There’s buying jewelry, and then there’s buying jewelry. You know, the difference between a cute $20 necklace and the kind of piece requiring research into the art of high-end jewelry buying.
But no matter what types of jewelry live in your jewelry box, good jewelry cleaning will make the difference between jewelry that looks iffy in a few years and jewelry that ages gorgeously.
Here’s how to take care of jewelry, how to maintain jewelry, and, of course, how to clean jewelry, split by different types.
The Basics of Jewelry Care
Whether you’re buying everyday jewelry for cheap on DreamlandJewelry.com, springing for the blue Tiffany box, or anything in between, it pays to master the art of jewelry care. If you intend for your jewelry to last a lifetime, jewelry care is like changing your oil—non-negotiable.
For example, if you wear your jewelry while washing dishes, that’s like setting foot outside the door without sunscreen. Don’t do it. Soap and water can do just as much damage to jewelry as dirt and dust. Instead, you should have a designated place to shed your rings and bracelets (including your wedding ring) anytime you do the dishes, work around the house, garden, or even take a shower.
Otherwise, you risk moisture buildup in the crevices of your jewelry, which will tarnish the metal over time. That’s actually why jewelers recommend storing silver and gold in felt separate from other jewelry—it prevents moisture buildup.
The easiest way to do this? Save the jewelry box it came in.
Maintaining Different Types of Jewelry
Now comes the maintenance part, which is where cleaning your jewelry comes into the picture.
First, take a look at the jewelry you want to clean. Knowing the metal in question will help. Gemstones require even gentler treatment than metal to avoid any chipping.
Even if your jewelry sees a lot of wear and tear, you should only clean it once a month or less. Otherwise, you’ll expose the jewelry to liquid too often, which will ultimately tarnish it. However, even diligent home jewelry cleaners should take their jewelry to the professionals twice a year to ensure everything is properly secured and every last facet is cleaned.
Also, for those who religiously clean their jewelry at home (or even those who periodically clean their jewelry at home) don’t use home ultrasonic machines. These are too harsh on your jewelry, and eventually, you pass the point where a professional jeweler can save it.
What You Need for Jewelry Cleaning
In reality, you don’t need anything fancy for jewelry cleaning. All you really need is a good jewelry cleaner, or failing that, some household basics like a soft toothbrush, baking soda, your trusty dish soap, and toothpaste. Yes, toothpaste.
Break out a microfiber cleaning cloth and get ready to put the bling back in your bling. Here’s how to clean jewelry broken into three categories: silver, gold, and gemstones. Hint: if you clean all three the same way, you’re cleaning your jewelry wrong.
Cleaning Silver
Cleaning silver is a two-step art: removing tarnish and preventing it from tarnishing again in a hurry. Your best bet is a good silver polish, like Weisman Silver Polish. This contains a blend designed to break down tarnish while leaving a protective coating so that new tarnish can’t sink into the metal.
That said, for jewelry owners in a hurry, liquid cleaners are messy. The good news is that you can use silver cleaning wipes for exactly the same result (it’s like using disinfectant wipes in place of disinfectant spray).
For those who need to clean silver in a hurry or are trying to clean good silver on a tight budget, you have cheap DIY options (this is where your toothpaste comes in). You can use toothpaste (white paste toothpaste, no gel allowed) to gently remove stains from your silver. All you have to do is dab a bit of toothpaste and gently rub it with your finger or a clean cloth to remove stains. Once you’re done, rinse thoroughly with warm water and buff it to a shine with a cloth.
If you’re dealing with heavy tarnish, it’s time to bring out the big guns: baking soda. Mix three parts baking soda with one part water into a thick paste. Dampen the silver and apply the baking soda paste with a soft, clean, lint-free cloth, working thoroughly into the crevices. Move to different parts of the cloth as it picks up tarnish. Then, once you’re done, thoroughly rinse the jewelry and buff it to a shine.
Cleaning Gold
Despite gold’s status as the stuff of kings, it’s surprisingly easy to clean. All you need is a gentle bath solution: a drop of dish soap and a bit of lukewarm water. If you’re dealing with small pieces, put them in a small strainer before putting them in the solution. Big pieces can go right in the bowl.
Either way, soak them for about five minutes, with a good swish. Then, once your timer goes off, take out the jewelry, lay it on a clean cloth, and use a soft, clean toothbrush to dislodge any lingering dirt in the crevices. Once you’re satisfied, rinse everything under running water, dry thoroughly, and buff it to a shine.
Cleaning Gemstones
Diamonds are forever (at least according to a company called De Beers which is singlehandedly responsible for popularizing diamond engagement rings) but their cleanliness doesn’t last forever. The same goes for other gemstones.
The good news is that you can use the same process on gemstones you used on gold, swapping in seltzer water in place of dish soap. Be very gentle—gemstones can scratch surprisingly easily.
Before You Buy Jewelry, Learn to Take Care of It
No matter what types of jewelry speak to your soul or what inherited jewelry gives you a piece of family history, learning to take care of jewelry will give you something beautiful to last for a lifetime.
Need more tips on jewelry, style, and all things fabulous? Make sure to check out the fashion section of the blog for more great posts like this one.