—test it on a tiny, hidden spot first, like the inside of the bag’s lining, because some conditioners darken light leather. We use a neutral conditioner for all our light tan leather pieces, and it works a treat without leaving an greasy residue. Also, avoid leaving your leather goods in direct sunlight for hours on end—we once had a customer message us saying her black leather tote faded to a weird gray because she left it in her car window all summer. Oops. For day-to-day, wipe your leather bag down with a damp cloth every few weeks to get rid of dirt and dust, and condition it every 3-6 months depending on how often you use it. Pro tip: if your leather wallet gets a little scuffed, a tiny bit of clear nail polish on the scuff (on leather, not the plastic part!) will cover it without changing the color.
Now, synthetic accessories—think our nylon strap bags, silicone phone grips, and even our fabric hair scrunchies. These are the low-maintenance ones, but they still need care to keep them looking new. For nylon and fabric pieces, just toss them in the washing machine on a cold, gentle cycle every few weeks—add a tiny bit of mild detergent, and skip the fabric softener, that can break down the fabric over time. Let them air dry, don’t put them in the dryer, the heat shrinks them! Silicone stuff is even easier—wipe it down with soap and water, or even a quick swipe with disinfectant wipe, since silicone doesn’t hold bacteria as much, but it’s still good to clean it regularly if you use it every day (looking at you, phone grip that’s been on your phone since you got it). And for hair accessories like scrunchies and claw clips? Hair oil and product buildup is their worst enemy. Wash scrunchies in the gentle cycle, and for claw clips, just soak them in warm soapy water for 10 minutes, scrub the hinge with an old toothbrush to get rid of gunk, and rinse. No one wants a scrunchie that’s covered in dry shampoo residue, right?
Wait, I also need to talk about the stuff we don’t think about: things like metal sunglasses frames, plastic hair combs, and even our woven straw hats (perfect for summer, I’m still living in mine). Sunglasses frames—if they’re metal, same jewelry rule: take them off before showering, keep them away from hot surfaces like the car dashboard. If they get smudged, use that microfiber cloth again, never a paper towel or your shirt (both scratch the lenses). For plastic frames, avoid getting them too close to heat (like the dishwasher, don’t put them in there) because it warps them. Woven straw items? They’re super cute, but they hate moisture. If your straw hat gets wet, reshape it while it’s damp and let it air dry away from direct sun—don’t stack it or leave it on a flat surface while drying, it’ll lose its shape. If there’s a little stain on straw, a magic eraser (the non-abrasive kind, I swear by these) works wonders, just rub gently.
I know this all sounds like a lot, but honestly, it’s just small, consistent habits. It’s way easier to wipe your jewelry before bed than to try and fix tarnish a month later. And here’s the thing—when you take good care of your accessories, they become part of your story. That necklace you got in college that still has a little scratch from that festival you went to? That’s not damage, that’s memories. Our goal as a brand is to make stuff that lasts, not just stuff that gets thrown away after a season, so all these care tips are stuff we test on our own personal gear too, not just some marketing fluff we pulled off the internet.
If you’ve got a favorite piece that’s acting up, or you want more specific tips for something we didn’t cover here, hit us up. And if you’re a boutique or retailer looking to stock our accessories—we’re always on the hunt for partners who care about making quality gear that customers will keep for years. Drop us a line to chat about minimums, pricing, or anything else, and we’ll get back to you super quick.
Leakage Detection Cable References:
- Leather Care Basics, The Leather Industry Association, 2022
- Jewelry Cleaning & Care Guidelines, International Jewelry Federation, 2021
- Synthetic Accessory Durability & Maintenance, Textile Research Journal, 2023
Shenzhen Goldkoon Automation Equipment Co., Ltd.
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