Fine jewelry has the potential to stand out with its sparkly gemstones, sleek metals, and unique look. This being said, in order to keep fine jewelry in pristine condition, it’s important to know how to care for specific metals, and gemstones. Gold and Silver can be negatively affected by simple things such as dust, moisture, lotions, perfumes, and even air. Luckily, there are many products and techniques you can use to restore or maintain your treasured jewelry pieces. Keep reading to learn more about how to care for the items in your jewelry box.
Gold:
Create a mixture of warm water and a few drops of dish soap and let your gold jewelry soak for a few minutes. This will help loosen up any dirt and grime in harder to reach crevices. You can then use a soft toothbrush to gently scrub at the left over dirt. Another option you can use is getting a gold cleaning solution. This can be purchased at most convenience stores, or online. Gold cleaning solutions typically include a polishing cloth, cleaning solution, and sometimes a brush.
Silver:
There are a few ways to clean silver jewelry. The most obvious way is to purchase silver polish, or jewelry cleaner made specifically for silver. If you’re looking for a quicker solution, you can try mixing warm water with a few drops of dish soap and letting the silver soak for a couple of minutes. Just like you would do with gold jewelry you can then use a soft toothbrush to get off any excess dirt or grime. Another way to get your silver cleaned quickly is to use white toothpaste, or a mix of baking soda and water to make a paste like scrub. Apply either of these to a toothbrush and gently scrub the silver to remove dirt.
Gemstones:
Gemstones can be trickier to clean than silver or gold metals, as different gemstones call for different care. That being said, most gemstones can be cleaned in similar ways. You should always research the specific gemstone, or speak with a professional jeweler before jumping into cleaning with basic household supplies. However, most gemstones can be cleaned with something as simple as a mixture of dish soap and seltzer water. Let your gemstones soak for a few minutes, and then use a non abrasive cloth to dry off. Other options include jewelry cleaning sticks, or glass cleaner.
Pearls:
Pearls require a unique way of cleaning because they are porous, making it easy for them to lose their luster. A safe way to clean pearls is using shampoo and a soft cloth to gently scrub away any impurities. You also have the option of purchasing pearl cleaning kits online, or at most convenience stores.
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