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How to Clean Your Tarnished Alex and Ani Bracelets

Thursday, September 10, 2015

It wasn't until my friend Neena made me two new bangles that I noticed just how tarnished my Alex and Ani bracelets had gotten. They looked so dingy compared with my shiny new gold wire. I tried soap and water but it didn't seem to do anything. Then I remembered I once had a rusted necklace I was able to restore by putting it in Coke. We don't really keep soda in the house, so I thought I'd try the similar trick of using Ketchup! I was really nervous to try this because Alex and Ani bracelets aren't cheap, and I didn't want to ruin them! 

But, it worked! I put my bracelets on a paper plate, covered them in ketchup, and let them sit for 5 minutes. I could already see a difference before I even rinsed off the ketchup. Next, I rinsed them in the sink and used a scrub brush to wipe off all of the ketchup. They shined up beautifully! 
Hover to Pin!
Here is all you need: A paper plate, ketchup and your bracelets.
 Here is my bracelet before:
 Cover in ketchup and let sit for 5 minutes. 
 After!

Hover to Pin!
Leave me a comment: Did it work for you? What other methods have you tried? 

xoxo Kristen

26 comments

  1. The acid in the ketchup actually removes the plating. Best & safest way to clean the A&A bracelets as they are only plated, recycled metal is the tried and true way- using the original blue Dawn liquid dish soap a soft toothbrush and water. Hope this info helps you to keep your bracelets pristine for longer without damaging the plating. See other pins with washing instructions, (+) <3 :)

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    Replies
    1. Thanks for your input! Dawn, as always, works great for general cleaning.
      My bracelets were so so so tarnished, I had to try something else. I've done the ketchup trick several times and have never had a problem.

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  2. I am crossing my fingers that ketchup works. I have an armful of tarnished Alex and Ani bangles. I am done buying them, besides tarnishing, they easily lose their shape after mutiple wearings. Thanks Kristen for sharing what worked on your tarnished bracelets!

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    Replies
    1. For the price, it would be great if they didn't tarnish! I hope this trick works for you!

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    2. Exactly!! I was super disappointed and shocked that these would tarnish so fast. I'm still baffled that, 1. for the price, the company does not make a better product, 2. so many people still buy it! Haha, yes that does include me but at the time I didn't know! Thanks for you tip!

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  3. I am definitely going to try this, it is very sad they do tarnish. Thank you for the great post.

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  4. Ketchup worked great!!. Thank you for the tip.

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  5. I tried the Dawn dishwashing liquid and soft tooth brush......mine still look tarnished....cleaner but tarnished. Afraid to do the ketchup thing though.

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  6. Try earthgrace.com They are beautiful and they are not plated.

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    Replies
    1. Yes they are plated it says so right on their website.

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  8. Celtic rings were cherished by the ancient Celts and they considered them one of the strongest symbols of marriage, or as a way to convey messages of never-ending love either between god and humanity or between man and woman.
    knot ring

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  9. What about the cleaning cloth Alex and Ani sells?

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  10. I've only used the Alex and Ani polishing cloth on my Alex and Ani bracelets. The cloth cleaned and shined the bracelets but the tarnished areas remained tarnished.
    armygirlforlife

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  11. Hello, it's actually the vinegar in the ketchup that cleans away the tarnish. I sit mine in a 2 parts vinegar 1 part water mix, for about 10 to 15 mins. I then wash the solution off with Dawn, which gets the smell out as well as make them shine. My bracelets are gorgeous

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  12. I was skeptical to try this since my bracelets were so so tarnished but I tried it on one and it went back to being super shiny and I am super happy with the results so I did the rest of my bracelets, and they all look fantastic. None of my bracelets are ruined all are restored perfectly I highly recommend this for cleaning them!

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  13. This is brilliant!! (And not to seem like a creep by commenting on an old post--this post was in your popular post section which is how I found it! haha)

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  14. Thanks for the tip! Trying this today!

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  15. I used a silver cloth that took tarnish off, but the ring that holds the charm didn't change. I will try the vinegar trick. Thanks!

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  16. I stopped buying alex and ani bracelets also but my mom recently bought me the Harry Potter earrings and when she was in the store she told the associate we had stopped buying and they said we could bring our tarnished bracelets in for new ones... haven’t tried yet but thought I would share.

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  17. Didn't know ketchup could be this efficient on keeping my jewels all clean and ready to be used. Having the ability to clean your jewels would make it presentable anytime you wear it.

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Hello!

Hi friends! I'm Kristen, and this is the Life and Style of an early 30's Floridian living the Best Life Ever, with her husband and three pugs. Runner | Avid Reader | Small Shop Owner

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