by MARSHALL BONE
When you purchase quality handcrafted jewelry, we want to make sure that you can enjoy it for many years to come. There are several simple ways that you can clean your jewelry at home to preserve its beautiful shine. Let’s take a look at a few effortless options you can try to ensure that your jewelry will maintain its luster for years.
Dish Soap & Water
Sometimes, a simple dish soap and water combination is all you need to clean the majority of your jewelry collection. Grab a small bowl, some dish soap (simple and natural dish soap is best; try to avoid any with bleach or harsh chemicals), a soft bristle toothbrush, and some warm water. Place the water and a touch of dish soap in the small bowl. Soak your jewelry for 20-30 minutes, then gently scrub your pieces with the soft bristle toothbrush to get in the nooks and crannies. Run your jewelry under warm water (be sure to have your drain blocked) to wash off any soap residue, and pat dry with a soft cloth or let air dry. This simple cleaning method can be used for most of your pieces as it is one of the most gentle ways to clean your jewelry at home.
Alka-Seltzer
Alka-Seltzer is great for relieving heartburn, indigestion, and stomach aches. But it’s also great for giving your jewelry a renewed sparkle and shine! If you’re wondering how to clean your jewelry at home in a quick and easy way, Alka-Seltzer is it. Drop your jewelry that needs some sprucing up into a fizzy glass of Alka-Seltzer. After just a few minutes, pull it out and watch it sparkle.
Baking Soda
Baking soda is a great and simple tool for removing tarnish from silver jewelry. When cleaning your jewelry at home with this method, all you need to do is make a simple paste of ¼ cup of baking soda and two tablespoons of water. Apply the paste to your jewelry with a damp sponge. Next, you’ll gently rub, rinse, and buff dry your silver jewelry. To clean gold jewelry at home with baking soda, you’ll need to cover it with a small amount of vinegar, a very light layer of baking soda, and then rinse it clean.
Although cleaning your jewelry at home is simple and effective, there are a few rules to remember. When cleaning jewelry with baking soda, you should avoid using this technique with jewelry that contains pearls, certain gemstones (such as turquoise and opal), or delicate metals. Baking soda can erode or damage pearls and other delicate jewelry. If you are unsure if a solution would be harmful to your jewelry pieces, opt for using soap and water for cleaning. For deep cleaning of delicate pieces, bring your jewelry to a professional jeweler in order to be cleaned appropriately and safely.
Club Soda
If you have club soda in the fridge and you’re wondering how to clean your jewelry at home, now is the time to use it. Soak your diamonds, emeralds, rubies, and sapphires in a full glass of club soda overnight. Take them out of the glass in the morning, pat dry, and enjoy a glistening shine.
It is important to note that you should always read any care information that is included with your jewelry at the time of purchase. You may also check out the manufacturer or store’s website from where you purchased your jewelry for specific care instructions. Once you have referenced that information, you can then proceed with cleaning your jewelry at home.
Marshall Bone is a writer, copy strategist and all-around stylish guy who has been following trends in GQ for more than two decades. Voted best-dressed both his junior and senior year, Bone has continued this legacy and can be found covering various topics from men’s fashion to self care and grooming. He enjoys reading and is based in the greater Los Angeles area.
