Snow Globe Care and Repair

I received my first snow globe as a gift from my mother when I was fifteen years old. It was two circus elephants juggling balls on their trunks set upon a ceramic base with colorful rhinestones for intricate detail. The song it played was “the circus is coming to town.” I was fascinated with turning the globe upside down and shaking it, watching the snow fall upon the scene while the music played. It was like a magical world that I wished I could step inside of. This was how my love of snow globes and my collection began.

Over the years my collection has expanded to include 30 snow globes. Each of them were given as a gift from a friend or family member who knew I wanted to start a collection. Some of these snow globes were given to me over thirteen years ago. Not only do the snow globes themselves tell a story but they also remind me of a person or time period of my life. One was given to me by my grandfather shortly before he died. It is moments like those that will live on forever through that snow globe. For these reasons, I want to make sure I always take care of my collection properly to preserve them.

Lately I have noticed the water in some of my globes turning from clear to yellow. Other globes have bubbles forming inside and a few appear to be leaking. The majority though are still in mint condition. When I began to notice these changes I wanted to make repairs. It was then that I realized I have been a collector for years and had no idea on the proper care or repair of a snow globe. Could I even make these repairs myself? It was time to do some research!

While conducting my research I learned that repairs are best left to professionals. In most cases the base of the globe will need to be removed or the right mix and amount of chemicals will need to be added to the water inside the globe. The good news is there are professionals out there who can make these repairs for you at a reasonable cost. www.snowgloberepair.com is a website that specializes in fixing or restoring snow globes. You can also visit inhermajestysservice.com. for repairs or replacement parts to do it yourself. You can also check with a craft store to see if they know of anyone in your area or a glass store may be able to fix a leak, surface scratch or even replacement.

As in most cases, the best defense is a good offense. The most important care tip I have discovered is to store you globe at room temperature. Heat may cause evaporation in the globe and damage to the base adhesive. Cold temperatures may cause leaks and discoloration. A snow globe should be dusted on a regular basis lightly with a feather duster to avoid buildup. A mild cleaner can be used to clean the base and window cleaner is fine to use on the glass. Never use harsh chemicals to clean your globe. Many snow globes have musical components and it is important not to over-wind this key or use cleaning agents that could rust it. Regular maintenance should preserve your globe as a beautiful addition to your home décor and conversational piece.