The Ultimate Guide: How to Clean My Jewelry

Most of us have multiple types of jewelry in our jewelry box. For you perhaps there is gold jewelry, silver, gemstone and more. Did you know that each of those jewelry types need to be cleaned differently? In order to maintain the integrity of your favorite jewels, I have created The Ultimate Guide: How to Clean My Jewelry!

How to Keep Your Jewelry Safe

Before you get started on The Ultimate Guide: How to Clean My Jewelry, it’s important to note a few things about keeping your jewelry safe during cleaning:

• If your jewelry has gemstones glued on, do not use these soaking methods. Instead, click here for safer methods.
• If you are cleaning your jewelry in your sink (I do not recommend this), make sure to use a strainer to save yourself the pain of losing any down the drain.
• Do not wear your jewelry wet, so be sure to let it fully air dry. If you need to wear it quickly, use a soft cloth to gently dry the pieces.
• Also, never store your jewelry wet! This will create an environment for tarnishing.

How to Clean Sterling Silver Jewelry

If you are anything like me, you may ask yourself, how will I clean sterling silver jewelry to make it look fresh and shiny when I’m ready to wear it? Today we will cover several cleaning methods for sterling silver jewelry in The Ultimate Guide: How to Clean My Jewelry:

• Dish Soap
• Antacid
• Baking Soda
• Vinegar

How to Clean Sterling Silver Jewelry with Dish Soap:

What you’ll need:

• Dish soap
• Sodium-free seltzer OR warm water
• A medium bowl
• Soft-bristled brush
• Soft cloth

 What you’ll do:

1. Add a couple of drops of Dawn dish soap (without an added moisturizer) to a bowl of seltzer (without sodium) or warm water.
2. Submerge the jewelry in the soapy solution and let soak for 15-30 minutes.
3. Scrub jewelry with soft bristles, such as those of a baby toothbrush or adult soft toothbrush, to get into the cracks, crevices, and gem settings. 
4. Rinse the jewelry with warm water, removing any soap suds. 
5. Let air dry or pat dry with a soft cloth.

How to Clean Sterling Silver Jewelry with Antacid:

What’ll you need:

• Denture cleaner or antacid tablet
• Warm water
• Q-tip
• Soft cloth

 What you’ll do:

1. Per package instructions, place a tablet of denture cleaner or antacid into warm water.
2. Add jewelry and allow a fizzing effect to help scrub the jewelry. Let soak for 5-10 minutes.
3. Use a Q-tip to remove grime from cracks, crevices, and gem settings.
4. Rinse the jewelry with warm water.
5. Let air dry or pat dry with a soft cloth.

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How to Clean Sterling Silver Jewelry with Baking Soda

You can use household items such as baking soda to enact an iron exchange that will clean your sterling silver jewelry! If you choose to incorporate aluminum oil, the tarnish on the silver (silver sulfide) is released and essentially transferred to the aluminum foil as an aluminum sulfide. Be careful of pieces with patina, as this method can remove so much that ornate patterns are lost.  What you’ll need:

• Baking soda
• Salt
• Small or medium bowl
• Aluminum foil
• Boiling water
• Soft cloth

Once you’ve gathered all your items, here is what you’ll do:

1. Line a bowl with aluminum foil and place jewelry in. 
2. Add one tablespoon of baking soda and one tablespoon of salt to the foil-lined bowl holding the jewelry.  
3. Pour boiling water into the aluminum foil-lined bowl to fully submerge the jewelry.
4. Let the jewelry sit in the water for about as long as it takes the water to cool. 
5. Replace water and refresh baking soda and salt, and foil if it appears yellowed by the transfer of tarnish. Repeat as needed. 
6. Rinse the jewelry with fresh water. 
7. Pat dry with a soft cloth (link here) and buff to improve shine. 

How to Clean Sterling Silver Jewelry with Ammonia

Use ammonia for the occasional deep clean or if your silver jewelry has begun to tarnish. What you’ll need:

• Ammonium
• Water
• Soft-bristled brush
• Soft cloth

 Once you’ve gathered your items, here is what you’ll do:

1. Add 1 part ammonium to 6 parts water or a few drops to a soapy solution.
2. Submerge jewelry and let it soak in the solution for 10 minutes.
3. Gently brush the jewelry with a soft bristled brush.
4. Rinse the jewelry with warm water.
5. Let air dry or pat dry with a soft cloth.

How to Clean Gold Jewelry

There are several methods for how to clean your gold jewelry. So, today we will cover how to clean gold jewelry with:

• Dish Soap
• Vinegar
• Denture Cleaner
• Ammonia

How to Clean Gold Jewelry with Dish Soap:

Dish soap is something everyone is likely to have around in their home, so it’s a favorite option for many people. Here is everything you’ll need to start:

• Dish Soap
• Warm Water
• A Medium Bowl
• Soft-Bristle Brush
• Soft Cloth

Once you have all of your items gathered, you’ll want to follow these steps:

• Add a 1/2 tsp. of dish soap to a bowl of warm water.
• Cover the jewelry in the soapy water and let it sit for 15-30 minutes.
• Gently scrub the jewelry with soft bristles to get into the cracks, crevices and gem settings. A baby toothbrush is a great tool for this! Be extra careful if your jewelry is gold-plated, as harsh bristles or hard scrubbing can remove the plating.
• Rinse jewelry with warm water.
• Let your jewelry air dry on a soft cloth.

How to Clean Gold Jewelry with Vinegar:

Vinegar is another household item that most of us have lying around. It makes a great gentle cleaner for your gold jewelry! This is everything you need to start:

• White Vinegar
• Warm Water
• Medium Bowl
• Q-Tip
• Soft Cloth

Once you gather all of the items you need, you can start on cleaning your gold jewelry. Here are the steps you can follow:

• Set your jewelry in the medium bowl, cover with white vinegar and let soak for 5-10 minutes.
• Use your Q-Tip to gently rub away dirt and grime from the crevices and cracks.
• Rinse your jewelry with warm water.
• Let your jewelry air dry on a soft cloth.

How to Clean Gold Jewelry with Denture Cleaner:

Not everyone has antacids and/or denture cleaner in their homes, but for those of us who do it’s a great tool to use to clean your gold jewelry! Go ahead and gather these items to start:

• Denture Cleaner or Antacid Tablet
• Medium Bowl
• Warm Water
• Q-Tip
• Soft Cloth

So, now that you have everything you need, you can follow these instructions to clean your gold jewelry:

• Follow the package instructions and place a tablet of denture cleaner or antacid into warm water.
• Drop your gold jewelry into the bowl and let the fizzing effect start go to work. Let everything sit for 10-15 minutes.
• Next, use a Q-tip to remove dirt and gunk from the cracks, crevices, and gem settings.
• Rinse your jewelry with warm water.
• Let your jewelry air dry on a soft cloth.

How to Clean Gold Jewelry with Ammonia:

Ammonia is not as likely to be in your cabinet at home, but it’s a very powerful tool for cleaning your gold jewelry. You can use this method if your gold jewelry is tarnished, or for the occasional deep clean. To start, gather the following items:

• Ammonium
• Medium Bowl
• Warm Water
• Soft-Bristle Brush
• Soft Cloth

Then follow these steps:

• Add 1 part ammonium to 6 parts warm water in your medium bowl.
• Cover your gold jewelry and soak for about 10 minutes.
• Gently scrub the jewelry with soft bristles to get into the cracks, crevices, and gem settings.
• Rinse with warm water.
• Let your jewelry air dry on a soft cloth.

How to Clean Gemstone Jewelry

We spoke above about the safety of your jewelry when you’re cleaning it. Gemstone jewelry especially, needs special consideration before you start to clean it. Never forget the rule, “If it’s glue, don’t let it stew!” Never soak your glued gemstone jewelry.

The glue can be removed by the water and cause the gemstones to loosen in their setting or fall out, especially when the soak has been followed by brushing. Instead of soaking, dip a cloth into the cleaning solution of your choice and wash the jewelry with the dampened cloth. Afterward, use a cloth only dampened with water to remove excess solution. Pat the jewelry dry with a soft cloth, then place it upside down or hang it to encourage moisture to escape. 

Here are a few other key things to remember while cleaning your gemstone jewelry:

• Cleaning time is an opportunity to check the condition of the gemstone setting. So, evaluate the security and integrity of the gemstone by checking the snugness of the prongs or the condition of the glue and checking the gemstone for any hairline cracks, splits, or dents.
• If your stone is porous, such as opal or emerald, do not let it soak, as it can absorb liquids. Absorption and prolonged exposure to carried residues can diminish the shine and appearance of the stone.
• Opals & Turquoise: Never use ammonia or hand sanitizer on turquoise or opals. It can cause cracking or surface damage, reducing the shine and longevity of the gemstone.
• Be careful with using hot water or taking jewelry through rapid temperature changes as it can crack some precious stones. Instead, use warm water and be aware if your jewelry is cold before you expose it to vastly different temperature.
• Avoid using bleach or any type of chlorine. They can damage precious stones and cause discoloration.  Hence, try to remove all jewelry before swimming in a chlorinated pool!
• No matter what people say, toothpaste is for your teeth…and that’s it! Toothpaste can scratch gold jewelry and gemstones, so let this bathroom product hack stay in the bathroom. 

The Ultimate Guide: How to Clean My Jewelry

For the most part, you can clean your jewelry at home with items you already have in your kitchen or bathroom cabinet. For instance, baking soda, vinegar, or even denture cleaner! You can get into greater detail and choose your favorite method by clicking at the article that suits your jewelry below:

Questions About Your Complete Luxury Jewelry

If you ever have any questions about how to clean or take care of the jewelry you purchase from me, please reach out to me! I am always happy to help.

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