When cleaning your jewelry, it's essential to know what kind of materials it's made from. Some metals and stones can be very delicate and fragile, which means they might not be able to withstand a lot of exposure to water or harsh chemicals. You want to ensure that you're using the right tools and methods for cleaning your pieces so they stay in good condition for years to come! However, using a soft dry cloth will do the trick for most jewelry. This method will clean most dusty films and keep your favorite pieces looking new!
Basic Tips
Jewelry can be affected by many factors. Jewelry is made of many different types of metals and stones, so it's essential to consider the environment in which you plan on wearing your jewelry. For example, silver and gold are durable metals that will retain their shine for years if cared for properly. However, some people experience allergic reactions when they wear jewelry containing nickel or copper, so check with your doctor before wearing any new piece you'll be in contact with daily. Many stones and crystals are affected by outside factors such as sweat, dust, dirt, and other substances that may be present on your skin or hair care products. To prevent this from happening, try putting your jewelry on last after applying lotions and perfumes to avoid any discoloration or dulling of the stone surface. Also, remove your jewelry before washing, taking showers, or going into swimming pools, as chlorine can damage many stones' luster over time.
Cleaning Gold and Silver Pieces
Silver and gold jewelry is a beautiful addition to any outfit. However, it can lose its luster if you don't take care of it. The good news is that there are many ways to clean and polish your jewelry, so it looks new again! Unique jewelry polishing clothes are available specifically to clean and give your jewelry its sparkle. These special cloths have fine polishing ingredients formulated to remove the dullness, dust, and tarnish from these metals. Important note: Care must be taken when using commercial liquid tarnish removers as these might have strong chemicals to remove tarnish. This is especially important for plated items. Read the product instructions carefully, and do not use these products on items treated for oxidation, have special finishes, or are porous stones such as pearls. If you use liquid tarnish removers, use gentle formulas and minimal amounts. It is essential to polish and rinse until the formula is thoroughly cleansed from the item, as any residual can add to the dullness of the metal.
Note on plated items: When cleaning silver or gold-plated items, it's essential to use a gentle polish. Metal polishes intended for copper and brass can remove the plating on your item, so make sure you're using one made specifically for silver or gold. To clean your item, rinse it in clean water, then dry it with a clean tea towel or kitchen towel. Use a soft dry brush to remove any polish from crevices. Never use wire wool or an abrasive cloth because they will scratch the surface of your jewelry?and that'll just make it look worse! Polish your item only as necessary?you don't want to remove too much metal at once. This can be especially important for silver-plated jewelry because repeated and unnecessary cleaning can cause the silver to be worn away.
Cleaning Bronze, Brass, Copper, and Pewter
Bronze, copper, and pewter are all metals that naturally patina over time, giving them a warmer vintage look and feel. However, suppose you would like to return your item to its original high-polished finish. In that case, you can use a polishing cloth with a small amount of their specific liquid tarnish remover made specifically for each type of metal, rinse thoroughly and polish until your desired color is achieved.
How do I clean a piece that has several metals on it?
Jewelry pieces are often made of different metals, which gives them a unique look but can make the cleaning process more challenging. Choose the safest cleaning method by using mild soap and polishing with a soft cloth to avoid damaging any part of the item. Pieces that are vintage and have become darkened over time may have to be taken for professional cleaning because they require stronger and safer processes to preserve the metals intact.
Cleaning Precious & semi-precious stones
Precious and semi-precious stones come in a myriad assortment of textures, and finishes, so it is impossible to give a sure way of cleaning each stone without knowing their type, grade, and quality. The safest way to clean any stone is to gently rub it with a soft cloth to remove the dusty films. Many stones, such as Pearls, coral, opals, turquoise, and Lapis Lazuli, are well known for their porous finish and fragility. Therefore, extra care must be taken when cleaning them.
There are many different colored soft gemstones, some of which require specific care and cleaning procedures. It would be impossible to enumerate all of them in this guide. However, some general care and cleaning rules apply to all soft gemstone jewelry. If your jewelry contains soft gemstones or pearls, do not immerse in water, as this can loosen some settings. Never use dips or abrasives cleaners on gemstones. After wearing, wipe your gemstone jewelry thoroughly with a clean, soft cloth. This will enhance the gemstone's luster and ensure your jewelry is clean before storage. Store gemstone pieces individually in soft pouches or plastic zip-lock bags. Do not expose your gemstone pieces to salt water or harsh chemicals like chlorine or detergents. These chemicals may slowly erode the finish and polish of gemstones. Do not use toothbrushes, scouring pads, or any abrasive material to clean your stones as it will scratch them. Never use an ultrasonic cleaner, ammonia, or any chemical solution to clean opaque gemstones, such as turquoise, malachite, onyx, lapis lazuli, and opals. These are porous stones and may absorb chemicals.
Cleaning Crystal, Glass, and Enamel
Many crystals, glass, and enameled pieces are attached to jewelry using an adhesive that can be damaged by liquids. Again, the safest way to clean these pieces is using a soft dry cloth. Vintage pieces can be more susceptible to cleaning as the adhesive can become weak during cleaning.
Cleaning Your Vintage Clip Earrings
If you have inherited or purchased vintage earrings, it is essential to clean and disinfect them before wearing them. Here are guidelines for overall cleaning:
1. Clean with a soft cloth dipped in warm water and mild soap.
2. Rinse with clean water, then dry with a soft cloth.
3. If necessary, use a toothpick or cotton swap to scrub any remaining dirt from hard-to-reach places on the piece. Please do not use harsh chemicals or abrasives to clean your jewelry, as this could damage it permanently!
Cleaning Your Clip Earring Findings and Backings
If you want to do a quick job for the clip earring finding, here is a quick tip: Rubbing alcohol! It will disinfect your clip findings. The best part is they work for almost any type of metal, like gold, silver, brass, etc. Simply saturate a cotton ball or pad with rubbing alcohol. Next, apply directly to the front, back, and all angles of the earring finding, keep for a couple of minutes, and wipe. It is important to note that keep rubbing alcohol at the clip earring finding level. Do not saturate earrings with embellishments, as it could melt the glue used to keep the embellishment or gems in place.
If you're looking for a convenient way to clean your earring backs on the go, you can get a jewelry cleaning pen. These pens are great for cleaning gemstones and settings on rings and earrings while you're out and about. We like Sparkle + Shine Jewelry Cleaning Stick, which cleans all types of gemstones and is excellent for the settings on earrings, both front, and back, due to its small size. If you're looking for something more powerful, try Connoisseurs' Dazzle Stik, which is made with a polymer gel formula system that contains microfine cleansers and polishing agents.
In Summary
The safest advice for keeping your pierced and clip earrings clean and sparkling is to use a soft cloth. This may seem a no-brainer, but other methods can quickly damage your jewelry. Keep your jewelry safe from other pieces to avoid scratches. Many times a small ziplock bag will protect your earrings from the environment. Put your earrings last. Cosmetics, lotions, and hair spray can impact the luster of your pieces. Consult and read your earring designer's instructions and store on how to take care of your pieces. You may be surprised at what you learn! Use a soft cloth to dust your pieces lightly if no other information is available. Pieces with years of grime should be taken to a professional jeweler who can analyze your pieces and clean them using the proper methods to ensure they are polished and safe from further deterioration.