How to Care for a Keepsake Long Term
It arrives, you put it on, and for a few weeks it's the most important object you own. Then it becomes something you simply wear — which is when most of the damage happens. Not in one dramatic accident, but across a hundred ordinary afternoons.
Universal rules
- No direct sun, ever. UV is the common enemy of resin, wood finish, and fur pigment alike. A shelf out of the window line is fine; a windowsill is not.
- No bathroom, no kitchen. Steam and humidity swings do more damage in a year than a decade in a drawer.
- Keep it away from perfume, hairspray, sunscreen, and cleaning products. Solvents cloud resin, strip wood oil, and leave residue in fur.
- Store jewellery separately. Metal clasps scratch resin and glass; chains tangle and stress the bail.
By material
- Resin: wipe with a soft dry cloth only. No alcohol, no acetone, no polishing compound — all of them cloud the surface permanently. Accept micro-scratches; they cannot be polished out by hand.
- Glass: avoid thermal shock more than impact. Don't move it from a cold room to a warm hand quickly, don't leave it in a car. Clean with a barely damp cloth, never hot water.
- Wood: oil every 6–12 months with a food-safe oil (mineral or tung), a thin coat, wiped dry after 20 minutes. Keep away from radiators and windowsills — rapid drying is what causes splits.
- Metal: a soft cloth and occasional jeweller's polish. Remove before swimming, especially in chlorinated or salt water.
Wearing it
Remove for showers, swimming, gym, and sleep. Not because the fur will be damaged by a shower — it is sealed — but because clasps fail, and losing the piece is the actual risk.
One habit that saves people: photograph it, front and back, and note the maker and the year. If it is ever lost or damaged, that record is what lets you get it repaired or remade.
Related reading
- 5 Questions to Ask Before Buying a Pet Keepsake
- Wood vs Glass vs Resin Keepsakes: An Honest Comparison
- What to Say to Someone Who Lost a Pet
Stillglow makes small keepsakes for the fur, whiskers and paw prints people want to keep. See the collection — or just keep reading, the guides here are free either way.
If you'd like to keep a little of them
If you're reading this for someone else, or for a day that hasn't happened yet, these are the quiet things people are glad they had.
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