Help! Charm Bracelet question!

[mom23boyz]

I love my new charm bracelet I made while at WDW. I have charms from everywhere we went and I have been wearing it everyday now that we're home. Kids especially like looking at it. I am distressed however, because the chain is tarnishing and I'm not sure how to clean it. I realize it's some type of cheap metal, but if there's any product I can use to clean it, I'd appreciate knowing about it.

 

[Princess Glenda]

Can't offer any help, but I was wondering if the new charm bracelets and charms would tarnish. How are the charms holding up? I have a traditional sterling silver one and I add charms to it each trip, but I had thought about getting a new one for DD4 during our trip this May.

 

[striker3636]

A word of caution about silver...I wear a lot of it, and found one day after being in the hot tub it tarnished almost instantly. After spending $40 getting several pieces of intricate celtic jewellery polished, I have learned that the chemicals in pools and hot tubs can really mess up silver! Even though I wore my stuff in a lot, it apparently is quite common according to the jewellery store. Something about the chemical balance...I used a silver cleaner that you dip your stuff into and then wipe, but it did not work as the tarnish was so bad.

So....in short, be careful what you do when wearing your bracelet, and clean it before the tarnish is so bad you end up spending lots of $$$ to fix or replace.

 

[Pollyann]

Great idea! I love the idea of a charm bracelet collection of Disney vacations! I think I will start one of my own this year! (and one for DD too)

 

[ut_dentist]

Have you tried one of those polishing clothes. You can buy them at a jewelry store and by simply rubbing your piece, it rubs off the tarnish. It may take a little elbow grease but you should be able to get it clean in all of the little areas.

 

[mom23boyz]

The charms seem to be doing OK, it's just the link bracelet. It only cost about $5.00, so I'm not surprised it's tarnishing!

 

[waltdisneyworlddreamer]

I love charm bracelets too! Do you remember where you bought it? What kind of charms are on it??

 

[Inga]

Hi

I would try something like 'Never Dull' or something of the like. Sweat also turns different metals so when you're powerwalking through WDW and working up a sweat it can also make the metal turn. I find the Never Dull pretty mild and works great!

Inga

 

[Cass]

I think there is a lacquer you can buy to put on your bracelet after you clean it.

It is like a clear seal and it prevents it from tarnishing.

 

[cannonn824]

I bought a jewerly cleaner from a craft show and it comes with a tarnish remover paste. I don't know the name of it but you might want to try the craft shows in your area they may sell it. I will try to remember to look and find out what the name of it is. I'm not sure if it works on cheap metals but it does a wonderful job on gold and silver.

 

[daisylove]

My DD5's also is tarnishing a bit. I will admit thatI am waiting to hear how someone else cleans theirs first My Dd will be so upset if I try to clean he rbracelet with tarnex or something and destroy it. I know it was only 5 or 6 dollars but nevertheless...

 

[mom23boyz]

Sorry it's been awhile for my reply...thank you all for your posts. I tried something called Mr. Metal, but it really hasn't worked all that well.

The charm bracelets are sold in almost all the bigger gift shops in all the parks and hotels. I found they mostly carried the same charms, but with just a couple extras specific to the place we were in...i.e. and Epcot charm at Epcot, a Boardwalk charm at that hotel.

I started my bracelet on our first day in the MK, so I bought a castle charm. I also got one for each of my boys, their favorite characters...Pluto, Donald and Goofy. The next day I added the MGM hat and The Little Mermaid (since she's my favorite and we had just seen the show at MGM). Before we were done, I had added a Blizzard Beach, an Epcot, Animal Kingdom and the Boardwalk Inn since that's where we stayed. I loved doing it...it was like a little scavenger hunt everytime we went into a store!

 

[Princess Glenda]

I meant to ask earlier... Are the charms gold or silver metal?

 

[macphrsn]

I also prefer the tarnishing cloth. I bought mine at my local bead store, don't hesitate to ask those at the bead store what they suggest.

Also watch out for cleaning items. I was cleaning my bathroom with Tilex or some other type of shower cleaner and when I was finished I noticed that my Tiffnay silver ring had a dark spot. I was so upset, but I used the tarnishing cloth which helped make it less noticable but over time the spot seem to wear off, yeah!

 

[QueenOfCelts]

Sorry it's been awhile for my reply...thank you all for your posts. I tried something called Mr. Metal, but it really hasn't worked all that well.

The charm bracelets are sold in almost all the bigger gift shops in all the parks and hotels. I found they mostly carried the same charms, but with just a couple extras specific to the place we were in...i.e. and Epcot charm at Epcot, a Boardwalk charm at that hotel.

I started my bracelet on our first day in the MK, so I bought a castle charm. I also got one for each of my boys, their favorite characters...Pluto, Donald and Goofy. The next day I added the MGM hat and The Little Mermaid (since she's my favorite and we had just seen the show at MGM). Before we were done, I had added a Blizzard Beach, an Epcot, Animal Kingdom and the Boardwalk Inn since that's where we stayed. I loved doing it...it was like a little scavenger hunt everytime we went into a store!

I know the EXACT one you are talking about because I have it too. I also have the same problems. I contacted WDW and they told me just to bring it back on my next trip and they would replace the bracelet but if I wanted the charms exchanged I have to go to the exact place I bought them. Since I purchase one at each resort we stay at, that would be a GIANT pain. I opted to purchase a sterling silver bracelet and just put my charms on that. Works like a charm........pun intended, LOL

 

[abeyst]

Are you guys talking about the bracelet that comes with Tink on it?

If you are, I've had mine for 2 years and haven't had any tarnish on it yet, and I don't wear it that often.

 

[QueenOfCelts]

Are you guys talking about the bracelet that comes with Tink on it?

If you are, I've had mine for 2 years and haven't had any tarnish on it yet, and I don't wear it that often.

No, we are talking about a cheap little $5-6 silver tone bracelet you buy in the parks or resorts neear a big square with little plastic bins full of different charms that run about $4 each. It's not an actual piece of jewelry, more of a keepsake you can add to. A rhinestoned Mickey is attached to get you started. They have all sorts of charms like characters and resorts, etc. They are pretty cool except don't wear them in the summer cos they are cheap. The thing is though, by the time you buy the bracelet ($6.00) and for example 8 charms (8 x $4.00 = $32), you've spent $40 and the silly thing rusts.

 

[abeyst]

Thanks. I thought that may be the one you're talking about. I didn't know that think was even sterling and could be polished? Doesn't seem to me that polishing it would even work.

BTW, I found the same charms in the bracelet set at The Disney Store. The bracelet is cheap but you get the same charms with it that they sell at WDW for outragous prices. You can buy them at DS and take them to WDW to give to your kids and save some $$.

 

[QueenOfCelts]

Thanks. I thought that may be the one you're talking about. I didn't know that think was even sterling and could be polished? Doesn't seem to me that polishing it would even work.

BTW, I found the same charms in the bracelet set at The Disney Store. The bracelet is cheap but you get the same charms with it that they sell at WDW for outragous prices. You can buy them at DS and take them to WDW to give to your kids and save some $$.

I don't think the people that suggested polishing it knew which bracelet the OP was talking about.

Thanks for tip on the charms though!