By: Lisa Eclesworth
Whether you have a large collection of earrings, necklaces, and bracelets or just a few items that you wear consistently, keeping them clean will help you hang onto them for longer. As with anything of value, the better you care for your silver, gold, and gems, the longer they will last. These tips will help you keep them looking new and vibrant for longer.
Silver
While there are a few ways to clean silver at home, the best method is to use high-quality silver polish. The polish can be bought as a cream or there are now silver polish wipes that make this project a little less messy. The polish will perform two jobs at once by removing tarnish and leaving a protective coating behind. Be sure to follow the silver polish manufacturer’s instructions to get the best results.
Gold
As long as you have some dish soap handy, you have everything you need to clean gold Jewellery at home. Fill a bowl or basin with warm water and add a few drops of liquid dish detergent, stirring the mixture until you have a soapy solution. You can use a strainer to keep smaller rings and earrings together as you place your gold items into the soapy water. Swish everything around for a few minutes to ensure the pieces have been fully exposed to the water. As you remove them, place them on a soft towel and use a toothbrush to clean between the crevices around the settings. Use a non-abrasive towel to buff the pieces dry.
Gems
Precious gemstones, such as rubies, emeralds, and sapphires can be cleaned similarly to gold. However, ordinary tap water should be replaced with seltzer water to get a better result. The seltzer water’s carbonated gas will help eat away at the debris that may be hidden in the setting or on the surface of the gem. This will help restore the gem’s natural brilliance.
Pearls
Cleaning a string of pearls is more challenging in that soaking the pearls can cause the string to fray or break. For this reason, you’ll need to lay the pearls out on a soft cloth and clean them one by one. Use a soft-bristled toothbrush and a mixture of warm water and shampoo to polish each pearl. They should be wiped clean with a soft, damp cloth and left to dry.
Costume Jewelry
These pieces are often glued into their settings to ensure they will last longer, but soaking them in water will dissolve the adhesive and damage the pieces. For this reason, it’s best to use a cloth soaked in warm water and dish detergent to wipe away any smudges or debris on the items. Afterward, use a clean cloth that has been dampened in warm water to wipe the pieces clean. Buff the dry with another clean cloth.
Wear Your Silver Favorites
The best way to keep silver from tarnishing is to wear it. The friction that results from your unconscious movements will keep the silver bright and shiny, so it’s best to avoid leaving silver to sit in a drawer for a long period of time. If you have silver pieces that you don’t regularly wear, buy an anti-tarnish bag from your jeweler.
Know When to Remove Accessories
There are times when you should take off your rings, bracelets, necklaces, or earrings. Everything should be removed anytime you go swimming, whether you’re swimming in a pool or a natural body of water. Additionally, rings and bracelets should be removed when you’re using cleaning products, washing dishes, or when you’re cleaning your jewelry.
Don’t Skip Semi-Annual Inspections
Every six months, you should have all of your jewelry cleaned and inspected by a professional jeweler. They can help determine if the settings are coming loose or if you need to have certain items resized. They will also provide a deeper level of cleaning that will help your gems, pearls, silver, and gold look more brilliant.
While you should have your rings, earrings, necklaces, and bracelets cleaned by a professional from time to time, these tips can help you care for them better. If you have any items that are unique, you may want to consult a jeweler before trying to clean them at home. That will ensure you’re using proper care in keeping precious items clean and safe.
About the Author:
Lisa Eclesworth is a notable and influential lifestyle writer. She is a mom of two and a successful homemaker. She loves to cook and create beautiful projects with her family. She writes informative and fun articles that her readers love and enjoy. You can directly connect with her on email – lisa@lisaeclesworth.com or visit her website www.lisaeclesworth.com.