DIY Jewelry Cleaning: The Guide
Diamonds, as people say, are forever, and as long as diamonds are in a person's possession she'll want them to be as brilliant as they can possibly be. This is also true for other gemstones like sapphires and rubies and precious metals like gold, silver and platinum. Pearls are noted not so much for blinding radiance as for their orient, or the soft, resplendent light they seem to give off. Fortunately, cleaning and caring for jewelry is not at all time-consuming and requires no special products.
Pearls
Pearls are some of the few types of jewelry that are made from living things. In this case, the gemstone comes from a pearl oyster or a mussel. Pearls are porous and so readily absorb the oils and salts from the body. To clean them, the strand needs to be laid on a clean cloth. Each pearl must be cleaned with a very soft toothbrush or even a makeup brush dipped in a solution of warm water and mild dishwashing detergent. They should also be left flat to dry. It's also a good idea to take the pearls to a jewelry repair professional every year or so and have them restrung.
Silver
Silver is a soft metal and is often alloyed with other metals to make it stronger. It tarnishes easily just from the sulphur that's in the air. However, the tarnish is only on the surface and doesn't hurt the metal. Still, to get rid of tarnish the silver should be polished with a lint-free cloth dipped in warm, soapy water, buffed then dried with another clean cloth.
Gold
One of the wonders of gold jewelry is that it doesn't tarnish, but it can still pick up dirt and oils from being worn. Pour some salt-free club soda into a bowl, and add a drop or two of mild dishwashing detergent. Place the gold jewelry in a strainer, and set it in the bowl of soapy club soda. Gently agitate it, and clean it with an old toothbrush. Then, rinse and dry with a clean, soft, lint-free cloth.
Diamonds
Diamond is the hardest substance known, but it still needs to be cleaned after being worn for a while. You can also check out lab-created diamonds for a popular alternative to mined diamonds; they are more affordable but they still need to be cared for. Again, make a solution of mild dishwashing liquid and warm water, scrub the gemstone with an old, soft toothbrush, rinse under running water and dry with a dry, clean cloth. If the diamond hasn't be scratched and isn't in a setting with other, softer gems, it can be soaked in ammonia and cold water for about five minutes, then rinsed and dried.
Rubies and Sapphires
These gemstones are made out of corundum, which is the second hardest substance known. Sapphires are thought of as blue but can be any color but red. In that case, they're called rubies. Again, they can be cleaned with a soft brush and warm, soapy water, but shouldn't be dipped in the ammonia and water bath.
If you want your jewelry to shine for many years to come, you need to ensure you clean it properly. Follow the advice provided in this article and you cannot go wrong. Don’t make your own substitutions for the products unless you know for certain they will be effective. The last thing you want is to unintentionally damage your jewellery.
