Tip to Clean your Jewelry

Tip to Clean your Jewelry
Cleaning your jewel

Wearing jewelry may be considered an embroidery of everyday life. Pieces of jewelry carry qualities, both external and internal, requiring them to be kept. Often, the pieces of jewelry are worn to preserve emotional attachments and memories from one’s life. All women enjoy owning and wearing them, but keeping them clean and well maintained is a tough task. You will need extra care while handling it here are a few tips that will help you in taking care of your lifetime jewels.

Between wearings, we recommend that you place your jewelry in its original casing or another suitably lined box or pouch. Certain basic precautions should be taken with all of your jewelry. Always take extra care when wearing your jewelry in the kitchen or the bathroom, especially while cleaning.

Gold Jewelry

To maintain the look of your gold jewelry, it should be cleaned frequently. A simple way to clean your jewelry is to soak it in warm water with a few drops of detergent soap such as dishwashing liquid. Take a few drops of standard dish detergent and empty them into a bowl of warm water. Note warm water and not hot water. Hot water can be dangerous to gold jewelry that has precious stones in them.

White Gold Jewelry

When white gold is sold, it is usually ‘finished’ using rhodium plating because white gold is naturally quite mellow in color. The plating should last very well but is dependent on natural wear and tear rings and bracelets will wear more quickly than earrings.  White gold jewelry will generally require re-rhodium plating every couple of years.

Pearl Jewelry

Pearls are soft and should be treated with care to ensure their longevity. They should not come into contact with water, moisturizers, and creams, perfume, or hairspray. Cleaning Pearl jewelry, real pearls are actually highly delicate and should be cleaned lightly with a soft lint-free cloth after every wearing before putting them away. Just use warm water and a non-abrasive cloth do not soak your pearls and hang them to let them dry on a stand.

Silver Jewelry

Pure silver is a very malleable precious metal and is usually alloyed with copper to enhance its durability. Over time oxidation can occur, causing silver to become tarnished. Cleaning Silver Jewelry is a little different. Use warm water with a little salt and aluminum foil leave this for a couple of minutes, then immerse your silver jewelry for 5 min and rinse in cold water. Baking soda also works wonders for silver.

Diamond Jewelry

Regular cleaning of a diamond is crucial if the stone’s fire and brilliance are to be maintained. The smallest deposits of grease or even natural oils from the skin can dull the reflection of light from the diamond.   If you need to clean diamond jewelry yourself, mix some mild liquid detergent with warm water, and use a soft bristle brush such as an old toothbrush to gently remove dirt and grease. Cleaning Diamond Jewelry ammonia is also used without harming them. Take the fourth cup of ammonia and one full cup of warm water and mix them together in a jar or a bowl. Place your diamonds into the jar or bowl and allow them to sit for about 15 minutes. After your jewelry soaks, take a soft-bristled toothbrush and gently scrub the jewelry to remove any grime that remains.

Platinum Jewelry

Platinum can be cleaned in the same way as you would clean other precious metals – using a special Platinum cleaner or by soaking it in warm water with a few drops of ammonia or dishwashing liquid, and gently rubbing with a soft cloth or soft brush, then rinsing and drying thoroughly.

Gemstones Jewelry

After wearing, wipe your jewelry with a clean, soft, damp cloth. Don’t expose gemstones to saltwater or harsh chemicals, such as chlorine or detergents. These chemicals may slowly erode the finish and polish of gems. Use of hairspray, perfume, and their presence may cause jewelry to dull. Some gemstones are affected by direct sunlight and colors can fade, so take extra care in handling the gemstones jewelry.

Commercial cleaners can be purchased at jewelry stores. Always remember to read the instructions on the commercial cleaners first before you attempt cleaning. Most commercial cleaners are very strong and will remove all oxidation!

Suggested Read: Significance of Indian Jewellery

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Simmi Kamboj

Simmi Kamboj is the Founder and Administrator of Ritiriwaz, your one-stop guide to Indian Culture and Tradition. She had a passion for writing about India's lifestyle, culture, tradition, travel, and is trying to cover all Indian Cultural aspects of Daily Life.