Care & Maintenance

Care & Maintenance

Rhinestones are made to shine — but like any precious detail, they need the right care to keep their brilliance. Whether you are wearing them, selling them, or working with them professionally, these guidelines help your rhinestones stay secure and sparkling.

HHandling

  • Dress with care. Avoid pulling or stretching garments with rhinestones.
  • Avoid abrasion. With certain colours — especially AB coatings and glass sew-on stones — rubbing against each other over time can cause fine scratches. Store and wear with a little space between embellishments.
  • No direct ironing. Heat can damage glue or foil. If needed, press inside-out or use a protective cloth.
  • Shield from extremes. Keep away from extreme heat, humidity, and prolonged direct sunlight — these can weaken adhesives and dull or fade coatings (especially AB/metallic).

CCleaning Garments

  • Hand wash is best: Cool–lukewarm water + mild detergent. Gently swish — never scrub directly over stones.
  • Machine (if needed): Turn inside-out, use a mesh bag, gentle cycle, cold water only.
  • No dry clean on glued stones: Solvents can dissolve adhesives.
  • Spot clean small areas with a soft, damp cloth instead of soaking the whole item.
  • Avoid bleach/oxygen cleaners/strong stain removers — they can damage foils and adhesives.
  • Air dry only: Lay flat or hang in open air. Do not tumble dry or wring.
  • Iron with care: Avoid direct contact; if necessary, iron on reverse with low heat.

JJewelry & Accessories

  • Wipe after each use with a soft, lint-free cloth.
  • For deeper cleaning, use a soft brush with mild soapy water. Do not soak.
  • No alcohol, acetone, vinegar, or harsh chemicals.
  • Pat dry, then allow to air dry fully before storing.
  • Keep out of pools/showers. Chlorine, salt water, and soaps can corrode foils and loosen settings.
  • Store pieces separately in soft pouches to prevent scratching.

SStorage

  • Store in a cool, dry place away from sunlight and moisture.
  • Lay garments flat or hang on padded hangers with a protective cover.
  • Store jewelry individually in pouches or lined boxes.
  • For loose rhinestones, use closed containers or organisers with dividers. Our standard LEOPARD STRASS packs already come in sturdy, reusable boxes — perfect for long-term storage and organisation.
  • For added protection, place silica gel packs or anti-tarnish strips in storage containers to control humidity.

MMaintenance & Repairs

  • Normal wear: It’s normal for a few stones to loosen over time — especially on high-wear garments. Keep spare stones for quick touch-ups.
  • Glue-on stones: Use our LEOPARD STRASS Rhinestone White Glue (South Africa) or E6000 for a strong, lasting bond.
  • Avoid super glues (cyanoacrylate): They can frost the crystal surface and make stones cloudy.
  • Hotfix replacements: If a hotfix stone falls off, replace with a fresh hotfix stone — the old glue backing may be compromised.
  • Sew-on stones: Stitch firmly with strong thread.
  • Keep a mini kit: Glue, thread, and spare stones = flawless sparkle on demand.
Pro Tip — LEOPARD STRASS: Gentle handling, careful cleaning, and proper storage dramatically extend rhinestone life. Treat them like jewels — and they will shine like jewels.
Our standard LEOPARD STRASS rhinestone packs are reusable boxes — ideal for safe storage & organised refills.