How to Care for Enamel Pins So They Stay Shiny

Quick answer

Clean enamel pins with a soft, damp cloth and mild soap, dry them completely, and store them away from moisture and direct sunlight. For tarnish, use a jeweler’s cloth made for plated metals—never abrasive polishes or vinegar soaks. Check pin backs regularly and replace any that feel loose so you don’t lose a pin you love.

Your step-by-step enamel pin care routine

1. Step 1: Brush off loose dust first: Use a clean, dry, soft-bristled brush (a makeup brush or baby toothbrush works) to sweep dust from the enamel recesses and the metal edges. Do this over a tray so a loose pin back doesn’t roll away. Checkpoint: if the pin still looks dull after dusting, move to Step 2. If it looks fine, stop here—less handling means less wear.
2. Step 2: Wipe with a damp cloth and mild soap: Dampen a microfiber cloth with lukewarm water and one drop of mild dish soap. Wipe the pin gently, then wipe again with a clean damp cloth to remove soap residue. Never soak the pin or run it under a strong stream. Common mistake: using hot water or leaving soap residue. Both can cloud plating over time.
3. Step 3: Dry immediately and completely: Pat the pin dry with a soft cloth, then let it air-dry for a few minutes before storing or wearing. Pay attention to the clasp area and any recessed enamel—moisture trapped there is what leads to tarnish. Checkpoint: if you see any water droplets, keep drying. A hair dryer on the cool setting can help, but keep it several inches away.
4. Step 4: Treat tarnish with a jeweler’s cloth only: For light tarnish, use a treated jeweler’s cloth designed for plated metals. Rub gently in one direction, then switch to a clean part of the cloth to buff. Don’t scrub hard or use liquid polish. Common mistake: rubbing too aggressively. Plating is thin; you want to lift tarnish, not remove metal.
5. Step 5: Check and tighten pin backs: Before wearing, press each pin back firmly onto the post. If a rubber back feels loose or a butterfly clasp no longer grips, replace it with a new one. A snug back is the cheapest insurance against losing a pin. Checkpoint: give each back a gentle tug. If it slides off with light pressure, swap it.
6. Step 6: Store pins dry, dark, and separated: Keep pins on their original backer cards or in a felt-lined box. Store them out of direct sunlight and away from humid rooms like bathrooms. If you stack pins, put a soft cloth between layers so metal doesn’t scratch enamel. Next step: rotate your display every few months so you can spot tarnish early, before it sets in.

Pin care in practice

• NYC Statue of Liberty Enamel Pin: New York Statue of Liberty Torch Enamel Pin by Allison Cole has a butterfly clasp for durability and comes packaged on a backer card in a hang bag. A butterfly clasp holds more securely than a simple rubber back, so it’s less likely to work loose during wear. Keep the backer card—it’s a safe place to store the pin when it’s not on a bag or jacket.
• It's Called Self Care Trash Raccoon Rectangle Magnet: It’s Called Self Care Trash Raccoon Rectangle Magnet by Gemma Correll is 2.5" x 3.5" with a flexi-ceramic magnetic back, USA made with recycled paper and steel, and hand-pressed by Badge Bomb in Portland, OR. If you also collect magnets, treat them differently from pins: wipe the printed face with a dry cloth and keep the magnetic back away from credit cards and pacemakers. The flexi-ceramic back can chip if dropped on a hard floor.
• Mystical Mushroom Forest Puzzle: Mystical Mushroom Forest Puzzle by Badge Bomb includes a printed poster of the puzzle design, has 500 random ribbon-cut pieces, is made from 100% recycled gray board, and is printed with vegetable-based inks. Puzzle pieces and enamel pins share a storage rule: keep them dry and flat. If you display pins near a puzzle in progress, use a tray or mat so pieces don’t scratch pin plating when you move things around.