When it comes to your precious jewelry, a regular professional cleaning is always a good idea. Not only does it keep your jewelry looking its best, it also ensures that a trained professional takes a look at it at least once a year, allowing for the earliest possible detection of wear or damage. Between professional cleanings, however, there are some simple solutions to get your silver to sparkle, your gold to gleam, and your gemstones to shine.
Diamonds
Soak for 20 minutes in a solution of warm water and mild ammonia. Then gently scrub with a soft-bristle non-metallic brush, such as a toothbrush, getting into the small areas between the diamond and the setting. Even a clean looking diamond often has a thin layer of skin oil and will shine better after a cleaning. Rinse with warm water, and let air dry.
Gold and Other Metals
Soak for 15 minutes in a solution of warm water and a few drops of a mild dish-washing liquid. Gently scrub with a soft-bristle non-metallic brush. Make sure the brush is VERY soft when using on gold, which can be scratched easily. Rinse with warm water, and dry with a soft cloth that won’t leave fuzz or threads behind. If silver is tarnished, use a silver-polishing cloth or a jar of silver-cleaning fluid. Don't use toothpaste or other abrasive cleaners, which will scratch. Wipe with a clean, soft cloth.
Pearls
Rub each pearl individually with a soft, clean cotton cloth dampened with a solution of warm water and a few drops of a mild dish-washing liquid and nothing else. Soaking strands of pearls can cause the string to stretch and never use alcohol on any kind of pearl jewelry. Let air dry overnight. It's also a good idea to bring your cultured pearls in for restringing every couple of years, especially if you wear them often.
Gemstones
Soak pieces in a bowl of warm, soapy water for several minutes and then use a soft, non-metallic brush to remove any grime. Don’t use harsh chemical cleaners. When cleaning any of your jewelry, try to avoid doing it around the sink. Jewelry can and will disappear down the drain! Here are a few other tips for ensuring your jewelry lasts long and looks its best over the years:
- Try to avoid wearing jewelry in the shower, while cleaning the house, gardening, preparing dinner or sleeping. These activities can potentially harm your jewelry and most certainly reduce its sparkle.
- Summer is upon us and don’t forget to always remove your jewelry before entering a chlorinated pool or hot tub. Chlorine, especially at high temperatures can permanently damage or discolor your favorite pieces.
- We recommended that you store every piece of jewelry individually or at the very least ensure that your jewelry is not touching each other. Jewelry can scratch; even diamonds can be scratched by other diamonds.
- If traveling, use a soft fabric pouch to pack jewelry if there is not enough space to pack a box with a hard exterior.
- When starting your day, always put your jewelry on last. Make up, cosmetics and perfumes can cause damage to delicate items. Then at night, take it off first.