Did you know the key to long-lasting jewelry is proper care
and maintenance? As a jewelry lover, you want your pieces to look good and last
long. The best way to achieve this is with regular maintenance and
cleaning.
However, with so many different types of jewelry, how do you
keep up with the maintenance of all of it? While regularly cleaning your
jewelry is essential, it's also important to use the right techniques for each
metal and gemstone to ensure proper maintenance.
Whether your jewelry is sterling silver, solid gold, or
diamond, each piece requires a different treatment and cleaning method.
Here are some simple DIY cleaning hacks for every type of
metal and gemstone. Let's get started.
What you need to clean and maintain most of your jewelry
If your goal is to keep your jewelry clean and sparkling for
a long time, you need to learn and understand how to properly take care of it.
Most types of jewelry don’t require any special cleaning solution, only warm
water and soap.
Moreover, you may be better off not using alcohol-based
solvents and industrial cleaners, as they can damage your jewelry and cause it
to lose its natural shine over time.
If you want to deep clean your jewelry, you can use
ultrasonic cleaners. With the help of efficient ultrasonic cleaning, you can rest assured that your jewelry will be super
clean. The cleaner will remove dirt, grease, and grime without harming your
precious pieces.
However, if you don’t want to invest in ultrasonic cleaners,
a soft-bristled toothbrush, water, and soap will do just fine.
Let’s jump in and find out how to DIY clean and maintain
different jewelry metals and gemstones with these easy-to-use tips.
Sterling silver
To clean your sterling silver pieces, all you need is a mix
of warm water and mild soap. Clean the jewelry gently and then, rinse it in
cool water and rub it with a soft dry cloth.
To further protect your silver jewelry, take off your pieces
before showering, exercising, swimming, or applying lotions, perfumes, and
deodorants.
Additionally, store your jewelry in sealed, air-tight boxes
or jewelry pouches. This will prevent the tarnishing of your favorite pieces.
Depending on how often you wear it, sterling silver jewelry should be cleaned
once a month or every other month.
Solid gold
If your gold jewelry looks a bit dingy and dull, it’s time
to give them a clean. All you will need is a mixture of soap and warm water.
Soak your jewelry in the bowl filled with this mixture for 15 minutes. This
will allow the grime and dirt to loosen and then you’ll be able to clean it
more thoroughly with a soft-bristled toothbrush.
Make sure to work the bristles into tight spaces and under
and around any gemstones. After that, rinse the jewelry off with warm water and
dry it off with a soft cloth. Do this at least once a month.
Diamonds
A simple way to clean your diamonds at home is pretty much
the same as with silver and gold. To keep your diamonds shiny and sparkling,
soak them in warm soapy water, then use a soft-bristled toothbrush to remove
any dirt or grime. Rinse them and pat them gently with a soft cloth.
And just like with the rest of the jewelry, store the
diamonds in a dry and safe place. Also, avoid wearing diamonds when applying
perfume, lotion, or deodorants.
Pearls
Pearls are organic gems that require special care. Unlike
the rest of the mentioned jewelry, pearls require air to keep them moist,
however, exposure to direct heat is not recommended.
To maintain your pearls, gently rub them with soft, damp
cloths which will allow you to remove any dirt and grime, without dousing your
pearls with water or chemicals. Also, never clean your pearls with ultrasonic
or steam cleaners because they can get damaged easily.
Costume jewelry
Costume pieces are no different than the rest of precious
metals and gemstones. You’ll need a bowl filled with warm soapy water, and a
toothbrush or any soft-bristled brush. Use a mild liquid soap to avoid damaging
delicate or intricate jewelry designs.
Additionally, keep the pieces in dry places such as jewelry
boxes or pouches. Never wear your costume jewelry when swimming or taking a
shower because humidity can damage your pieces. Similarly, never wear them when
exercising, or applying perfume, lotion, or similar products.
Final words
As you can see, you don’t need many products to clean
different types of jewelry. Cleaning your pieces with warm soapy water at least
once a month is enough to keep them clean and shiny.
If you think that you can’t clean intricate pieces well,
consider getting them professionally cleaned.
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