The average woman owns $7,000 worth of jewelry.
If you own anywhere near that amount, you’ll want to clean it now and again. For many women, jewelry are heirlooms they want to pass down to their own children. They can also be seen as an investment, as diamonds and precious metals grow in value over time.
You’ll likely want your investment pieces to shine, and by doing so, you’ll want to understand why the process of cleaning jewelry is important.
In this article, we’ll go over some of the best tips and tricks for making your jewelry look brand new.
Read on for more information.
Have It Cleaned Professionally
If your jewelry needs a good scrub, or you’re getting ready to pass it down to the next generation, you may wish to have your jewelry cleaned professionally. While this is the most expensive way to clean your jewelry, you must do so every once in a while to make your jewelry stand out and sparkle.
You can usually take your items to a trusted jeweler, and they can help you with the cleaning process. They may also sell jewelry cleaners that can help you keep your jewelry sparkling clean all year round.
Take Off Jewelry When Working Out, Swimming, or Doing Outdoor Activities
While most of us want to wear some pieces of jewelry all of the time, you should remove your precious pieces at these key times to ensure you don’t get them dirty, lose them or get oils from your skin on the jewel.
You should also take off your rings when you wash your hands, though you’ll need to be sure to place them somewhere safe. You may wish to carry a box for your rings if you’re going out so that you can place your rings in them when washing your hands out in public. This way, you won’t risk having one knocked over and slip down the drain.
Use a Diamond Cloth to Wipe Jewels
Wipe down your diamonds or other jewels with a diamond cloth. You should be able to purchase these at your jeweler or online. Place the piece inside of the cloth and firmly rub the jewel. Ensure that you do not touch the inside of the cloth, as it can transfer oils from your hands to the diamond or jewel.
The Classic Method
If there is one classic method of cleaning your jewelry, it is this. If you ask your grandmother or another older relative how to clean your jewelry, they will probably give you this advice.
Create your own jewelry cleaner with lukewarm water and some very mild dish soap. Take a clean toothbrush and rub the bristles over the jewelry. This helps you get inside of the setting and underneath it. You may need to do this more than once to get your jewelry to shine like new again.
Do this every few months to help keep your gems sparkling.
Cleaning Silver Pieces
If you have a nice silver piece, like those from Dreamland Jewelry, you can polish it to perfection by using silver polish. Follow the directions, and your jewelry will shine like new again.
If you’re feeling brave, you can create your own silver jewelry cleaner. You can do this by taking some aluminum foil and placing it on a disposable pan. Ensure the shiny side of the aluminum is up.
Place your silver jewelry on top of the aluminum and ensure they are touching. Next, sprinkle some baking soda and salt over the top of the piece. You will be using water, and you should use about one teaspoon of baking soda and salt per cup of water. Boil some water and then pour it onto the pan until your jewelry is completely covered. Let your jewelry sit until the stains have lifted.
Next, take a lint-free cloth and wipe your jewelry off. This should take away any stains or tarnish on your silver jewelry.
Cleaning Pearls
Your pearls can actually be cleaned by wearing them on you as your body oil helps keep them looking shiny. You should always store them in a slightly damp cloth to ensure that they do not dry out. If you do this, ensure you check on your pearls every so often, as you do not want the area to become moldy.
For pearls, the biggest factor is the string the pearls sit on, which is typically silk. It can stretch out if you place them to hang on a hook, so you should always store them flat.
Additionally, it is important that you restring the pearls every few years, as the silk itself can become dirty. As there is no way to clean the silk itself, you’ll simply need a new string.
Before a big event or gifting them to a loved one is a great time to restring them.
Cleaning Jewelry Our Pro-Tips
When cleaning jewelry, it is important you always take care not to do them more harm than good. As such, you should always handle them with care, as they are delicate and can always be damaged by mishandling or being rough with them.
Another great tip is always to be sure to use proper maintenance strategies, as this can keep your jewelry cleaner for longer.