“Hot town, summer in the city, Back of my neck gettin’ dirty and gritty, Been down, isn’t it a pity? Doesn’t seem to be a shadow in the city, All around, people lookin’ half dead, Walkin’ on the sidewalk, hotter than a match head.”
Yes, dear Foxy fans, the sun is out at last, the summer holidays have officially begun and no doubt many of you are preparing to go on your dream getaway. Sadly, it doesn’t look like I will be joining you – no Decision Marketing Team Getaway on the cards just yet.
Still, never let it be said that I am bitter. In fact, just as I was scratching my head about what to bang on about this week, up has popped a very helpful – and very timely – email from Ramsdens Jewellery, designed to ease you holidaymakers’ fears about your jewellery tarnishing before the plane journey home. (Well, needs must and all that. I want to get out in the sun, too, you know.)
First up, as Ramsdens explains, it is essential to pack all jewellery with care. If valuable items, such as rings and necklaces, are thrown into a suitcase without careful consideration, they are more likely to tangle, break and go missing before the holiday even begins. Top tip there guys.
To combat this threat, you should start by placing items onto a small towel and leaving a small space between them, around two to five centimetres. Then, roll the towel lengthways, fold it and secure the bundle with an elastic band or piece of string. Hopefully you won’t need to wash your hands on your trip.
Cling film also does the trick, however. If the towel method takes up too much room in the suitcase, Ramsdens reckons that carefully rolling and folding the jewellery in cling film instead. This way, people can bring more jewellery on holiday, mixing and matching accessories with each beach outfit. Naturally.
And, as well all know, sunscreen is essential on any summer holiday. However, it is vital to avoid applying it while wearing valuable jewellery, apparently, as the harsh chemicals in the creams can cause some metals and gemstones to tarnish and lose their shine.
To avoid this, good old Ramsdens recommends you should always wait for creams to dry before putting on your rings, necklaces, watches and other valuables. It may also be worth finding a sun cream that is free from alcohols and perfumes and made with natural ingredients, such as aloe vera, shea butter and jojoba oil.
Even so, there are multiple ways to clean jewellery if this does happen. The easiest ways involve a simple combination of soap and water or water and white vinegar but you can also clean tarnished jewellery with toothpaste by simply applying it, rubbing the metal with a soft cloth and rinsing with water. Apparently it works on teeth, too.
But, beware, pool water can be lethal to jewellery. Chlorine and bromine, chemicals commonly used to clean swimming pools, can erode fine gold jewellery, according to a study by Hoover & Strong, while chlorine can also discolour silver, nickel and copper.
To clean any jewellery that has been in contact with chlorine, bleach, or salt water, use a simple combination of dish soap and water. Start by rinsing any valuables, then add a few drops of dish soap to a bowl of lukewarm water before letting the item soak for fifteen to twenty minutes.
A Ramsdens Jewellery spokesperson said: “Jewellery elevates any outfit in the summer sunshine. With this year’s summer holidays upon us, it is useful to learn how best to care for rings, necklaces, watches and other valuables in the heat, whether that’s abroad or here in the UK.”
And all I can say is that if you have managed to get to the end of this nonsense, you deserve a sparkling gold medal of your own.
Follow Foxy on X and Instagram if you must, but don’t get too excited as I’m never there
