Cleaning your jewelry should be done regularly to keep them from losing its shine and luster over time. But when it comes to cleaning your jewelry, you have many different options, and each has its pros and cons.
No one way of cleaning your jewelry is always the best because it depends on the type of jewelry in question, so it’s important to find out which method works best with your pieces before trying them out.
Dishwasher
In most cases, it’s safe to wash your jewelry in a dishwasher. (This is especially true if you’re only washing gold or silver—you’ll want to avoid chlorine bleach if you’re doing anything with platinum since it can damage metal).
But it’s important to remember that no matter what you put in a dishwasher, there will be certain kinds of materials that don’t belong there: for example, pearls shouldn’t go through a standard cycle because they can get caught up in machinery and damaged.
As always, use common sense when putting any piece of jewelry in a dishwasher, and make sure you check them afterward for any damages.
De-Salt
If you wear cufflinks often, they can become covered in salt and minerals. To clean them, put them into a bowl with warm water, baking soda, and lemon juice.
Soak for 15 minutes before rubbing them down with a toothbrush. Dry on a clean cloth then uses polishing cream to give them their shine back.
De-Smell: If you want to remove an odor from jewelry, fill a saucepan with equal parts white vinegar and water (don’t use too much water or your piece might float).
Then boil your jewelry over medium heat for 30 minutes and let it cool in the liquid overnight. This will draw out nasty smells!
Windex
Most jewelers recommend cleaning your jewelry with a glass cleaner, like Windex or Scrubbing Bubbles. Simply spray it on, wipe it off, and you’re done.
Some even use soap and water. But again: be sure to do that in a well-ventilated area away from your eyes! And try not to mix metals (i.e., don’t put silver into an ammonia-based cleaner).
Use Separate Cleaners for Stones
It is not uncommon for people to use household cleaners on their jewelry, especially rings. But avoid using household cleaning products or harsh chemicals around stones; many household chemicals can scratch or damage gemstones and metals.
Be careful with liquid soap and alcohol: they can leave a residue that damages delicate stones and make them more susceptible to staining.
When cleaning your jewelry at home, opt for soft cotton cloths rather than paper towels, and make sure you rinse everything off well.
For help, take your piece to a professional jeweler who will use special jewelry-safe materials to clean it. It’s best to let someone experienced handle any delicate stonework if you don’t know what you’re doing.
Use the Right Kind of Lint-Free Cloth
Never use a rough, scratchy towel to clean your jewelry. This is both damaging and ineffective. While you don’t need to use a towel specifically for cleaning jewelry, you want something that will get into small spaces and remove dirt without leaving behind lint or scratching delicate metals.
If you aren’t sure if your microfiber cloth has lint in it, test it out before using it on your jewelry; rub another piece of clothing against it and see if there is any lint transferral.
The right cloth will come out without anything but the pristine fabric on its surface.
Ultrasonic Cleaner
Ultrasonic cleaners clean jewelry by vibrating it at very high speeds. While most jewelry can be cleaned in an ultrasonic cleaner, there are some precautions you need to take when cleaning certain types of jewelry.
For example, if your piece has gems or diamonds that are held in with prongs, they should not be immersed in water or cleaned in an ultrasonic cleaner because it could loosen or dislodge them.
You also have to be careful about using an ultrasonic cleaner on older pieces that have delicate settings or may not have been made to withstand water exposure; these pieces could be ruined by simply being exposed to water without proper precautions.
Brush your Jewellery
It’s a good idea to brush your jewelry regularly. A lot of dust and dirt can settle on jewelry over time, which can eventually cause stains or discoloration.
Be sure to pick up a jewelry brush from your local hardware store and clean your pieces every once in a while. This will keep them looking shiny and new for longer periods.
Detergent Soak
The quick and easiest way to clean your jewelry is by taking a pinch of detergent, mixing it with water, and letting your jewelry soak for at least 30 minutes.
After soaking, just brush off any dirt or debris that may have stuck to your pieces. This is a good method if you are in a hurry and don’t want to worry about rubbing certain areas too hard for fear of scratching them.
If your piece is gold, you can try using warm water mixed with regular dish soap instead. Rubbing Alcohol: Rubbing alcohol acts as an excellent cleaning agent for removing tough stains from precious metals like silver and gold.
For other materials like rubber or leather, it’s not quite as effective but will still do its job in getting rid of any pesky spots.
Baking Soda and Vinegar Soak
To clean your gold jewelry, first, place a small amount of baking soda into a container filled with warm water. Soak your jewelry in it for 15 minutes.
After soaking, scrub off any tarnish with a toothbrush and rinse with cool water. You can then soak it in vinegar or lemon juice to restore its shine.
Repeat if necessary. If you don’t want to give up on your sterling silver ring because of an engraving or personalized design, you can also polish it back to life using baking soda and vinegar.
Rub some baking soda onto an old toothbrush and dip it into vinegar before applying it to your silver piece. Repeat until desired shine is achieved and let dry before wearing again.
Dry in Shade, Not in Direct Sunlight
Letting your jewelry bask in natural light can cause it to tarnish. If you need to dry your jewelry after washing it, do so in a shady area; sunlight exposure can wear away gems and turn gold into a dull yellowish color.
It’s also important to remember that direct sunlight can fade gemstones like pearls, quartz, and topaz. Instead, gently shake out or pat down your jewelry in indirect sunlight or under artificial light.
Just be sure not to apply any moisture!
