5 Ideas for Cleaning Jewelry at Home
While we may not realize it, our earrings, bracelets, rings and necklaces can easily get dirty after a few wears. General exposure to dust, dirt, sweat, and even lotions and soaps can cause jewelry to go dull over time. Here are some of the best ways to clean various types of jewelry to keep your favorite pieces sparkling for years to come.
General Care Tips:
What is the best thing to clean jewelry with?
The best and gentlest DIY home remedy for jewelry cleaning is a solution mixed of lukewarm water and some mild dish detergent. Mix a drop of the dish soap (the milder the better) into a bowl of lukewarm water, then use a soft bristle toothbrush to clean your jewelry items.
Can you use hydrogen peroxide to clean jewelry?
Baking soda mixed with hydrogen peroxide is a great cleaner for lots of household objects, and it's also a safe and effective cleaner when it comes to cleaning gold, silver, and costume jewelry. For best results, make a solution by adding drops of hydrogen peroxide to the baking soda, then rub gently on your jewelry.
Does vinegar clean jewelry?
To clean most jewelry with vinegar, Reader's Digest suggests making a vinegar and baking soda jewelry cleaner by mixing 1/2 cup of white vinegar and 2 tablespoons of baking soda. The solution will fizz when combined. Soak the pieces in the solution, then remove the silver jewelry and rinse it under water to wash away the vinegar solution.
Cleaning Hacks for Silver:
The best way to clean silver and keep it from tarnishing is the use of a good silver polish with ingredients that will dissolve tarnish and add a protective coat to keep the silver from tarnishing again. If you do not have a silver polish on hand, there are a few good DIY solutions to use instead:
Mix a drop of mild dish soap into warm water. Dip a soft cloth into the solution and rub the silver piece to remove tarnish. Then rinse the piece with cool water and buff dry with another cloth.
For pieces with a heavier tarnish, mix 3 parts baking soda with one part water. Wet the silver and apply the mixture with a soft cloth, working it into the crevices of the silver. Rinse well and buff dry.
Apply a dab of white toothpaste to the silver and rub gently with your finger or a soft cloth. Rinse well with warm water and buff dry with another cloth.
How to Clean Gold:
Mix a solution of a few drops of mild dish soap with warm water. Large pieces can go directly into the bowl and soak for 5 minutes, but use a strainer to submerge smaller gold pieces into the solution. Swish the items around, then lay them out on a soft cloth to dry after 5 minutes. Go over any crevices or chain links with a soft toothbrush, then rinse everything under running water and buff dry with a cloth.
How to Clean Gemstones:
For gemstones, you can use the same cleaning method as above, but mix the dish soap in seltzer water instead of regular water. The carbonation will help loosen dirt and remove debris. Brush the stones with a soft toothbrush, then dip in clear water to rinse and buff dry. Use a strainer for smaller pieces.
How to Clean Pearls:
Clean your pearls gently by laying the strand on a small cloth. Dip a clean, small makeup brush into a mixture of warm water and a small amount of shampoo. Go over each pearl with the brush, then rinse with a clean damp cloth. Let the strand of pearls dry flat to prevent the string from stretching.
For more eco-cleaning tips and tricks check out the rest of our Green Cleaning series.
Sanitize Your Jewelry After Cleaning:
For ultimate protection after cleaning your jewelry, use a mobile UV sanitizer like Utilimedic's UV8LED to sanitize your jewelry and remove 99.9% of germs and bacteria in just 5 minutes.
