How to Untangle a Chain Necklace

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Anyone who wears jewelry has probably experienced a tangled necklace. Whether delicate gold-plated chains, silver paper-clip chains, gold chains for men or any other design, necklaces can easily get tangled when you're not wearing them. Luckily, the Frost NYC experts have tips and tricks to help you untangle your chain necklace. With a little bit of patience and the right supplies, you can easily get your necklace ready to wear again. 

Step 1: Gather Your Supplies

The first step to untangling a chain necklace is grabbing some supplies:

• A lubricant: Grab baby powder or baby oil to act as a lubricant. You can use olive oil if you don't have baby products.
• A sharp tool: You'll want to get something sharp like a needle, a thumbtack or an earring with a post.
• Gentle cleaning supplies: Gather some mild soap, some water and a cloth so that you can clean the chain necklace once you're done untangling it. 

Step 2: Apply the Lubricant

If you're using baby powder, gently sprinkle it on the necklace, paying special attention to the areas that are knotted. If you're using oil, you can use a cotton swab or folded-up paper towel to apply it. 

Don't use so much lubricant that you're not able to easily handle the necklace, but make sure it is adequately applied to help loosen the tangles. 

Step 3. Massage Any Knots

Use your fingers to gently massage knots in the chain. Place the knot between your fingers and rub them together until you feel the knot start to loosen and separate. Ideally, you'll loosen it enough that you can untie or untwist the necklace as needed. 

Source: Michael Silunsky/shutterstock.com

Step 4. Insert a Needle and Tug

If a knot is particularly tight or only loosened up a little with the lubricant, it's time to take out the needle or other fine, sharp tool. Anything thin, durable and pointed should do the trick, like a tack or the previously mentioned stud earring. Carefully place the needle or tack into the center of the knot and gently tug in one direction. Poke around in different areas until you find a piece of the chain that starts to come loose.

Try doing this on a flat surface to maintain your progress and avoid making additional tangles. Using a needle or tack can take time and patience. It would help if you looked closely at the rope chain as you pick and pull to see how it is tangled. After some pulling with the tack, you should be able to identify where you can unweave the necklace to straighten it out. 

Step 5. Clean the Necklace

Once you've untangled your chain necklace, use warm water and mild dish soap to rinse off any lubricant. Then, thoroughly dry the jewelry. Be extremely careful when handling the necklace to avoid tangling it again. If you're cleaning the chain in a sink, block the drain to ensure your jewelry doesn't get lost during the cleaning process. 

Bonus Method With Window Cleaner

If you don't have baby powder, baby oil or olive oil, and a needle just isn't cutting it, there is another method you can try. Collect window cleaner and a small container. Apply the window cleaner to the knots in your chain necklace, then put the necklace in the container. Place it on your washer or dryer during the spin cycle when it's vibrating. The lubricant combined with the vibrations should help loosen the knot enough for you to pick it apart. 

As with the other methods, be sure to wash the necklace when you're done. You may want to soak it in a dish of warm water and mild dish soap to ensure all of the cleaner is removed. Also, be conscious of the material of your necklace to ensure the cleaner won't cause any damage. 

Source: Pavel Chepelev/shutterstock.com

Final Thoughts

If you notice your chain necklace has knots in it, you can untangle it at home. By following these steps, you can get the knots out so that your necklace looks as good as the brand-new offerings from Frost NYC and is ready to be worn again.