10 Money-Saving Hacks for Cleaning Jewelry

Dish soap can be used to clean many types of jewelry. This method is also one of the best options for cleaning leather items like a watch strap. Fill a small bowl with warm water and a squirt of dish soap. Use a soft brush to massage a small amount of soapy water into the jewelry. Use a damp cloth to remove any soap residue and a second cloth to dry the jewelry right away.

When someone tells you to submerge your jewelry in ketchup, you can be forgiven for thinking you're being tricked. The first person to figure out that this strategy worked took quite a chance, but it really can be effective for polishing gold and silver jewelry. Use a toothbrush to rub some ketchup into the jewelry and rinse it in warm water. This technique shouldn't be used on pricy or heirloom jewelry, but should safely remove some tarnish from less valuable pieces in a pinch.

First ketchup, and now beer? Turns out it's easier to clean jewelry in a bar bathroom than you might have thought. A cheap, simple lager may actually be effective at restoring the shine to your gold jewelry. Submerge a piece in a cup of beer for a few minutes, rinse and dry. Just be mindful to discard the beer and pour yourself a fresh one.

Toothpaste cleans your teeth and your favorite bracelet, too. This method isn't safe for all types of jewelry. Don't use it to clean pearls, gold or anything that's super valuable or sentimental, as the grit from toothpaste may damage certain types of materials. But for cleaning everyday jewelry, plain white toothpaste can get the job done.

The little tablets that you use to soothe bouts of heartburn can also strip dirt and grime from some types of hard jewelry, like diamond studs or silver rings. You want the kind of antacid tablets that fizz in water for this mission. Make sure they're white so no dye taints your jewelry. Dissolve the tablets in water, drop in the pieces, let them soak until the water is done fizzing and dry with a soft cloth.

Never discount the cleaning power of basic bar soap. It's safe enough to use on your hands while wearing rings, so it's also safe enough to use for cleaning many types of jewelry. Lather up your damp hands with soap and use your fingers to massage dirty jewelry. Rinse and dry the pieces with a soft cloth.

Hydrogen peroxide is seriously powerful stuff. It can both clean and disinfect your jewelry, but like some other types of DIY cleaning solutions, it's not a great idea to use this method on every type of jewelry in your box. That said, some people swear by cleaning their wedding rings and earrings in hydrogen peroxide. Let the pieces soak for just a minute, then rinse. Repeat as necessary.

If you can remove grit from a sentimental item using just a toothbrush, you don't have to risk damaging the piece with a stronger abrasive. Dip a soft, clean toothbrush in water and gently brush the nooks and crannies of your favorite jewelry. Rinse the item in water and save the brush for future cleanings.