People wear jewelry for all kinds of reasons. Personal adornment, family heirlooms, personal taste, etc. from all budgets and price ranges. Jewelry should be clean and sparkle brightly to fully enjoy its beauty.
Do you want to clean your jewelry like a pro but don’t know how to do it? Read on. We have some great suggestions on how to clean your special piece of jewelry.
Gold
Give your gold piece of jewelry a bubble bath by pouring a few drops of mild dish soap into a small bowl of club soda or sodium-free seltzer water. The carbonation effect removes debris and loosens up the dirt/soil. Place the piece of jewelry into a tiny strainer. Put it in the bowl of dish soap and club soda to soak for about five minutes. Gently rub the settings and crevices with a soft brush. Return the piece to the strainer and rinse under running water and dry with a soft cloth.
Silver
Silver will tarnish when it’s exposed to air and light, but restoring it to its original shine is quite easy. You can clean all your silver objects the same way. Carolyn Forte, director of the Institute Cleaning Lab shares her method of how to clean silver.
“The only way to prevent tarnish from coming back is by using a silver polish,” says Forte. She recommends Good Housekeeping Seal holder Weiman Silver Polish ($8, amazon.com). “When tested by the Good Housekeeping Institute, this product cleaned flatware in under a minute.”
To use it, follow these steps:
- Put a small amount on a clean cloth, dampened if necessary.
- Rub the polish on your item in an up-and-down motion, not circular to avoid highlighting fine scratches.
- Turn the cloth frequently as you work, so tarnish isn’t deposited back on your item.
- Rinse in warm water and buff with a clean, dry cloth to shine.
Gemstones
The International Gem Society (IGS) has the following recommendations for at-home gemstone jewelry cleaning. Depending on what gemstone you have, there are different methods. Consult with their gemstone care guide for how to clean your jewelry. If cleaning with mild detergent at home is the best course of action, here are some recommendations:
- Most commercially prepared jewelry cleaners are safe, but beware of those that contain ammonia or chemicals that can damage sensitive gems like pearl , opal or amber.
- As a first step, let your jewelry piece soak for a few moments in a solution of warm water and mild detergent or cleaning solution.
- Use a soft brush, not a toothbrush, to gently scrub your jewelry.
- A shaved matchstick or toothpick is quite good at picking out accumulations, but don’t be too harsh. Patience pays off.
- When you’ve finished scrubbing, dip the jewelry piece back into the solution for one last wetting. Then rinse in warm running water, preferably about the same temperature as your solution. Radical temperature changes are dangerous and should be avoided.
- Shake or blow on the jewelry piece to remove excess liquid, then gently polish with a soft lint-free cloth or chamois.
Pearls
Pearls lose their luster because they are so porous. Whether your pearls are faux, real, or cultured, you must clean them with care. First, put the strand on a soft cloth. Dip a clean, small makeup brush into a mixture of warm water and a drop of shampoo. This is considered a no-soak method. Then go over each pearl with the brush and then rinse the pearls with a clean, well-wrung damp cloth. Dry flat to prevent the string from stretching. You can use this technique for turquoise and other porous stones.
Stop by one of Albert’s four convenient locations to find the perfect piece of jewelry that you are looking for!
Albert’s has been family owned and operated since 1927. No matter what part of the Tri-Cities you’re in we have a location to serve you. With two locations in Johnson City (Albert’s Loan Office and Uncle Sam’s Pawn Liquidation), Albert’s Loan Office in Bristol and our newest store, Albert’s Pawn in Kingsport – getting top dollar for your items for pawn loans and finding that item you’ve been looking for at an unbeatable price has never been easier!
