Has your jewelry lost its shine or are your gemstones looking cloudy? Before we dive into the at home remedies for cleaning your precious jewelry pieces, keep this in mind: always remove jewelry before washing your hands, swimming, exercising, showering, or applying a body spray. Perfumes, lotions, sunscreen, makeup, hair sprays and long wear can show tarnishes on your coveted jewelry. Whether it's your favorite pair of earrings, a cherished family heirloom, or a symbol of commitment like a wedding ring, knowing hot to clean your jewelry is essential to maintain its beauty and longevity.
While professional cleaning services are available, you can definitely clean your jewelry at home with the right techniques and tools. We'll explore various methods for cleaning different types of jewelry, including gold, silver, and diamonds, while also addressing what not to use to avoid damaging your precious pieces.
What Not To Clean Jewelry With?
Before we get into how to clean your jewels, it's important to know what not to clean your jewelry with at home. While it's tempting to use household cleaners or DIY solutions to clean your jewelry, certain products can damage delicate gemstones and metals. Avoid using the following:
- Harsh Chemicals: Avoid using bleach, ammonia, or other harsh chemicals, as they can tarnish or corrode metal jewelry and damage gemstones.
- Abrasives: Stay away from abrasive cleaners, such as baking powder, Windex, vinegar, hydrogen peroxide, alcohol or powdered cleaners, which can scratch, remove, or dull the surface of your jewelry.
- Ultrasonic Cleaners: While ultrasonic cleaners are effective for some types of jewelry, they can be too harsh for delicate gemstones or pieces with loose settings, potentially causing damage.
When Is It Time To Clean Your Jewelry?
Regular cleaning is essential to keep your jewelry looking its best. Aim to clean your jewelry every few months, or more frequently if you wear it regularly or notice it becoming dull or dirty. Additionally, clean your jewelry after exposure to chemicals, such as chlorine from swimming pools or harsh cleaning products, which can damage certain metals and gemstones.
What Do You Clean Jewelry With At Home?
Now that you know what not to use and when it’s time to clean your jewels, you may be thinking what can I use to clean my jewelry at home? Simple household dish soaps can be surprisingly effective. As there are many different types of jewelry and jewelry metals such as gold plated or fine jewelry, here is our preferred method of cleaning fashion jewelry at home:
Dish soap is a gentle yet effective cleaner that can remove dirt, oils, and grime from your jewelry. To use dish soap, simply mix a few drops with warm water in a bowl. Place your jewelry in the solution and let it soak for a few minutes. Then, use a soft cloth or paper towel to gently wipe the jewelry, paying attention to crevices and hard-to-reach areas. Rinse the jewelry thoroughly with water and pat dry with a soft cloth. Because gold plated jewelry has a thinner layer of gold surrounding the base metal, it’s important to stay away from harsh cleaners or hard brushes when cleaning.
How Do You Clean Fine Jewelry?
Fine jewelry differs from gold plated styles as fine jewelry does not have any plating around its base metal of gold. With this in mind, it's less likely for abrasives to show tarnish on the metal. Now, we don’t recommend using the abrasives first when cleaning your fine jewelry because they still could cause scratches or small signs of tarnish, but if you do you could use baking soda or toothpaste. Before reaching for the abrasives, we suggest you start off with dish soap the same way you would clean gold plated jewelry. Then if you are still unsatisfied with the outcome, you can reach for baking soda or toothpaste, but keep in mind there is potential for tarnishing.
To use dish soap, simply mix a few drops with warm water in a bowl. Place your jewelry in the solution and let it soak for a few minutes. Then, use a soft cloth or paper towel to gently wipe the jewelry, paying attention to crevices and hard-to-reach areas. Rinse the jewelry thoroughly with water and pat dry with a soft cloth.
Although Baking soda is a mild abrasive, it can help remove tarnish and brighten up dull jewelry. To clean with baking soda, create a paste by mixing baking soda with a small amount of water. Apply the paste to your jewelry using a soft cloth, gently rubbing the surface. Rinse the jewelry with water and dry it thoroughly with a clean cloth.
Toothpaste can be used as a quick and easy cleaner for jewelry, particularly for removing surface stains and tarnish. Apply a small amount of toothpaste to a soft cloth and gently scrub the jewelry. Rinse with water and dry with a clean cloth. Note that toothpaste should only be used on metal jewelry and not on pearls or other delicate gemstones, as it could cause scratching.
How Do You Clean Diamonds?
Diamonds are prized for their brilliance, but they can become cloudy to the eye and lose their sparkle due to oils, dirt, and everyday wear. Many would argue that diamonds are the most coveted and precious jewelry pieces in anyone's collection due to their high value and pristine shine. If you choose not to use abrasive cleaning methods for any jewelry type, diamonds are the one to choose, as you do not want to risk any form of tarnish or damage to your precious gemstones. Here's how to clean diamonds at home:
Prepare a solution of warm water and mild dish soap. Soak your diamond jewelry in the solution for 15-20 minutes to loosen dirt and oils. Use a soft-bristled brush to gently scrub the diamond or use a soft cloth, paying attention to any areas where dirt may be trapped. Rinse the jewelry thoroughly with water to remove any soap residue. Dry the jewelry with a clean soft cloth, ensuring the diamond is free from moisture to prevent water spots.
How To Store Your Jewelry To Keep It In The Best Condition?
You may not realize it, but how you store your jewelry can cause tarnishing or scratching to your jewelry. If pieces are tangled together for long periods of time it can cause those unwanted scratches. It is best to store your pieces in a fabric lined box or pouch. Our iconic pink Adina Eden pouch that your pieces come in is perfect for this!
Cleaning your jewelry at home is a simple yet important task to maintain its beauty and longevity. By using gentle cleaners and following proper techniques, you can keep your jewelry looking its best for years to come. Remember to clean your jewelry regularly, avoid harsh chemicals, and seek professional cleaning for delicate or valuable pieces. With the right care, your jewelry will continue to sparkle and shine for generations to come.
