How to Untangle Necklaces

Co-authored by wikiHow Staff

Last Updated: October 15, 2022 References Tested

Necklace knots are incredibly difficult to untangle and unfortunately, the longer and thinner the chain, the more challenging the knot! Trying to pry the tangle apart can make the knot even tighter or snap the chain, breaking the necklace completely. However, with some lubricant, small picking tools, and patience, you can unknot your tangled necklace in minutes.

Method 1

Method 1 of 5:

Untangling Your Necklace Using Lubricating Oil

1
Find a clear workspace. Find a hard and flat surface, like a table, to work at while you untangle the knot.^{[1]
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Research source} The flat and hard surface will provide stability when you begin working through the tangles and will prevent other tangles from forming during the process.
- Be sure that your workspace has plenty of light so you can see the knots and tangles clearly.^{[2]
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- It helps to work on a black or white background, so the knots in the necklace stand out against the stark colors.
2
Unclasp the necklace. If you have one necklace that is tangled, unclasp the fasteners connecting the two ends of the necklace.^{[3]
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Research source} If you have multiple necklaces tangled together, undo the clasp or latch for each one.
- Undoing the clasp will separate the necklace strand, allowing the ends of the necklace to slide more easily through the knotted areas.
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3
Spread out your necklace. Whether you have one tangled necklaces or numerous, lay them on your work surface, and gently spread them out so you can identify the tangled sections.
- Be careful not to pull your necklace too hard as you spread it on your workspace. You could end up tightening the knot or breaking the necklace.^{[4]
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4
Add a lubricant to the knot. Dab a couple drops of baby oil or olive oil to the knotted parts of the necklace.^{[5]
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Research source} The oil will allow the strands of the necklace to slide past each other more easily as you untangle the knot.
- Lubricating oils like baby oil or olive oil are safe to add to necklaces, and can be easily washed off.^{[6]
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5
Pull apart the knot with needles. Poke the sharp tips of two needles into the center of the knot. While in the middle of the knot, gently pull the needles away from each other to open and loosen the knot.^{[7]
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Research source} Once you get an opening in the knot, use the needles to pull apart each strand of the necklace within the knot.^{[8]
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Research source} Be very patient during this untangling step. It can be very easy to get frustrated working with such concentration on such a small scale.
- Any fine needle such as a sewing needle, safety pin, or thumb tack will work for this untangling process.^{[9]
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6
Clean the necklace. Once the necklace has been untangled, you can remove the oil or baby powder you previously added by dunking the soiled portion of the necklace into a mixture of mild detergent and water.^{[10]
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Research source} Rinse off the necklace with clean water, and gently dry the necklace with a paper towel or a soft cloth.
- You can also use store bought jewelry cleaner to remove the oil on the necklace. Just be sure to rinse the necklace with clean water, and gently dry it.

Method 2

Method 2 of 5:

Untangling Your Necklace Using Baby Powder

1
Add baby powder to the knot. Lessen friction between the knotted necklace links by sprinkling a bit of baby powder onto the knotted areas of the necklace.^{[11]
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Research source} Baby powder is safe to add to necklaces and can easily be washed off.
- Once the baby powder is sprinkled on the knot, consider gently rubbing the knot in between your fingers to allow the powder to fall inside of and loosen the knot.^{[12]
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2
Pick at the knot with needles. Insert the tips of your two needles into the middle of the knotted area. While in the knot, pick and pull the needles away from each other to try and open up the knot.^{[13]
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Research source} When you begin to expand the space between the knotted areas, you can start to separate individual necklace strands.^{[14]
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3
Clean the necklace. When you have successfully untangled the necklace, clean the necklace by dipping it into a cleaning solution of mild detergent and water.^{[15]
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Research source} Rinse the necklace off with clean water, and use a paper towel to gently dry the necklace.

Method 3

Method 3 of 5:

Untangling Your Necklace Using a Screwdriver

1
Prepare your workspace. Locate a workspace that you don't mind potentially scratching the surface. Alternatively, you can lie down a protective surface to on your flat workspace.
- This could be something like a hard book, or a plastic place mat.
2
Poke a screwdriver into the knot. Insert the sharp point of the screwdriver through the middle portion of the knot.^{[16]
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Research source} Press the screwdriver onto your work surface so it is completely touching the work surface. Wiggle the screwdriver back and forth until the necklace begins to loosen around the knot.^{[17]
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- This same method can be used with practically any small, thin object (pin, needle, tack, etc.).
3
Pull apart the knot. Once the knot has loosened, you can use the screwdriver and your fingers to begin pulling apart and separating the individual sections of the knot.^{[18]
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Method 4

Method 4 of 5:

Untangling Your Necklace Using Windex

1
Lubricate the knot. Dab some drops of Windex onto the knotted parts of the necklace. The Windex will act as a lubricant, helping the knotted necklace strands slide past each other.^{[19]
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2
Loosen the necklace knot. Place your necklace in a small container on top of a vibrating object, such as a washing machine.^{[20]
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Research source} Allow the necklace to rest on the vibrating object for a few minutes.
- The vibrations will help shift and shake the knot of the necklace loose.
3
Untangle the necklace. After the necklace has had some time to sit and shake, remove the necklace from the small container, and rub the knot in between your fingers.^{[21]
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- At this point, the necklace should be loose enough to pick apart with your fingers.
4
Clean the necklace. To remove the Windex residue, dip and rub your necklace in a cleaning solution consisting of a small amount of mild detergent and water.^{[22]
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Research source} Rinse your necklace with clean water, and gently dry it with a paper towel.

Method 5

Method 5 of 5:

Preventing Your Necklaces From Tangling

1
Thread your necklaces through a straw. Unclasp the two ends of your necklace. Hold a drinking straw vertically, and drop the smaller end of your necklace clasp down through the straw. When the necklace comes out through the bottom of the straw, reconnect the two ends of your necklace.^{[23]
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- This method may work best with thinner necklaces, and necklaces that don't have an attached and immovable pendant in the center of the chain. The pendant will not be able to fit through the straw.
- If your necklace has an immovable pendant, consider cutting the straw in half, threading one chain on the side of the pendant through the straw.^{[24]
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2
Hang your necklaces. Rather than keeping all of your necklaces in a jewelry box, consider using a necklace tree (the “tree's” branches allow necklaces to hang) or create your own necklace hanger.^{[25]
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Research source} You can use pins and a bulletin board to make a fun, unique jewelry hanger.
- Keep in mind, heavy necklaces might not hang very securely on the pins.
3
Bag your necklaces while traveling. Insert your necklace into a small, snap closure bag (the kind buttons come in with new clothes) and leave the clasp closure outside of the bag.^{[26]
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Research source} Snap as much of the small baggie as you can shut, except for the area where the clasp is hanging out.
- The small baggie will keep the necklace contained without jumbling the chain together.

Community Q&A

Question

What if the baby oil makes the necklace stink?

Community Answer

You might have to add some type of jewelry cleaner to get rid of the smell.
Question

Do you have any suggestions for untangling a layered necklace?

Community Answer

Yes. Stick a safety pin into the heart of the knot and pull. You can also use twine or string to separate strands.
Question

Does this work for silver and gold necklaces?

Community Answer

This technique can work for any knot in any kind of necklace. Just be sure to use small needles as opposed to a small screwdriver (or something of the like) since silver and gold are relatively soft metals.