Rinse in lukewarm water. Wood is sensitive to expansion / contraction, and exposure to especially hot or cold water may cause the wood beads to split and break.
If not worn for an extended period of time, it is best to store in a sealed ziploc bag to prevent wood beads from splitting.
Beaked hazel usually remains effective for 3-12 months depending on the acidity of the body. Replace if/when the ends of the wood
beads darken and/or symptoms return.
Don't be alarmed if/when the bark comes off or if there
are shallow cosmetic cracks in the beads. Beads change over
time.
For necklaces
with gemstone beads, the benefit of the gemstones last a lifetime.
When it is time to replace your hazel necklace, keep your gemstone
beads! Just rinse them off from time-to-time. They can be worn in a pocket.