I used to work at Pandora & customers always make the same mistakes – stop ‘cleaning’ your jewellery in baking soda

WITH the festive season right around the corner it’s no secret that many of us will be visiting Pandora to snap up some gifts for our loved ones.

Whether it’s their iconic charms or stunning necklaces, thousands of women across the world will also find the legendary jewellery under the Christmas tree this year.

If that happens to be you this December, you may want to keep on reading, as one former employee has spilled the beans on the three mistakes customers always make – and they could destroy the accessories.

The woman, named Elisabeth, worked at the store for three years as the head of visuals and stock ”and did everything you could possibly imagine”.

Offering a helping hand to fellow fashionistas and jewellery lovers, Elisabeth took to TikTok to reveal all the biggest no-nos that could ruin the delicate goods.

Stop sleeping in your bracelets

We get it – it’s been a long day and the last thing you want to deal with is removing all of your jewellery.

But according to the trendy fashion whizz, you should never sleep wearing the legendary silver bracelets around your wrists.

”So whatever you do – if you lay on it [charm], if you’re sleeping on it – it’s going to [shrink] and we’re not gonna be able to get them off your bracelet,” Elisabeth explained in the video.

”We’re gonna have to cut your bracelet and get rid of the charm.”

Ditch the viral baking soda hack

If you keep up to date with the latest hacks you may have spotted one doing the rounds where people blitz their grubby charm bracelets using a mixture of boiling water, baking soda and salt.

The cleaning hack may seem pretty easy, worthwhile and time-effective, only taking up a mere five minutes to give your old jewellery a brand new look on the cheap.

But as warned by Elisabeth, this is another major no-no to best steer clear of.

Instead of potentially destroying your accessories with no return, the former employee advised to best use regular washing-up liquid.

”If it’s really bad, let it soak and use an old toothbrush.”

Previously another expert urged to avoid this hack by all means.

 “Even just using boiling water can be a risky choice as this may encourage your gems or stones to dislodge as the heat melts the bonding glue keeping them securely in place,” explained Sarah Rowlands who works at Pandora.

“Another popular idea you should give a miss is using an old toothbrush to scrape away the dirt that accumulates in the intricate gaps of your jewellery.

“Again, this is much too harsh for your precious metals, and, not to mention, spreads bacteria from the old toothbrush to your jewellery.”

Get a safety chain

Listing her top tips on the platform, Elisabeth also urged people to get clips and a safety chain for your bracelet.

Although you may not like the look of the clips, the ex-staff member demonstrated what could potentially happen if you skip this step.

”You see the little threading that’s underneath the clips that the clips latch onto? The more your charms slide over and over, and over again, it’s going to ruin the charm and it’s gonna ruin the bracelet.

”So again, we’re gonna have to cut your bracelet.

”Save your bracelets in the long run – it’s an investment you’re making.”