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.
How 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.
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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
Your tips blew me away! Thanks for sharing this blog post today.
This is great stuff, just want to add that if your jewelry is 24k gold then you can clean it with lots of different stuff since gold is pretty tough and can withstand lots of chemicals… having said that, dishwashing liquid will usually do the trick tho =)
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I don’t understand what this means?
Recommended cleaners you can use are chemical, toothpaste, natural, and cloth.
Which natural? Water? Air?
How do you clean black hills gold? My necklace and ring was originally light gold but now it looks tarnished silver…! Yuck.