How to Clean Antique Hat Pins

While some antique hat pins are worth no more than a few dollars, others can sell for several hundred. Part of an antique hat pin's value and beauty lies in its condition. A hat pin covered in decades of dust may not show its true beauty as well as it would if it were clean. On the other hand, using harsh chemicals to strip your hat pin of any signs of age may cause irreversible damage and take away from its antique charm. Use gentle cleaning methods to preserve the hat pin's condition while removing obvious dirt and dust.

Instructions

1

Brush the hat pin gently with a soft toothbrush to remove any dust or loose dirt. Do not rub too hard, especially if your hat pin has rhinestones or other particularly delicate pieces. Do this over a bowl if your hat pin has gems or rhinestones, as these might only be held in place by old dirt and may fall out when that dirt is removed.

2

Clean the metal portion of your hat pin with an appropriate substance. For example, you can clean silver with a homemade paste of baking soda and water. You can use a mixture of one part ammonia to two parts water for gold. Apply these mixtures with a very soft cloth, taking care to only apply to the metal portions of the hat pin. Rub the item gently, and then rinse these portions of the hat pin. Dry gently with another soft cloth.

3

Clean emeralds, turquoise, jade, lapis, opals and malachite in your antique hat pin by dipping a soft toothbrush into a mild soap and water mixture. Gently clean the stones with this toothbrush, then rinse with water and dry with a soft cloth.

4

Wipe any pearls in the hat pin with a barely dampened, very soft cloth. Do not use a soap mixture on these sensitive items, as they may become dull or discolored.

5

Dry your hat pin as much as possible with a soft cloth. Allow it to air dry completely before storage. Store the hat pin in a pouch lined with soft material to keep it safe.