My Genius Postcard Trick Keeps Jewelry Safe While Traveling
WHEN we go on holiday, we often find it difficult to take valuables with us, especially when it comes to jewellery.
Whether you’re worried about your belongings getting damaged or stolen, it may seem safer to leave them behind.
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According to experts from PandoraSimple household items like straws, towels and postcards are essential to protect your precious jewelry while traveling.
For anyone travelling this summer, Pandora UK jewellery expert Emma Fox has put together the ultimate jewellery guide to help you keep your favourite accessories in perfect condition.
Use straws to prevent necklaces from getting tangled
Reusable straws are handy to have on hand when packing and traveling.
You can prevent your necklace from getting tangled by threading one end of the necklace through the straw and closing the clasp.
Use a towel to make your own jewelry wrap
You can make a DIY jewelry wrap using a towel. Lay a small towel flat and then place each piece of jewelry on the towel with a few inches of space between them.
Roll up the towel and secure both ends with hair ties or elastic bands to prevent the towel from unrolling.
Keep earrings together with a postcard
To keep earrings safe and together while traveling, you can put them through a piece of cardboard or postcard.
Remove jewelry before entering the pool or the sea
As a general rule, you should always remove your jewelry before swimming in the ocean or a pool. The harsh chemicals in pool water can react with metals, causing tarnishing or corrosion.
The salt water in the sea can also corrode gold, silver and platinum elements, weakening the precious metals and potentially damaging your jewelry.
If you forget to take off your jewelry, rinse both your jewelry and your hands thoroughly with fresh water after swimming in the sea or chlorine.
Do not wear jewelry on the beach
Don’t wear jewelry on the beach, especially valuable pieces. Sand can scratch some gemstones and rings or earrings can easily get lost in the sand or sea, plus salt water can damage diamonds.
Clean your jewelry regularly
It is important to clean your jewelry regularly while on vacation. This prevents it from becoming dull and discolored. This is mainly due to the oils and chemicals in sunscreen that can dull gemstones.
To minimize oxidation, store your jewelry when not in use. However, if sweat, chlorine, and saltwater exposure are unavoidable, clean your jewelry daily.
Tips for packing for your holiday
Jemma Solomon, also known as The Label Lady, has 5 packing tips to help you get organised for your next holiday.
1. Write a list
Think of all the essentials you need to bring: sunscreen, medicine, a few games for the kids, beach towels. Write everything down on a single list, which you can then cross off as you pack the list in your suitcase.
Or, for ultimate convenience, try Google’s AI app, Gemini, which makes a list for you and helps you avoid overpacking.
2. Involve your children
Jemma said: “My girls are getting older, they’re 11 and 9, and they love helping with packing. So I send them a list and say ‘this is what you need’ and they follow the list.
“And then I give them each a backpack – and I tell them ‘you can put whatever you want in it, as long as it’s not liquid,’ and they can take that on the plane. And those are their ‘home away from home’ items.”
3. Try a hack or two
She said: “I think they all work, but for different reasons. You just have to choose the right one for your journey.
“Rolling your clothes is a really good idea to prevent your clothes from wrinkling. And if you have a lot of stuff to pack in your suitcase, it’s a space saver.
“Packing cubes are great. For example, I go on holiday with my three children and we all use the same suitcase for our clothes.
“These handy compartments let you separate your clothes, toiletries and technology into separate areas. This helps you make the most of your luggage space by keeping your belongings compact and neatly stacked.
“I love taking them abroad with the family. That way my kids can take care of their own things once we arrive.”
4. Drain beauty products
Do you really need to carry around large bottles of shampoo and conditioner? The beauty industry has evolved to the point where you can now buy shampoo bars or sheets – which are much lighter and smaller.
Or, if you plan to go shopping abroad, consider buying some supplies while you’re there.
5. Get organized before you get home
Jemma said, “When you pack your things again on holiday, [before coming home]The trick is to separate clean clothes from dirty clothes.
“Also pack in a certain order, so light and dark clothes, colored clothes that need to be washed. Or, if you wash your clothes per person in the household, piles for each person.
“Then you can put it straight into the washing machine. Do that straight away, don’t leave it lying around.”
Do this by simply using lukewarm soapy water and a soft toothbrush to gently scrub away dirt and grime. Or, place your jewelry in a hotel room glass filled with warm soapy water while you get ready.
Safety pin ring holder
Another simple jewelry travel trick is to use a safety pin to store rings. Thread each ring onto the safety pin needle and secure.
Safety pins come in different sizes, so you can choose one based on the number of rings you need to pack. To keep your rings safe while traveling, pin the safety pin to the inside of your luggage.
