How to Clean Your Jewelry at Home

Jewelry is a valuable and cherished possession that requires proper care and maintenance to retain its shine and beauty. With regular use, jewelry can accumulate dirt, grime, and other impurities that can dull its sparkle and tarnish its appearance. However, with a little effort and the right techniques, you can easily clean your jewelry at home and restore its original luster. In this blog, we will explain how to best clean different types of jewelry at home, including diamonds, gold, silver, and fashion jewelry.

Diamond Cleaning

Diamonds are one of the most durable and resistant gemstones, but they can still accumulate dirt and oil from daily wear. To clean your diamond jewelry at home, you will need a soft-bristled toothbrush, mild soap (we recommend Dawn dish soap), and warm water. Start by mixing a few drops of soap in a bowl of warm water and dip your diamond ring, necklace or bracelet in the solution for a few minutes. Afterward, gently scrub the diamond with the toothbrush to remove any dirt or grime. Be careful not to scratch the diamond or damage the setting. Rinse the jewelry under running water and pat it dry with a soft cloth. In addition, use a drain catcher to avoid losing the precious stones. If you are thinking about using an ultrasonic machine or any abrasive chemicals, please bring your diamond rings to be cleaned professionally instead.

Cleaning Gold Jewelry At Home

Gold is a soft and delicate metal (especially 18K, 22K and 24K gold) that requires gentle care to prevent scratches or damage. To clean your gold jewelry at home, you will again need mild soap, warm water, and a soft-bristled toothbrush. Start by mixing a few drops of the soap in a bowl of warm water and let your gold jewelry sit in the solution for a few minutes. Once a few minutes have passed, gently scrub the jewelry with the toothbrush to remove any dirt or grime.

It is very important that your toothbrush be a fine bristled/soft bristled. Be careful not to apply too much pressure as it can scratch or damage the gold. Rinse the jewelry under running water and pat it dry with a soft cloth. Once again, it is recommended to use a drain catcher, you don't want to be dropping gold down your drain! You can also use a gold polishing cloth to restore its shine and remove any tarnish. This will allow your gold jewelry to stay shiny a little longer!

Cleaning Silver At Home

Silver is a beautiful metal that can tarnish over time due to exposure to air and humidity. To clean your silver jewelry at home, you will need a soft-bristled toothbrush, baking soda, aluminum foil, and warm water. Start by lining a bowl with aluminum foil and filling it with warm water. Then, add a tablespoon of baking soda and stir it as to dissolve the powder. Place your silver jewelry in the solution and let it soak for a few minutes. The aluminum foil helps to create a reaction that helps remove the dirt and grime from the silver. Gently scrub the jewelry with the fine bristle toothbrush to remove any remaining dirt or grime. Rinse the jewelry under running water and pat it dry with a soft cloth.

Avoid using any harsher chemicals or as they can damage the silver - for this, bring your jewelry to a professional and let them handle anything a little more difficult to clean.

Cleaning Fashion Jewelry

Non-precious metals and materials typically make up the majority of fashion jewelry. These require gentle care to prevent damage or discolouration. It may be harder to clean than others depending on what material your fashion jewelry is made of. Brass, for example, is very difficult as contact with water may cause discolouration. Wash stainless steel with a similar method as mentioned above (dish soap, soft bristle toothbrush and water). Any other types can be brought to a jeweller for their best recommendation and service.

We hope this helps with getting your jewelry to be as shiny as the day you bought it! Bijouterie La Voûte is better equipped to clean and polish jewelry than most people's at-home solutions (polishing wheels, ultrasonic machines, distilled water and solutions, etc). Contact us here to be sure it will be handled with care. If you're looking for other information regarding maintenance, jewelry guides, wristwatches, etc. then read from the rest of our blog!