The Best Household Jewelry Cleaner

Remove jewelry before entering a pool or spa; chlorine can damage several types of jewelry.

Being able to clean your jewelry at home without damaging it is an invaluable piece of knowledge. Oftentimes when jewelry is purchased, a cleaning solution is provided. However, once this runs out, many are at a loss at to what to use to clean a tarnished piece of jewelry. Quite a few household jewelry cleaning concoctions are available, but the best one depends on the type of jewelry you wish to clean.

Mild Detergent & Water

Store pearls and platinum jewelry in separate cases or bags as their surfaces are easily scratched.

The safest household cleaner that can be used to clean almost any type of jewelry is a mild detergent and water. Thoroughly mix mild detergent, whether it is dish detergent or a chlorine-free laundry detergent, with some water. Submerge your jewelry in it for a few minutes and brush with a very soft toothbrush. This method works well with all types of jewelry, especially gold, platinum, gems, and even pearls. Pearls, however, are very sensitive, so do not brush with a toothbrush. Soak the pearls, rinse, and wipe dry. Soak the pearls by themselves because their surface is sensitive to scratches.

Baking Soda & Water

Remove gold jewelry before cleaning and/or showering as it can create a film, which will dull the surface.

You will achieve the best result in using a baking soda mixture. Combine 1/4 cup of baking soda with 2 tbsp. of water, then coat the piece of jewelry and allow it to sit for a few minutes. Rinse and buff dry with a soft cloth. Do not apply this mixture to jewelry containing gems or any type of stones as it can loosen the glue or even damage certain gem surfaces.

Window Cleaner

Keep your silver jewelry from tarnishing by storing it in a container away from light and air.

Achieve the best shine on your tarnished diamonds, gems, rubies and other metals by using traditional window cleaner. Spray it on, rub with a soft cloth, and rinse, if desired. Fo not use this on pearls as it may discolor the surface.

Ammonia

Remove any jewelry that has a gem prior to applying perfume, makeup, lotions or even hair spray, to avoid a filmy buildup.

Add a couple of drops of ammonia to your mild detergent and water mixture to intensify your cleaning solution. This works best when cleaning diamonds or gold pieces.

Odds & Ends

Use a toothbrush designed for children; the bristles are softer, which will prevent scratching.

There are also some non-conventional ways to clean your jewelry. Place your diamonds into a glass of water and drop in a denture tablet. Allow the diamonds to soak for the same amount of time required for teeth. Vodka has also been shown to work wonders on diamonds and similar crystalline gemstones.

References

• Jewelry Information Center: How to Clean
• How to Clean Things: How to Clean Gold
• Readers Digest: 12 Home Products for Cleaning Jewelry