Don’t you hate dull and discolored jewelry? Well, you can Place Dried Basil Leaves Near Jewelry to Keep Them Safe from Tarnish; here’s how!
Have you ever wanted to wear beautiful silver earrings but found them dull and black right before wearing them?
We all encounter tarnishing at some point, especially our favorite jewelry. You may wonder if there is an easy and natural way to prevent that. The answer is yes—you could always place dried basil leaves near jewelry to protect it from tarnishing!
Placing Dried Basil Leaves Near Jewelry
Let’s understand what tarnishing is before putting basil leaves in jewelry boxes. Metal jewelry usually experiences wear and tear when it contacts atmospheric moisture, which often contains sulfur and other compounds. This wear and tear can be seen as dullness or discoloration–that’s tarnish.
While there are many ways to polish tarnished jewelry so that it looks new again, basil leaves are a cost effective and chemical-free way to prevent this!
How Do Basil Leaves Protect From Tarnishing?
When you place basil leaves near jewelry, they can absorb atmospheric moisture containing sulfur and trace compounds, helping your jewelry stay tarnish-free for longer.
This is because of the volatile compound called eugenol present in basil leaves that have anti-fungal and anti-microbial properties. This inhibits the growth of air-borne bacteria that often produce sulfur compounds resulting in unwanted oxidation and tarnishing of jewelry.
Additionally, dried basil leaves act as mild desiccants, creating a microclimate that’s free of moisture, which means there’s a lesser chance of your jewelry being affected by tarnish.
Plus, every time you open your cupboard or safe to retrieve your jewelry, you get a subtle but fresh whiff of basil. It’s a win-win situation!
Note: You should know that if your jewelry is already tarnished, basil leaves won’t be much help. They can only slow the process, not reverse it!
Tips to Remember
Before you rush to get the basil leaves for your jewelry, here are some essential tips to remember.
- Always use dried basil leaves. If your jewelry comes into contact with the moisture in the fresh leaves, it will defeat the entire purpose.
- Make sure the leaves are in a muslin bag and not in direct contact with the jewelry. Don’t forget to replace them once every month or two.
- If you notice signs like brittleness, dampness, or mold on the leaves, then you need to replace them with fresh, dried leaves immediately.
Try out this awesome life hack and let us know how well your jewelry fared in the comments below!
