Necklaces and chains are an easy way to take your everyday look and turn it into something more polished, pristine, and intentional: This goes for pretty much all jewelry in general.

One of the major benefits of jewelry compared to clothing is that you can easily throw on a new piece whenever you want.

Well, most of the time. Sometimes, no matter how gently you place that Cuban link chain into your jewelry box, it somehow comes out looking like someone purposefully tied it up into knots. This is frustrating and time-consuming to untangle. Plus, it can actually tarnish your piece if it gets tangled consistently.

The good news is that there are some simple ways to prevent your necklaces from getting all knotted up.

Here’s everything you need to know.

1. Hang Them Up

You should be proud of all of the pieces of gorgeous jewelry you’ve got at your disposal. Even if you’re not able to wear them around your neck, you should be happy to put them on display. Hanging your necklaces on a decorative tree not only lets you add a cool decorative element to your living space, but it also prevents tangling.

Necklace trees allow you to hang your necklace on little spokes or crevices so you can always keep your jewelry untangled while simultaneously letting guests take a look at your collection. It also has the added benefit of allowing you to see all your necklaces at once, so you can quickly select which one you want for your specific outfit.

With that said, be sure to consider the material that your hanging storage item is made of. This is because rails or hooks made of metal with a higher hardness ranking than the material of your piece might cause it to become nicked or damaged.

Zinc, aluminum, brass, and copper are just a few metals that are not as hard as gold, so they’re safe to use. (Use the Mohs Hardness Scale to determine if your hooks are safe.)

2. Try the Straw Hack

While this method is not nearly as stylish as getting yourself a beautiful decorative storage unit for your pieces, it might possibly be the most effective method for keeping your pieces untangled. With the straw hack, you’ll use drinking straws to help keep your necklaces out of harm’s way.

Just unclasp the piece and stick one end into one side of the straw. Thread it through to the other side of the straw until your necklace lays flat inside the tube. It’s sort of like a sleeve for your chains to ensure they can’t become knotted up.

You could even use metal, reusable drinking straws here. Again, note the hardness scale so that you don’t risk tarnishing any of your pieces prematurely. You can always stick the straws in a drawer of a jewelry box if you don’t necessarily want to look at drinking straws crowding up your dresser or nightstand.

3. Use a Jewelry Box

Speaking of jewelry boxes, these are one of the most classic ways to keep your jewelry safe and prevent tangling. Jewelry boxes allow you to keep and store your jewelry separately from one another. This prevents pieces from tarnishing one another and prevents two necklaces from wrapping around one another.

Jewelry boxes often have individual compartments where you can store each piece separately, making them less prone to scratches and knicks. An added benefit is that it prevents your pieces from being hit with dust or debris, which can damage fine jewelry down the line.

When choosing a jewelry box, you’ll want to go with ones that have several long spaces to allow you to extend your necklaces at their full length. If you have chains longer than 18 inches, consider getting a cabinet so you have more vertical space for hanging them. Plus, these give you more room for your watches, bracelets, rings, and everything else.

4. Wrap Them Up

Perhaps the safest method of protecting your jewelry that has the doubled benefit of preventing tangles is by using a soft cloth and wrapping up your jewels. To do this, you’ll get a microfiber cloth and lay your necklace flat. Starting from one end of the necklace, roll the cloth up all the way to the other side. It’s almost like you’re making a necklace burrito.

This pads the necklace on all sides and prevents it from being exposed to dust, dirt, debris, and damage. Since it’s locked in place by the cloth, it can’t possibly become tangled by itself or by another piece.

You can store these wrapped cloths in a large jewelry box or inside a drawer to protect them even further.

5. Store Them in Their Original Box or Bag

The original box your chain or necklace came in is long for a reason — it allows your piece to lay flat. This is a great place to store your piece to prevent it from getting tangled. The reason pieces get tangled is that the ends fold up onto one another. But, when you can keep them laid out flat, you prevent this from happening in the first place.

You can also stack these boxes on top of each other in a drawer or a jewelry box to make better use of space and keep the boxes out of your sight when not in use. You can even label the boxes to know exactly which necklace is inside which one.

That’s why at 6 Ice, we send out all our pieces in high-quality boxes and storage bags to ensure your jewelry arrives in pristine condition — and can stay that way. 

Tips for Untangling a Necklace

Sometimes, a tangled necklace is inevitable. To try to untangle it quickly, you’ll first want to undo the clasp to avoid putting excess tension on the chain. From there, try using a needle or pin to gently loosen tough knots that are hard to reach. If it’s still too tough, try using a lubricant like baby oil or a mild dish soap.

If you’re still having trouble, you can take your necklace to a jeweler. They have professional tools to help detangle your favorite pieces without fear of damaging them in the meantime.

The Untangled Web We Weave

Tangled necklaces are sort of a rite of passage when it comes to wearing chains. And while a few knots are sometimes inevitable, there are some simple ways you can work to keep your pieces in top shape.

Using decorative stands, jewelry boxes, or even the original box your piece came in are great ways to prevent them from getting all tied up. You can also use drinking straws as a bit of a life hack alternative or wrap them in a fiber cloth to keep them out of harm’s way.

Regardless of what you do, you shouldn’t be afraid of your jewelry getting tarnished from normal wear and tear. 6 Ice has a lifetime guarantee, so if your piece ever breaks from normal usage, we will work with you to make things right.

That’s how confident we are in the quality of our top-of-the-line hip-hop jewelry. Browse our newest drops today and start looking like a hip-hop icon tomorrow.

Sources:

Gold corrosion | Corrosion Doctors

Mohs Hardness Scale | U.S. National Park Service

From Fiber to Fabric | American Chemical Society