One only has to conduct a quick search on the internet to find hundreds of unique ways to clean jewelry at home. Let’s be honest though, smearing ketchup on your family heirloom ring or immersing your favorite earrings in beer are probably not methods that you want to take a chance trying. Creative-sounding yes but let us help you and present some safe ways of caring for your jewelry at home.

Sterling Silver

“Too many people miss the silver lining because they’re expecting gold.”

-Maurice Setter

Due to the fact that Sterling Silver is a soft metal it scratches easily and should therefore never be cleaned with a cloth that has even a hint of abrasiveness. Make sure to use a silver polishing-cloth or, alternatively, a super soft, clean sponge to polish your silver pieces.

Diamonds

“The soul is placed in the body like a rough diamond, and must be polished, or the luster of it will never appear.”

-Daniel Defoe

It may seem surprising that all that is needed to clean gorgeous diamonds is a soft-bristled brush and some warm, soapy water but it’s truly that simple! Once you’ve given them a good scrub, pat them dry with a soft, clean cloth. Be wary of those who say that toothpaste works well on diamonds- it may be true seeing as the diamond is a tough stone but it can harm softer metals such as silver that surround the diamond.

Turquoise

“The tones of gray, pale turquoise and pink will prevail.”

-Christian Dior

Once again, warm soapy water is the answer for your turquoise jewelry and after washing it make sure to dry it immediately with a soft cloth. Additionally, turquoise shouldn’t be left in water as it is a porous stone and liquids can seep it which will lead to discoloration. Don’t go near commercial jewelry cleaners either as they can discolor the stone.

Gold

“Truth, like gold, is to be obtained not by its growth, but by washing away from it all that is not gold.”

-Leo Tolstoy

It is important to know that any gold jewelry should always be removed before coming into contact with water because soap, chemicals and the like can cause a film to build up on gold which will make it appear dull and dirty. Additionally, avoid chlorine because if chlorine comes into contact with gold at high temperatures it can permanently damage or discolor it.

If you want to clean untarnished gold all you’ll need is some mild dish soap that is mixed with warm water and you can scrub away using a soft-bristle brush. If you want to clean tarnished pieces though, a few drops of ammonia mixed with soapy water should do the trick- immerse the gold jewelry in the mixture and brush with a soft-bristle brush. Rinse the gold in lukewarm water and then allow it to dry.

Pearls

“All art is autobiographical. The pearl is the oyster’s autobiography”

-Federico Fellini

When your pearls start looking grungy, all you have to do is wash them in a mixture of a liter of water and teaspoon on Woolite. Let them hang out there for up to fifteen seconds before wiping them dry with a cotton cloth. By the way, it is advisable to always store pearls in a cotton bag- never plastic- and away from other pieces of jewelry. Interestingly enough, the natural oils of your skin will keep them glowing so pearls are actually better worn more often than less. At the end of the day make sure to wipe them down with a cotton cloth.

Featured images:

•  License: Royalty Free or iStock source: http://www.sxc.hu/pic/m/w/we/wemedge/1210290_pearls.jpg
•  License: Royalty Free or iStock source: http://www.sxc.hu/pic/m/k/kn/knox_x/1365255_man_and_girl_steel.jpg

Uriel Sella is the owner of Ajudaica.com, an online store, where you can find unique and special Jewelry. Check out our new Jewelry collection!