How to clean your horse’s bling!
- In a nutshell, easily – if you stay on top of it. Bling is probably about the easiest thing to clean that is even remotely associated with horses.
There are a few things to note about bling on tack:
- Bling can scratch easily, so skip the brillo pads and other scratchy surfaces for cleaning.
- Bling is often squished right up to leather, so you need to be careful when cleaning the leather. Soaps and leather goops can take the sparkle away from your bling and act as a dirt magnet.
- Most craftsman of bling are clear on what is safe and unsafe to clean their bling with. It’s important to do a bit of reading. Forget that old adage about only reading instructions when all else fails. Read the instructions first.
- Have fun with bling and take care of it.
Some great suggestions on bling cleaning:
- Be careful with your tools. Use soft items (washcloths, brushes, cleaners) to do the dirty work.
- Avoid harsh and abrasive cleaners, sometimes Simple Green, Fantastic, and Windex are OK. You may need to let the cleaner sit a bit and get to work, then brush away. You may need to rinse with water when you are done.
- Channel your inner detail-oriented self.
- Don’t worry if it’s not perfect, you will likely be going too fast for anyone to notice the nitty-gritty. And also, perfect doesn’t exist, especially with handcrafted items like silver, gems, and beads.
- Your old toothbrush is your friend.
- Know that some metals will oxidize over time, regardless of what you do, or don’t do.
- You can buy metal polishing cloths to shine up any metal beads or trim on your horse’s bling. Be careful when using these near gemstones or other non-metal parts of your horse’s bling. The cloths are handy for buckles and stirrups and the like.
My favorite metal polishing method is using a cloth – super convenient and I don’t have to mix anything in the kitchen. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases, it’s no extra charge to you! I thank you for your support!
Cape Cod Polish Co. Metal Polishing Cloths Tin
