Your jewellery is a major investment. You probably make an effort to keep it safe and secure, but what about keeping it clean? Jewellery can be made of precious metals and gems, as well as other materials each with its own cleaning requirements. In order to keep your jewellery clean, you’ll need some tips and tricks to avoid causing permanent damage. Here, we look at how to clean your jewellery at home.
Sort Your Jewellery
Most people have a larger share of costume jewellery than they do of the real thing. Sort your jewellery into the stuff you know is worth something and the items that are fake. If you aren’t sure, anything gold in colour that appears tarnished is fake, as gold doesn’t tarnish at all. Then, sort your gold, diamonds and silver. Once sorted, you can safely get started on cleaning.
Cleaning Diamonds
Dirty diamonds can lose their sparkle, as things like lotions, skin oils, and cleaning products build up. You can wash your diamonds using a very mild dishwashing detergent with warm water. Set your diamonds in the warm liquid for about 5 minutes and then gently clean them with a soft-bristle brush. Rinse with clean warm water and pat them dry. Rings on settings can be the worst for grimy buildup, which is why the brush is needed. Get into the crevices to remove all that grime so you can wear your diamonds with pride.
Cleaning Pearls
Pearls can be wiped clean with a cotton cloth that is slightly dampened in water and a bit of mild dishwashing liquid. Rub the pearls individually as best you can and never soak them. Wiping is the only way to get pearls clean safely. Then, leave them to air dry.
Polishing Silver
Silver is infamous for getting tarnished, but you can bring it back to its original tone using a polish made specifically for silver jewellery. You should be able to find silver jewellery polish at your local jewellery store. It just takes a few drops of the polish on a soft cloth to rub away the tarnish and watch it disappear. Follow the directions on the product you choose, as they can vary in use.
If you don’t want to buy special polish, you can also use mild dishwashing soap and warm water. Both ways require a wipe with a clean, dry soft cloth as the final step. If you find your jewellery is quite dark from tarnish, you might need a more aggressive approach to help remove the dinge. An excellent home solution is to mix three parts baking soda to one part water to create a more abrasive cleaner that can be used with a lint-free cloth for scrubbing. You can then rinse the pieces off with water and buff them dry with a soft, clean cloth.
Polishing Gold
As mentioned, gold doesn’t actually tarnish at all. However, it can appear dull as things like lotion and soap build up, especially on rings. It can be washed the same way you wash your diamonds.
Cleaning Costume Jewellery
For your fake metal jewellery, you have to be more careful, as it can be easier to damage than sturdy real gems and metals. You’ll want to use a very mild, natural hand soap and a gentle bristle brush to remove tarnish and bring back the shine.
Costume jewellery with rhinestones is even trickier due to adhesives used, so be extra careful and never use anything too acidic even if it is something natural like vinegar or lemon juice. Everything should be rinsed with clean water. You also have to thoroughly dry fake metals because they might rust! So, pat everything dry to make sure there is no water left behind.
How to Care for Your Jewellery
You can keep your jewellery looking its best by caring for it when you wear it. Always take your rings off when you wash your hands, or apply lotion. You should also take them off when using cleaning products around the house. Keep them safe in a dish or jewellery box when not in use so you don’t lose them. Silver should be stored in an anti-tarnish bag. It’s also a good rule of thumb to remove jewellery before swimming. Not only can it slide off in the pool, but it can also be damaged by the chlorine. For expensive, authentic items, have them checked at a reputable jeweler to make sure the settings remain secure. This will reduce risk for the stones coming loose and getting lost.
For more information on how to keep your jewellery clean, speak to the residential cleaning experts at Maid4Condos and learn more about our Toronto cleaning services.
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