Add Luster To Your Pearls
I soak freshwater pearls in milk to help bring out their luster. I do this about a week before I start making the jewelry. The pearls come on a temporary string and should be kept strung together until they’re ready for use. I clean them by washing them with some dish washing liquid soap, then dry them. Next, I put them into a container and pour in enough milk (from experience, fat-free milk doesn’t work as well as whole or 2% milk) to cover them. I pop a lid on the container, then stick it into the refrigerator for a week. Remember to stick them into the refrigerator.
After a week, I remove the pearls and give them a good cleaning, again with the dish washing soap, and a gentle scrubbing with a soft toothbrush. Dry them and lay them out on a paper towel to dry overnight.
Once they are dry, you’re ready to remove them from their string and turn them into something beautiful!
