How to Clean Jewelry

By eHow Fashion, Style & Personal Care Editor

Rate: (21 Ratings)

Before cleaning your jewelry, examine it carefully to make sure that all settings, clasps and prongs are secure. Once you've done that, you're ready to proceed.

Instructions

Difficulty: Easy

Things You’ll Need:

  • Mild Dish Detergents
  • Nonabrasive Jewelry Cleaners
  • Nonabrasive Silver Polishes
  • Soft Dry Cloth
  • soft, lint-free cloths

Gold, Platinum and Gemstones

Step1
Use a nonabrasive jewelry cleaner, which you can purchase at a local jewelry store. Or use a cleaning solution of mild dish soap and water.
Step2
Dip the jewelry in the cleaner or cleaning solution.
Step3
Rinse in warm running water.
Step4
Buff dry with a soft, lint-free cloth until it's shiny.

Silver

Step1
Clean the silver with a nonabrasive silver polish.
Step2
Apply the polish with a soft cloth, gently working it into stains.
Step3
Wipe away excess polish and buff the jewelry with a soft, lint-free cloth until it's shiny.
Step4
Keep in mind that frequently wearing silver jewelry can keep it from becoming tarnished.

Tips & Warnings

  • Do not use jewelry cleaner on pearls and porous stones, such as emeralds, rubies, lapis lazuli, coral and turquoise. Wipe them clean with a soft, damp cloth or have them cleaned professionally. Consult a jeweler when in doubt about a particular stone.
  • Exposure to perfume, cosmetics or perspiration can stain gemstones.

Comments

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lilianne

lilianne said

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on 6/15/2008 Thank you for the great tip. I was looking for silver cleaning method but I got it from www.hopechestjewelry.com.

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on 3/10/2008 Cleaning is very important for jewelry.

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on 3/10/2008 Thanks for the article.

Anonymous

Anonymous said

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on 8/8/2006 Put ketchup in copper, silver or any metal and then leave it for a couple of minutes, and then rub with a napkin do it vigorously, then after you're done with it rinse with water, and it will be shinny! After that you can use a solution with (water, lime and baking soda) leave it in it for about 5 minutes, rinse and buff with a cloth. This works like a charm!

Anonymous

Anonymous said

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on 8/8/2006 You will ruin some gemstones, such as Tanzanite, by scrubbing them vigorously with toothpaste. They are too soft for this technique and only need to soak in lukewarm soapy water using a mild liquid detergent. Rinse with water that is the same temperature and dry with a paper towel or soft cloth. You can also use window cleaner. Wipe immediately after spraying.

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eHow Article: How to Clean Jewelry

eHow Fashion, Style & Personal Care Editor

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