Owning a piece of jewelry is salient because of the Chic look it gives to any person. If you are a jewelry lover, you may note that you need to have it cleaned and polished for it to maintain its shine and meticulous detail. To achieve this end product, it is crucial to understand the kind of jewelry you have, information about the jewelry beforehand, and different methods of cleaning various types of jewelry. This article highlights some of these factors and breaks them down to make cleaning your jewelry at home more accessible.
What do you need beforehand to Clean Jewelry?
This is the most frequently asked question among jewelry owners. First, you need to be aware of the jewelry you have to identify the items you need to use for the cleaning process. Jewelry is invaluable and may be costly, especially if it’s custom-made. This is why it is essential to use suitable materials to clean them to avoid damage. Before cleaning the jewelry, check the type of material; this will help you determine the correct cleaning method that applies to that particular kind of jewelry—gold or silver.
It is imperative to understand the material you should use when cleaning the jewelry. Before you take your time to go to the store, here is a comprehensive list of some of the items you will need for cleaning; vinegar, aluminum foil, toothpaste, custom jewelry cleaner, ammonia, soap, and water.
How to clean jewelry at home?
Cleaning the jewelry at home is very efficient because it saves you time and money when you want to go and take it to the Jeweler to clean it. Additionally, it is essential to note that materials clean differently. Therefore, if you have a gold-plated accessory, it may need a dissimilar approach to clean it compared to the silver. Below are some of the ways you can clean your jewelry in the comfort of your home.
Cleaning different kinds of jewelry
Cleaning Gold
Gold has the simplest method of cleaning up things; it needs one of the essential items that you can find in your household with ease. First, you need to have soap and water ready for your jewelry cleaning. It is vital to have warm water before taking a piece of jewelry into the water. Place some warm water into a bowl and ensure it has soap to create a solution where you will dip in your gold jewelry. This process takes up to 15 minutes to allow any that or grime to come out of the gold. After it is over, you can rinse the accessories in cold water then dry them with a cloth. If there are some remaining particles on them, you can go ahead with a toothbrush and try to brush them out. Protective jewelry can help to keep your gold jewelry looking its best by preventing scratches, tarnish, and other damage.
Cleaning silver
Silver is a B complex when it comes to home cleaning. You need to have plain water, soap, aluminum, baking soda, and connoisseurs silver wipes for the silver cleaning. The wipes are very mild and are not abrasive; hence, they will not make the silver tarnish. You clean the silver in water and soap, and then after rinsing, it is important to wipe them off with the connoisseur’s silver wipes, giving them a sparkle.
Styling with jewelry for traditional wear can elevate your look and add a touch of glamour.
Baking soda and aluminum can be used to clean silver where you place the aluminum on top of a flat surface; then, you can align your fine jewelry on top of it. After they are set, sprinkle baking soda over the jewelry and add boiling water before wrapping the water. The baking soda will remove the dirt on the jewelry leaving it perfectly clean.
Cleaning Jewelry with Stones
Jewelry with stone at the most fragile accessory, but you may have to be careful when cleaning them to avoid any damage and distortion from its central part. For this cleaning, you need to wipe it off using a warm water cloth that has been mixed with dish soap. There won’t be any addition of chemicals for this item because they may corrode the stone. After wiping the jewelry, ensure that it is in an open place for it to dry off.
Different methods of cleaning jewelry
Some of the best methods of cleaning jewelry include:
- Chemical method
- Use of an ultrasonic machine
- Use of water and soap
What to avoid when cleaning jewelry at home
When you clean a piece of jewelry at home is vital to note the value of the item you’re cleaning and the kind of material you want to use. For excellent results, it is essential to have a specified amount of chemicals that you may use to clean the item. In this case, you should reduce the use of chemicals because they affect the quality of the jewelry after cleaning due to the abrasion and corrosion of the material after deep cleaning.
If you must use chemicals, ensure you use them in minimal quantity to maintain the state of the jewelry. It is also important to note that you shouldn’t clean the accessory frequently using the chemicals because they may affect the quality. Using the ultrasonic method is also vital for cleaning the devices; it helps remove the hidden grime. However, its downside is the stone’s destruction, especially if they have precious stones attached to them. It will destroy its varnishes, making you incur losses.
