How to Clean your Diamond Jewelry

While diamonds may be a "girl's best friend", we often times neglect to care for our precious jewelry properly. In order for a diamond to show its full beauty, it must be kept clean. Here is a great way to get a professional like cleaning at home for a fraction of the cost.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Mild soap
• ammonia
• rubbing alcohol
• soft bristle brush

1. Fill a bowl with hot soapy water. Add a small amount of ammonia to mixture. Place jewelry in bowl to soak. If you are working around a sink, make sure to have the stopper in place in order to prevent your "baby" from falling down the drain!

2. Remove jewelry from bowl and use the soft bristle brush to scrub the dirt and grime away. (A baby toothbrush works great for this.) Pay special attention around the setting and underside of diamond. Additional time may be needed for soaking if it is especially caked with grime. A toothpick can be used to reach places your brush may not be able to get.

3. Rinse the piece of jewelry in running water to remove loosened dirt and soap.

4. Dip the piece of jewelry into a small bowl of rubbing alcohol. This will remove any remaining soap film. Place on a piece of tissue paper to dry. The alcohol will evaporate quickly and leave the diamond sparkling like new.

5. In order to keep your diamond jewelry in good shape, always remove when showering, applying make-up or hair spray, applying lotion, etc. Never let harsh chemicals come in contact with your jewelry. Even though it might not damage the diamond itself, it can weaken the setting which could cause the diamond to be lost.

Tips & Warnings

• Inspect the settings often. If they look damaged, take it to a professional to have repaired.
• This cleaning method is safe to do as often as needed.
• I do advise you take your jewelry to a professional jeweler once a year for a professional cleaning and inspection, if you wear it often. Diamonds are not only close to our hearts but they are an investment. Take care of them and keep them in good shape and they will last an eternity.
• Never put diamond jewelry in boiling water. It can warp the setting and cause the diamond to fall out. If your diamond jewelry has pearls in the setting, you cannot use the ammonia or extremely hot water. It will damage the pearl.
• If you are unsure about your jewelry, take it to a professional. They will tell the best method to care for it.

[cvodrey]

on 12/18/2009 Great advice!

[sissywaylon]

on 11/24/2009 Thank you for sharing this. Just one question, is the ammonia really required in the solution? I'm kinda extra careful with my jewelries especially with my Jamesallen diamond necklace. Has anyone tried it already? Thanks!

[sissywaylon]

on 11/24/2009 Thank you for sharing this. Just one question, is the ammonia really required in the solution? I'm kinda extra careful with my jewelries especially with my Jamesallen diamond necklace. Has anyone tried it already? Thanks!

[NuttyMomma]

on 3/23/2009 great advice on how to take care of your diamond. it is an investment after all. 5*

[ReuseItAll]

on 3/23/2009 Sounds like great advice!! Thanks!!