Our Guide To Cleaning Jewellery

Writer and expert5 years ago

There’s not much more beautiful than brand new sparkly jewellery, but how about a month or two later? When it’s constantly touching your skin, jewellery seems to fade or get dirty so quickly and trust us, we understand the fear of cleaning something so delicate and precious. With so many do’s and don’ts scattered around the internet, it’s hard to know if you’re doing the right thing for your jewellery. So to take away the stress way, we’ve pulled together an easy guide to cleaning jewellery.

#1 Gold

Follow the below steps for the best method to clean gold jewellery with gem stones, as it is gentle enough for both.

In a bowl, mix together gentle dish soap and club soda.
Give your jewellery a wipe with a dry cloth then soak it in the mixture for 15 minutes to half an hour.
Using a baby toothbrush or an old toothbrush with worn out, soft bristles, gently brush the jewellery.
Take the jewellery out of the bowl and run lukewarm water over it in a gentle stream to get rid of any debris or leftover solution. Make sure you have the plug in just in case!
Blot dry with a soft cloth and set aside to dry fully before you wear it again.

Once every couple of monthsIf your jewellery has no platinum or pearl, every now and then you can give it a tougher clean to get it fully, deeply clean.

Combine 1 part ammonia with 6 parts water.
Soak the jewellery for no longer than a minute and immediately rinse under lukewarm water.

#2 Rose Gold

Rose gold is a little tougher than gold so you can use a stronger solution.

Line a bowl with a flannel or towel to protect the jewellery from any scratches.
Mix together warm water, salt, baking soda and a little bit of dish soap.
Place the jewellery into the solution and let it soak for 5-10 minutes, rubbing it gently with your fingers every now and then.
After the time is up, rinse under running water and set aside to dry.

#3 Silver

If you don’t clean your silver properly, it will only get duller.

Dissolve some salt into warm water.
Tear up some aluminium foil and add this into the water. The reaction between the salt and foil will react with the tarnish on your jewellery, restoring the faded black/grey back to a shiny silver.
Soak for 5 minutes, and repeat the process if marks are really stubborn.
Rinse with running water and pat dry.

#4 Pearl

To keep your pearls in top condition for a long time, you should wipe them after every wear. The constant exposure to skin oils and perspiration can age your pearls quicker, so give them a little once over after each night. You should also make sure to take any pearls off before exercising or showering to keep them as sparkly as possible.When you’re cleaning jewellery with pearls, use a cotton bud to make sure you clean any platinum or metal detailing separately. Metals can take a far harsher scrubbing than pearls, so wash your pearls by placing them in warm water with a little bit of dish soap, and rubbing them with your fingers.

#5 Crystals

Dust with a soft cloth, ideally velvet or cotton that won’t catch on any edges.
Use a baby toothbrush or worn out toothbrush that has been run under warm water so the bristles are extra soft. Put a tiny amount of toothpaste on the brush and gently scrub the crystals in circular motions. This will help to remove or loosen any dirt.
Hold under running water briefly to get rid of any debris.
Leave to soak in a bowl of warm water and dish soap for 5 minutes.
Blot with a cloth or gentle blow with a hairdryer on a low setting to dry.

Crystals are usually very tough, but you need to take care to make sure they’re not loose. If they are, water will make the situation worse.

#6 Rhodium

Rhodium is part of the platinum family that is resistant to scratches, so it can take a slightly harsher brushing with a toothbrush.However, don’t use any harsh or erosive substances as this will strip the coating and the shine from the metal. Only use warm water and very mild soap.

If in doubt, pop into your local jewellers to ask their expert advice on cleaning jewellery, helping to keep it sparkling forever.