DIY Jewelry Cleaner for All Types

Precious Metals – Gold and Silver 

Precious metals like gold and silver are often best cleaned using a simple soap and water mixture. Scrub the gold or silver with a soft cloth and pat dry. This is one of the best ways to clean silver jewelry and gold.

How to Clean Gold:

It’s been said that real gold does not tarnish. But, almost all gold jewelry is mixed with other metals and as a result, some minor tarnishing may occur. The method below is nothing revolutionary but is a safe, effective way to clean gold.

1. Soak any gold pieces in warm water with a touch of mild dish soap.
2. Rinse off, then wipe clean with a soft rag. (an old tee shirt works well too)
3. For jewelry with small stones or crevices, try using a soft bristle brush like a toothbrush for the hard-to-reach areas.

Occasionally silver may become tarnished, though it is most common in real silverware; tarnished silver jewelry will require more than a little soap and water.

How to Clean Tarnished Silver:

1. Line a small bowl with aluminum foil. (I have done it without the aluminum foil, and it still worked, but the two pieces of silver I had to test only had very little tarnish anyway)
2. Fill the bowl with hot water, vinegar, and baking soda. I used about 1/8 cup each of water and vinegar with 1 tsp of baking soda.
3. Place the silver in the solution for about 5 minutes, remove and buff dry with a clean microfiber cloth.
4. Follow up with silver polish.

Cleaning Costume Jewelry – Fake Jewelry

Costume jewelry, or fashion jewelry, as it is often referred to as is any jewelry not made from precious metals.

I use mild dish soap to clean all fashion jewelry. Avoid strong detergents with ingredients like phosphates which have been known to be too abrasive on fake jewelry, causing potentially more harm than good.

1. Soak jewelry in warm water with a touch of soap.
2. Wipe or scrub clean with a cloth or brush.
3. Rinse off any leftover soap residue and pat dry.

How Often Should I Clean My Jewelry

This really depends on how often you wear it and how dirty it gets. Now that you know how to clean jewelry at home, it’s easier than ever to keep your jewelry looking fresh and clean.

I’ll usually clean my rings every couple of weeks. Remember, soap residue, lotions, and body oils can all contribute to a lackluster appearance.

Homemade Jewelry Cleaner

INGREDIENTS

Vinegar

White vinegar is a popular natural cleaner. Soaking the jewelry piece in vinegar will help to loosen dirt, grime and take it from dull to shine in minutes. 

Because of the acidic level, you need to be careful with vinegar. Most precious metals are safe to clean with vinegar, while fashion jewelry, in many cases, is not.

Mild Soap 

A simple mild soap is often the best way to clean your jewelry at home. Castile soap, dawn, or other mild soaps should not harm jewelry.

Wrapping Up

Everyday Jewelry Tips

Lotions, body oils and dirt are among the most common culprits of dirty jewelry.

Most fine and fashion jewelry can be cleaned with a simple warm water and soap solution.

DO NOT soak pearls or porous stones in any liquid.

Always use a soft, lint-free, or microfiber cloth when wiping any jewelry.

Scrub brushes can be used on fine jewelry, though care must be taken so as not to damage the metals.

Soft bristle toothbrushes work great for cleaning small crevices.

I hope you were able to find a DIY jewelry cleaner to fit your needs. If you do enjoy making your owncleaning products, be sure to try out some of these popular cleaners below. And lastly, be sure to leave a comment below, letting me know how it worked for you.

 

Author by Laura