Ever wonder how to clean jewelry at home? If so, here are several proper cleaning techniques on how to clean jewelry such as costume, silver, gold, pearl, and even turquoise jewelry.
Photo Credit ~ Stella DotHow to Clean Costume Jewelry at Home
Costume jewelry needs regular cleaning to keep the good luster for longtime use. First choose a good jewelry cleaning solution. Avoid alcohols and acids like ammonia and vinegar. Read the label of the solution to make sure it can be used with the metal being cleaned.
Avoid using soap and water when cleaning costume jewelery. Soaps tend to leave a mark on the surfaces of metal or cause the stones to look dull. While vinegar is lethal to precious gemstones, Windex is also detrimental to delicate finishes of jewelry. Recommended cleaners you can use are chemical, toothpaste, natural, and cloth. Of these toothpaste has been famed to be the low-priced yet effective solution.
Use the solution to clean smudges from gemstones and class. Dab a small amount onto a cotton swab, and gently buff the dirty spot. Never soak jewelry in the solution, because moisture breaks down glue, welding and other adhesives bonding the jewelry together.
Use a baby toothbrush to gently brush off the costume jewelry to prevent scratching. You can also pick residue out of encrusted areas with a toothpick. Dry quickly to avoid rusting. Dab the jewelry with a towel or blow dry on a cool air setting.
Photo Credit ~ Lisa Leonard Button Bracelet
How to Clean Silver Jewelry
To clean silver jewelry Rinse in warm water and pat dry. If silver is tarnished, use a silver-polishing cloth or a jar of silver-cleaning fluid, such as Goddard’s Silver Dip (available at drugstores). (Silver cleaner won’t harm gold and platinum, but it won’t clean them, either.) For jewelry with intricate designs, use a silver-cleaning paste, which can get into small crevices. (Don’t use toothpaste or other abrasive cleaners, which will scratch.) Wipe with a clean, soft cloth.
How to Clean Gold Jewelry
To clean gold jewelry simply soak for 15 minutes in a solution of two cups warm water and a few drops of a mild dishwashing liquid, like Joy. Gently scrub with a soft-bristle toothbrush. Rinse with warm water, and dry with a soft cloth.
How to Clean Diamond Jewelry
To clean diamond jewelry simply oak for 20 minutes in a solution of one cup warm water and 1/4 cup ammonia. Then gently scrub with a soft-bristle toothbrush, getting into the small areas between the diamond and the setting. Rinse with warm water, and lay on a tissue to dry. If your diamonds are set in platinum, this method will also clean the setting.
How to Clean Pearl Jewelry
To clean pearl jewelry Rub each pearl individually with a soft, clean cotton cloth dampened with a solution of two cups warm water and a few drops of a mild dish-washing liquid, like Joy. (Soaking strands of pearls can cause the string to stretch.) Let air-dry overnight.
How to Clean Turquoise Jewelry
To clean turquoise jewelry dip in warm water. Gently scrub with a soft toothbrush. Rinse with warm water. Let air-dry.
More Tips from Tip Junkie:
- Remove Ink Stains From a Baby Doll
- Make Your Own Laundry Soap {Saving Money}
- Clothes Stain ~ How to get Whites the Whitest
Do you have a cleaning solution? Feel free to share it with us! Simply leave the link to your blog post in the comments, or upload a photo to the Tip Junkie Facebook page. I adore hearing from you. {{wink}}
Question of the Day:
What’s your best cleaning tip?
Creating Memories that Endure,
Laurie
Did you know pearls are harvested from many freshwater “farms” within the United States? Some people consider these less valuable even though they are created in the exact same manner as naturally occurring pearls…you just don’t have to hunt for these! Great tip on cleaning pearls. They are beautiful and durable but do require a cleaning once in a while to keep their luster.
A pearl is a hard object produced within the soft tissue (specifically the mantle) of a living shelled mollusk. Just like the shell of a mollusk, a pearl is made up of calcium carbonate in minute crystalline form, which has been deposited in concentric layers. The ideal pearl is perfectly round and smooth, but many other shapes of pearls (baroque pearls) occur. The finest quality natural pearls have been highly valued as gemstones and objects of beauty for many centuries, and because of this, the word pearl has become a metaphor for something very rare, fine, admirable, and valuable.
I found a bunch of my costume jewelry from the 80’s, but some baby oil had leaked into the bag. Any idea how to clean baby oil off of costume jewelry (metal, plastic, rubber, glass)?
If you want optimum jewelry care, you can take your items to the jewelers or any jewelry shop for cleaning and polishing. You can do this about twice a year depending on how badly scratched the item is. This is also your chance to get your jeweler to make adjustments or improvements on your jewelry.
Wow! Very complete tips. Your tips will help my wife to clean her jewelry. And one of your photos gives me inspiration to buy jewelry like that for my wife. Thanks Laurie, you’re inspiring me…