How to Untangle Necklaces Without Damaging Them

Nothing can kill the vibe when you’re getting ready to head out, you reach for a chain you haven’t worn in a while, and you find it tangled up with another one. Instead of simply adding some drip to your look and going about the rest of the day, you have to take a minute to detangle your pieces. 

Untangling metal necklaces can feel like a daunting task, especially if you don’t know where to start. 

We got you. This guide will provide step-by-step instructions for successfully and safely untangling your chains without damaging them. 

Let’s start with the prep work. 

Before continuing, remember that you’re untangling your chains at your own risk. We can’t guarantee one process will work for every possible situation, and we don’t assume any responsibility for any breakage or damage to necklaces that you might experience when attempting to untangle them. 

Prep Work

Before you can untangle your necklaces, you need to prep them for the process. First, you’ll need to gather the necessary materials. 

To properly untangle your necklaces, you’ll need a flat surface spacious enough for both of your necklaces to lay flat in their entirety. This can be something like a tabletop or counter top. You should also make sure that the surface is well-lit so that it’s easy to find the small knots and tangles.

If you cannot free your chains by hand, you may want to grab a pair of tweezers or rubber-tipped pliers. These tools will allow you to grip chains, especially smaller ones, with ease with minimal risk of damage. 

Separating the Chains

Now that you’ve prepped, it’s time to begin untangling your necklaces. Begin by carefully laying out each chain on the work surface. Make sure they’re both lying as flat as possible with no visible loops or twists in the chain links to prevent further headaches while working on them. 

Once all of the chains are laid out flat, carefully examine them for any knots or tangles, particularly near where the two chains intersect with one another. If there are any visible knots near these intersections, gently use your fingers or your tool of choice to loosen them up. 

You may also want to take a few moments at this stage to observe how the tangled sections fit together and gain an understanding of why they have become tangled in the first place. This insight can be useful when deciding how best to proceed during later steps.

Next, begin removing any larger knots and snarls using either your fingers or a pair of tweezers or pliers. If you do end up using pliers or tweezers, only use ones with rubber tips for jewelry. Metal tips can scratch and damage the chain. 

Avoid applying too much pressure when separating the chains, and don’t pull with too much force on the individual links. With enough pressure, you could risk could breaking the links and damaging the piece. Continue going through each section of the tangle until all of the larger knots have been removed and undone completely. 

If you’re having trouble separating the chains at this point, start by focusing on freeing one piece at a time. Keep one necklace lying flat on the work surface and instead try to move the other chain around and through the tangles. 

Once all of the larger knots have been removed from both necklaces, now it's time to tackle any smaller tangles. These will typically consist of very thin sections of interconnected links, which should now be much easier to separate. Once the chains are freed, just use some mild soap to wash off the oils. 

To do this effectively without accidentally introducing even more twists into those sections while separating them, try holding onto two ends located at either side of those entangled sections instead. Slowly slide one end away from another until each link gradually becomes separated.

Are tweezers or pliers too large? You can also use a straight pin or sewing needle to reach tight spaces. When handling one, make sure you’re pointing the sharp end away from you to avoid accidentally hurting yourself. 

Finally, once both necklaces have been fully separated, look them over again for any last little tangles or twists that could’ve gone unnoticed. If you spot any, repeat the process until your chains are completely free. 

How to Prevent Future Tangled Chains 

The number-one way to prevent chains from tangling up in the future is to hang them on a jewelry stand. Keep a few centimeters between each one to keep them from overlapping. 

You can also organize your chains on a jewelry stand by link size, metal, and chain type. This can help you more carefully select the one you want to rock for the day without having to sift through all of them and risk intertwining them. 

Purchasing a quality chain also helps to prevent tangles. Ones that are cheaply made will often have more malleable links with weaker construction, creating a risk of knots. Well-made necklaces have strong, sturdy links that stay in place while still providing enough flex to be worn comfortably. 

Get a Quality Chain to Upgrade Your Fit Today

At GLD, we’re committed to supplying you with the freshest, cleanest chains in the game. With that perfect drip to complete your fit, you’ll feel and look your best wherever you go and in any situation.