Can anyone tell me how to clean the thread on old/vintage beads? Have tried soaking in biological wash liquid.
Question:I have bought several old necklaces on ebay.Lovely pieces but the original thread on some is very grubby.I know this adds to the character but I'd like to spruce them up a bit. I don't want to have them restrung.Not for resale, just for me to wear.
Answers:
Google cleaning jewellery/old beads and see wha comes up. Otherwise rll them in talcum powder or bicarb soda.
Good luck.
Aren't you so lucky to have such lovely goodies to wear?
It might be a better idea to restring them yourself, If you treat the beads with any kind of product it might damage them. Pop into your local craft shop, sure you can find a thread of a suitable colour. Like this they will still keep their vintage look without the dirty thread
the only way is to have them restrung trying to clean the thread will only weaken and stretch it so they will look even worse than they do now .good luck
Quite Honestly, restring them! The string gets very weak and will break. I have bought pieces off Ebay and this is what I do. I make my own jewelery and I buy from estate sales and garage sales. i always restring the beads if they come on fiber string. If it is on metal/tigertail type of matieral you can buy yourself sometime.
Soak the beads themselves in a warm water soap soloution. Put in a shallow dish and swish around with your hands. Also, get and old toothbrish to scrub off any dirt that won't soak off. use a piper cleaner to clean the hole if there is anything blocking. Sometimes old waxy string will block and keep yoou from stringing.
Go to a craft store and you might be able to buy new thread that will resemble the vintage kind you are looking for.
or wash the thread with baking soda, a squirt of dawn and see if that helps. If they are beige you can redye them in tea, Just make strong tea and soak them overnight.
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