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.
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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
All good tips except for the info about turquoise jewelry: NEVER place turquoise jewelry in or around water! My grandmother taught me to always remove my Native American jewelry before doing anything near water. Turquoise has varying degrees of porosity, and the older pieces may have sawdust cushioning the cabs and if that gets wet, no more cushioning. You don’t want water to get down into the area between the stone and the bezel, either; AND you can ruin any pieces that have the black/oxidized accenting work if you get it wet. Also, turquoise is very vulnerable to being scratched, so if you have to clean the stone with water (for instance, if food has somehow gotten onto it), use a barely damp soft white cloth and rub gently, then pat it dry with a clean soft cloth. ONLY polish the jewelry with silver-polishing cloths and be sure to not let the stones come into contact with the cloth while you’re polishing. I see guides all over the Internet that seem to address only the newer, mass-produced turquoise jewelry – if you have genuine, handmade, and especially vintage Native American jewelry, do not follow the advice in these “guides.” Please correct your cleaning info for turquoise – thanks!
Wow – you nailed it all! All I can say is that after cleaning your pearls, do not pull the wet string they are on, you may stretch it.
Of course there are different tips on how to clean the jewelry and other stuff. The best thing to do is know what it is.
These are some great tips on how to clean your jewelry. What about designer watches such as Seiko watches? Are these the same steps to clean them?
Hey there thanks for this port the information is most usefull as i brought some costume jewellery back in 2009 and as you can imagine the gothic jewellery for my costumes whered looking to shapppy anymore but with this guide i have hope of bringing the shine back thx.