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by Jesus Zabala - 5 min read

How to Clean Jewelry at Home: Expert Cleaning Tips

Jewelry is an accessory that defines your character and complements your fashion style. Yet, such a fashion accessory can lose its shine from body oil, lotions or makeup that can collect on your jewelry. Although there is an option to restore the shine of the jewelry to professionals, it can cost you a lot of money. So, how to clean jewelry at home?

If you are struggling to find a way to restore the quality of your jewelry, you have come to the right place. In the following, we will give you some useful ideas to bring your favorite jewelry back to life.

How to clean jewelry at home
Source: shutterstock.com / Photo Contributor: Jacob Lund

How to Clean Jewelry at Home

Although it sounds simple, there are some natural ways to clean jewelry at home. You can use dish soap and warm water for most types of jewelry. Jewelry containing metal, diamond or quartz can be safely cleaned with such cleaning products, restoring jewelry's shine. 

For best results, we recommend mixing a drop of dish soap with warm water in a bowl and letting the jewelry sit for a few minutes. During this time, the mixture will remove dirt and oil from the surface. 

After doing the first step, clean thoroughly with a soft-bristled toothbrush. The bristles will penetrate the smallest places and thoroughly remove the dirt. Finally, rinse well and dry the jewelry with a microfiber cloth.

So, our team at JewelryLab knows how important the quality of the jewelry material and its maintenance is. Also, our unique jewelry will allow you to use it for a long time without investing additional costs on special jewelry cleaning agents.

Cleaning silver jewelry

If you want to restore the shine of silver jewelry, there are a few simple steps. In addition, if your silver jewelry is prone to tarnishing, we have included some interesting tips to help you. Hence, you will need dishwashing liquid, a toothbrush, and a microfiber cloth to clean silver jewelry.

  1. Mix mild dish soap into a bowl of lukewarm water. You can add a few drops of ammonia if your jewelry is tarnished. However, be careful not to use ammonia often, as it will ruin the quality of the jewelry.
  2. Dip the jewelry into the solution and let it sit for about five minutes.
  3. Remove the jewelry and use the toothbrush to remove the dirt. For this purpose, we recommend a brush with soft bristles to not damage the jewelry surface.
  4. Rinse with clean water. You can prepare a new bowl of clean water or rinse the jewelry under running water in the sink.
  5. Use the microfiber cloth to bring out the shine and beauty of the silver.

Moreover, you can explore our collection for the highest-quality silver jewelry available. For example, check out our Rugged Chain Necklace or the trendy Thin Textured Minimal Bracelet. Feel free to go through our products.

Cleaning silver jewelry
Source: shutterstock.com / Photo Contributor: Kwangmoozaa

Additional tips

If you don't want to spend money on an expensive jewelry cleaner, we will show you some useful tips to help you remove tarnished jewelry. 

It may sound impossible, but toothpaste can help remove tarnish from jewelry. All you have to do is apply the paste to your finger or a soft cloth and rub the jewelry. After finishing the procedure, rinse well and clean with a soft cloth.

Moreover, you can use baking soda if your jewelry has more tarnish. We recommend mixing one part water with three parts baking soda for best results. Wet the jewelry and then apply the solution. Use a soft cloth to clean, then rinse well and let the jewelry dry.

Cleaning gold jewelry

When it comes to gold jewelry, you can use cleaning products daily. For this purpose, you will need dishwashing liquid, a microfiber cloth and a toothbrush with fine bristles. 

So, how do you clean jewelry at home naturally? In the following, we will show you the steps that will help you restore the shine of your gold jewelry:

  1. Make a dishwashing detergent solution with lukewarm water.
  2. Immerse the gold jewelry in the solution container for five minutes.
  3. If your jewelry still has leftover dirt, use a soft-bristled toothbrush to remove it. Then, re-immerse the jewelry in the solution for a few more minutes.
  4. Remove the jewelry and let it air dry. Next, use the microfiber cloth to bring out the shine of the jewelry.

Cleaning jewelry with gemstones

Gemstones are jewelry you need to pay attention to, especially regarding their cleaning and maintenance. A mild dish soap, toothbrush and jewelry cleaner are usually used to clean them and remove dirt. 

However, many people opt for a jewelry cleaner for more gentle cleaning. But if you want to use cleaners that are readily available at home, we recommend that you follow these steps:

  1. Make a simple solution of a few drops of dishwashing liquid and lukewarm water. Be careful not to use toothpaste or baking soda, which can damage the gemstone's surface.
  2. Soak your gemstones in the solution briefly. We do not recommend soaking this type of jewelry for a long time because standing in the solution for a long time can damage the gemstones.
  3. Use a soft-bristled toothbrush to clean the surface. Clean carefully without damaging the surface of the gemstone.
  4. After brushing, rinse the jewelry under warm water. The water will help to clean the dirt stuck in the jewelry.
  5. Dry it with a soft cloth.

 

Useful Tips for Jewelry Care

While cleaning your jewelry will help preserve its shine, how you care for it is important. With proper care of your jewelry, you will not need to clean it often, and it will preserve its shine for longer. Therefore, we suggest some tips that will extend the life of your jewelry.

Avoid chemicals

Chemicals can damage and discolor jewelry, especially silver, gold, or platinum. Some of these chemicals can be found in hairspray, perfumes and lotions. So, it is best to avoid wearing jewelry when applying such products.

Store jewelry properly

Always have a particular place where you will keep your jewelry. For this purpose, you can use a jewelry box or another type of box that will protect the jewelry from dust. 

This especially applies to metals such as silver, which are prone to tarnishing. Such jewelry should be stored in an airtight bag and not mixed with other jewelry. In this way, you will extend the life of your jewelry and contribute to keeping its shine.

Wipe jewelry after wearing

Jewelry, especially necklaces, accumulates dead skin cells, sweat and dirt. Therefore, before putting it in the jewelry box, it is advisable to wipe it. You can use an anti-tarnish cloth for that purpose. That way, the jewelry will keep its quality and shine.

Wipe jewelry after wearing
Source: shutterstock.com / Photo Contributor: Kwangmoozaa

Conclusion

Cleaning the jewelry helps it retain its shine and quality. If you don't want to spend money on expensive jewelry cleaners, you can use some of the cleaning agents you use daily. But if you own valuable jewelry or gemstones of great value, it is best to seek professional help.

We hope the article helped you with how to clean jewelry at home and which methods to use. Do not forget, in addition to cleaning, to take care of your jewelry regularly, which will contribute to its longevity and quality.

Jesús  is the founder and designer of JewelryLab. He is the Head of Design and also oversees production, quality control, and precious metal sourcing.

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