Jewelry Cleaning Tips: How to Clean Your Tarnished Jewelry?

Do you own a collection of tarnished jewelry, and you are wondering how to clean them? Well, you can use a few simple jewelry cleaning tips to get your gold to gleam, silver to sparkle, and gemstones to shine again.

Besides, you won’t need complicated cleaning equipment or products to achieve spectacular results. Your everyday cleaning materials, most of which are already in your house will be all that you need.

We are going to take you through simple steps that will help you get back the sparkle and shine on your dull-looking jewelry:

How to Clean Custom Jewelry

Custom made jewelry comes in pretty and stylish designs that make them look sophisticated and of high value.

Materials: 14k gold plated over brass and white mother-of-pearl.

Frameless and free, this pendant necklace of a simple design is loved for its classic versatility. A style made for whatever’s on your schedule that day. Pair it with your favorite cocktail dress or a casual pair of jeans – either way, this necklace is sure to shine.

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When compared to the other types of jewelry, custom made jewelry are more costly. Besides, as they get older, they lose their sparkle and adopt funky colors.

They also start feeling gritty and can be uncomfortable on your hand. So can they be safely cleaned? Absolutely yes, if you only follow the simple steps below:

1. Use water or recommended jewelry cleaner only. Never clean pearls with ultrasonic jewelry cleaner or steam that may damage the outer layer of the pearls. Remember to use as little liquid as possible. Too much liquid will peel off the glue and ruin the foil.
2. Add a drop of baby shampoo into the water.
3. Use a soft and gentle toothbrush or Q-Tip to clean the hard to reach spots.
4. Afterward, use cold, clean water to rinse the jewelry after cleaning.
5. Dry the piece using a clean, soft hand towel. You can also dry it using a microfiber cloth.
6. Use a hairdryer to dry off hard to reach spots.
7. Don’t clean the custom jewelry using acidic contents like vinegar or baking powered.

How to Clean Pearls Jewelry

Pearls are classic, stylish, and bold on your body. They also get dirty quickly and require delicate and proper cleaning practices. You cannot maintain your pearls the same way with your other jewelry.

14k gold dipped sterling silver with freshwater pearl; 16″ fine chain.

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I have to admit that one of our editors bought this cute necklace right after the publication of this article and she is loving it! Such a dainty little beauty.

A single freshwater pearl on a gold filled chain: simple enough to wear everyday, yet precious enough for the dressiest of occasions.

Use the following steps to get the jewelry in its pristine state:

1. Wipe your pearls with a soft clean cloth after every wear. Such practice will prevent the buildup of sweats, oil, or dust.
2. If your pearls are stained, use a damp clean cloth to clean it-mix lukewarm water with a mild soap. Dip the fabric into the mixture and thoroughly but gently wipe the pearls.
3. DO NOT submerge the jewelry into the water. Water weakens the silk thread holding the pearls together.
4. Before you store the jewelry, ensure it is dry. You can dry it using a soft clean cloth or a hairdryer
5. Take the jewelry to a reputable jeweler at least once in a year. The jeweler will check the integrity of the silk thread and advice on the best maintenance practice.

How to Clean Gemstones Jewelry

According to International Gem Society, it would help if you exercised a lot of caution when cleaning gemstone jewelry. Different gemstones come with different physical properties. They, therefore, react differently when exposed to scratching, heat, light, and acids.

Turquoise is considered a stone of healing. It has a powerfully encouraging energy prompting your toward self-forgiveness and self-acceptance. This elastic bracelet made up of colorful gems and hammered golden beads, which brings in confidence and luck.

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Once you have identified the type of gem in your jewelry, use the following simple guide to do a thorough cleaning:

1. Use a recommended commercially prepared jewelry cleaner. However, any cleaner that contains ammonia must be avoided.
2. Soak the jewelry in a solution of warm water and the cleaning agent
3. Gently scrub the jewelry using a soft brush or price of cloth.
4. You can also use a shaved matchsticks or toothpick to pick accumulated dirt in hard to reach spots.
5. After you are through with the scrubbing, dip the jewelry back into the solution. Then rinse it gently with warm running water.
6. Use a soft dry fabric to dry the piece. You can also shake it gently to remove excess water. Once it is dry, polish the piece gently using a soft lint-free cloth.

How to Clean Gold Jewelry

American Gem Society recommends that a special jewelry cleaning solution should be used to clean your gold. However, you can still clean your jewelry at home without the use of any commercial product.

This pair of 14k Yellow Gold earrings are professionally hand assembled for the best quality, and highly polished to a magnificent shine. They come with friction back closure to ensure an easy, comfortable, and safe wear.

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Use the following simple steps to get your precious jewelry back glimmering:

1. Use warm water to mix a small amount of Dawn dish detergent. Remember, the water should be warm and not hot.
2. Add a few drops of ammonia into the mixture.
3. Use a soft toothbrush to brush the jewelry gently. Dip the brush into the mixture and rub it on the surface of the piece.
4. Place the piece in clean lukewarm water and allow it to rinse
5. Afterward, remove the piece from the water and dry it using a paper towel or a piece of clean cloth. You can also air-dry the jewelry before storing it.
6. Don’t use any of the following items when cleaning gold jewelry: soap, chlorine, or water that has chlorine. They will damage or discolor your piece.

How to Clean Silver Jewelry

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Silver jewelry will look old and rusty over time. Silver combines with sulfur in the air to create silver sulfide. The sulfide darkens the surface of your precious jewelry. It results in yellowish or blackish surfaces that degrade the value of the piece.

The best news is that you can reverse the chemical reaction to get back a sparkling new look. Follow the steps below:

1. Use aluminum foil to line the bottom of a cleaning dish
2. Fill a separate bowl with boiling water
3. Add one tablespoonful of baking soda per cup to the water
4. Gently place the dirty silver jewelry into the cleaning basin with aluminum foil. Ensure the piece is in contact with the aluminum foil
5. Pour the frothing mixture into the bowl holding the jewelry
6. Leave it for 10 minutes to enable a chemical reaction to take place. The electrochemical reaction will reverse the chemical reaction that led to the darkening of the jewelry’s surfaces
7. Remove the piece from the mixture and allow it to dry before storing it.

Conclusion

The guideline provides outlined cleaning steps that are pretty simple to follow. Pick any of them to clean your jewelry at home today. Remember, a sparkling clean piece of jewelry needs a sound routine jewelry restoration practice.

Please make use of the jewelry cleaning tips we have provided today to clean your jewelry and turn it into a fantastic, precious, and head-turning piece. You can also check out these tips to achieve exceptional cleaning results.