Keep Your Belt Buckles Shining With This Easy Hack

There are few wardrobe items that can stand the test of time like belts can. These accessories serve multiple purposes — from holding up a pair of loose bottoms to acting as a stylish fashion accessory that elevates your look. In fact, statement belts are trending for 2024. Buying the right belt for you can take some time, but it's worth the effort to add this essential piece to your wardrobe.

Having found the belt of your choice, you would definitely want it to last for many years, instead of having to invest in new ones every season. Unfortunately, belts can start to look worn when the buckle loses it shine. But the good news is you can easily keep your buckles shiny with a simple product that you probably already have at home. Simple clear nail polish can be a game-changer in the buckle-shining game. By applying this to your hardware, you will be able to prolong the gleam of your belt buckles. 

Clear nail polish can be used for a number of household hacks, but our favorite one is to prolong the shine of metals. It comes down to the fact that the ingredients in clear nail polish are known to prevent the oxidation process from taking place on metals. This oxidation process is what causes long-term tarnishing. Hence, all you need to do is cover your old belt buckles with a coat of clear nail polish to give them that brand-new feeling. You can also use this hack on your new belt buckles to preserve the glossiness from the get-go. 

Additionally, clear nail polish helps the silver or gold paint on the metal of the belt buckle to stay in place. "If you're noticing the shiny, pigmented finish of your jewelry fading, or if you buy a piece that you want to keep looking new longer, coat it in clear nail polish to sustain its paint job," explained product tester Jessica Kasparin in a USA Today article. "I tested this theory on a few of my rings and necklaces and it worked like a charm — for a few months. Then I started noticing the color fading again, so I applied another coat." 

The nail polish hack works wonders on new belt buckles and clean old buckles, but if your old buckle is lacking shine because it's dirty, you'll have to begin the process with a good cleaning.

A soft bristle toothbrush is the best tool you can rely on to clean out your belt buckles, as the harder bristles will be harsh and abrasive on the metal. For the actual cleaning, begin by washing the belt buckle with warm water. Once this is done, you can use regular toothpaste to clean it out by applying it to the belt buckle. Then with the soft bristle toothbrush, you should spread the toothpaste around the belt buckle, and scrub it clean unil you see the tarnished portion vanish. Wash the toothpaste away under warm water again and then dry the belt buckle with a soft towel. If you feel it still isn't as clean as it can be, don't hesitate to repeat this entire process. 

Once the belt buckle is clean, it's time to reach for the clear nail polish to prolong the shine we've just brought out. At the end of the process, you've got yourself a luminous belt buckle that will keep your outfits looking fresh and put-together.