Got a nasty snarl in my favorite elephant necklace. I know. I was bummed about it too.
My fingernails are crazy short right now and tweezers were no help. I heard about olive oil but that just made it slimy. What helped?
Baby powder. It coated all the metal links and everything separated easy peasy. It’s an old Heloise Hints trick I never thought would work. But you know what? It did. It totally did. I’m guessing it would also work cornstarch or flour. Someone try it out and report back, k?
Thanks, Heloise!
Aaaahhhh this is genius! I usually just give up after a few seconds if I can’t get a necklace untangled. What I want is a way to store them without them getting all knotted together. Oh well, at least now I have know an easier way to get them unknotted!
Thanks for the tip!
Ooo – I have a good storage method too. May or may not be useful to everyone but I’ll post it next week. Thanks for the idea, Maggie!
I hang my favorites on the wall (branch hangers from Urban Outfitters) and keep the “once-in-awhile” ones in snack size ziplocks in those photoboxes from craft stores. I know the ziplocks are a little cheesy, but it works for now!
There was a time when virtually all of my jewelry was purchased in Israeli shuks (markets). I hung everything from nails on one bedroom wall. I interspersed a few mirrors framed and backed with Bedouin embroidery. Then I started buying colorful Indian pieces — belts, tassels, etc. — not to wear, but to hang on that wall. Almost everything is in storage in my studio now, but just thinking about how much I loved that wall — I’m gonna recreate it….with the addition of a ton of chamsas which I’ve made in the meantime. And I owe the motivation to your baby powder blog and Kaylin’s “favorites on the wall” response. Thank you, ladies.
Lynne
Ah, that always clever Heloise! Is there any household problem she can’t fix? If I ever have pet chickens, I’m going to name one Heloise, and the other one Hedy Lamarr.
Gotta get my necklaces untangled first, though.
or just give it to me for a few minutes. i get insane satisfaction from untangling knots…
Baby powder is great for the beach too. When you have sand stuck to your skin, just rub on some baby powder and whala!
Oh Heloise, what a dear! Now I’m gonna have to keep baby powder in my jewelry area and call it “Get the Hell Out”…hahaha (but I’m totally not sorry for the bad pun)
I LOVE Heloise!! My grandma had a “hints from Heloise” book that I read cover to cover once I learnt to read. I was the 7 year old who knew how to get wax out of carpets and lipstick off white dress shirts. She’s still got the best household tips!
Wow this piece of advice is such a lifesaver! I hate untangling necklaces, especially when I’m in a hurry, coz I have short nails too. What usually happens is that I change my clothes instead. I’m gonna try cornstarch and flour as well. Will let you know the outcome!