Not only is jewelry beautiful, but it frequently has sentimental value. But, even the best gems and metals can deteriorate without proper care. Soap residue, dust, sweat, hand cream, and everyday dirt and grime can cause jewelry to lose its luster and beauty. With proper cleaning, however, rings, earrings, bracelets, and necklaces can last for generations. Keep reading for the best ways to clean and care for jewelry.
General Care
To keep jewelry from needing custom jewelry repair services, owners should care for it. Store it in a jewelry box that separates pieces and keeps them away from moisture and sunlight. Before cleaning any jewelry, check to see if the manufacturer has cleaning methods they recommend. Regardless of how you clean, gentle rubbing, brushing, and wiping are best. Don’t be rough with delicate jewelry.
Cleaning Gold Jewelry
Use simple household items to clean gold jewelry. If the gold jewelry has precious stones, like rubies, emeralds, sapphires, or diamonds, try using seltzer water instead of plain water. The carbonation from seltzer water can help loosen dirt trapped in the settings. Jewelry cleaning wands can help when traveling.
To clean gold jewelry at home, mix one cup of warm water with several drops of dish soap. Soak the jewelry for three to five minutes. Consider using a strainer for small earrings or pendants. Swish jewelry around and brush with a soft toothbrush to remove any stuck dirt. Finally, rinse the jewelry with clean water. Gently dry them with a soft cloth.
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Cleaning Pearl Jewelry
Pearls can quickly lose their luster. Owners of cultured and faux pearls must clean them carefully. They should not soak them because this can weaken and break the string. Owners can purchase pearl cleaning kits. These have tissue sachets with cleaner and a soft cloth to make cleaning pearls easier.
Those who want to clean the pearls should mix a cup of warm water with a bit of shampoo. Then, using a clean makeup brush, apply the mixture with light pressure over the strand of pearls. Rinse the pearls with a damp cloth and allow them to dry.
Cleaning Silver Jewelry
The best way to keep silver jewelry looking nice is to use silver polish. The silver polish contains ingredients that remove tarnishes and leaves a protective coating that keeps new tarnish from developing. Silver cleaning wipes are often the easiest to use, but silver polish also comes in a liquid or paste.
Silver owners without silver polish can use warm water and dish liquid on a soft cloth to remove the tarnish. Rinse with cool water and dry with a soft cloth. Mixing baking soda with water may also help to remove the tarnish from a silver piece. Jewelers recommend not using these methods often as they will not keep the tarnish from returning.
Cleaning Costume Jewelry
Costume jewelry tarnishes because it is usually made from copper, aluminum, or brass. Keeping these pieces of jewelry away from water and storing them away from sunlight will help them stay in top condition. To preserve jewelry, consider putting on lotion and perfume before putting the costume jewelry on.
If cleaning it at home, mix several drops of dish soap with water and apply with a cloth over the jewelry. Don’t ever soak costume jewelry in water or the glue that holds things together could cause the pieces to come apart. Rinse the jewelry with fresh water and pat dry.
Even the best cared-for jewelry may occasionally need care from a professional jeweler. They can repair, clean, and inspect jewelry to ensure it remains in good condition for years to come.
