Care for aluminum, anodized aluminum, stainless steel, bronze, jewelry brass, and copper.
All metals oxidize over time, but a little care and cleaning will go a long way.- Aluminum is a lightweight metal that does not tarnish or rust and is easy to care for. I use bright aluminum, which has little to no rub-off. Alternatively, raw aluminum will have a black rub-off when it oxidizes. When your maille becomes dull or dirty, a quick wash in blue dish soap and warm water should dissolve any oils from your skin and brighten up your jewelry.
- Anodized aluminum gives bright silver aluminum a layer of shiny color. Take care when storing these pieces as heavier metals can scratch the colors. To preserve the life of your anodized jewelry it's best not to wear them while bathing. *Occasional* cleaning with mild blue dish soap is recommended. Unfortunately, the color will fade over time but, with proper care and storage, should last for years.
- Stainless steel is a heavy and very durable metal. Washing when needed in blue dish soap and water will keep your steel looking great.
- Copper is a heavyweight metal that is quite lovely, but it quickly develops a patina. If you would like to restore your copper jewelry to its original shine, any commercial copper cleaner will work. Alternatively, a few items from your kitchen will work just as well. Add a bit of salt to some lemon juice and dip your jewelry in to soak for a few minutes. Once clean, rinse with water and dry well.
- Bronze is a gorgeous, warm colored metal with a nice heavy weight. It is an alloy of copper and tin. Bronze will patina with time, turning darker and giving character to the jewelry. If you prefer your bronze chainmaille to look as bright as the day you receive it, any commercial cleaner for bronze, like Brasso, will restore the shine. To keep the shine as long as possible, store in an airtight bag and keep away from humid conditions.
- Jewelry brass is a nice, durable heavyweight metal thats bears a strong resemblance to 14K yellow gold when polished. Jewelry brass is an alloy of copper and zinc. Brass will develop a patina with time and wear but can easily be cleaned with a commercial cleaner like Brasso. To keep the shine as long as possible, store in an airtight bag and keep away from humid conditions.