Thankfully, it’s easier than you think to clean your jewellery at home. Here are some tips for making all your jewellery shine like new:
How to clean silver
The best way to clean stained silver pieces and keep them from being tarnished immediately is with good silver polish. Liquid polishes can be a bit messy to use, especially if you are in a hurry, so a silver-cleaning wipe can be a more comfortable alternative. The specially treated multi-layer fabric, which has one side to clean and remove stains and the second to shine, is a good choice.
If you don’t have silver polish to hand and you need to clean the silver ASAP, try one of the DIY methods below. Be aware that this treatment will not stain again, and silver experts warn against using it too often. For silver-plated jewellery, avoid rubbing too much so it doesn’t fade.
Use dish soap: Mix a few drops of dishwashing soap with warm water. Dip a soft cloth into the solution and use it to rub silver to remove the stain. Rinse with cold water and dry with another soft cloth.
Try baking soda: For heavier stains, mix the three parts of baking soda into one part of water. Moisten the silver and apply the paste with a soft cloth. Work into the cracks and rotate the fabric when removing the stain. Rinse well and dry.
Toothpaste: By using the same light abrasives found in toothpaste for removing stains from your teeth, they can also remove stains from silver. Apply a drop of white paste (not gel) toothpaste to the stained silver and rub it very gently with your finger or a soft cloth. Then, rinse with warm water and clean with a soft cloth.
For businesses who need to clean large amounts of jewellery in one go, the ideal solution is a Large Ultrasonic Cleaner, available from www.hilsonic.co.uk
How to clean gold
Give a golden bracelet, chain, and earrings a gentle wash in a solution of a few drops of dish soap and a little warm water. Put a small piece of jewellery into a filter before placing it in solution; large pieces can go directly into the bowl to soak for about five minutes. Shake things around, then remove them, place them on a soft cloth and open the cracks and chains with a soft toothbrush to expel the dirt trapped there. Return the small pieces to the filter and rinse them all with running water. Dry with a soft cloth.
How to clean gemstones
It’s easy to restore the lustre of precious and semi-precious stones, such as diamonds, rubies, emeralds and sapphires. You can use the same instructions as the one above to clean the gold, but instead of using plain water, mix the dish soap with seltzer water. The carbonation helps loosen soil and remove debris trapped in the setting and on the surface.
Brush the stone with a soft toothbrush; then, dip it into clear water to rinse or place the pieces in a filter and rinse under running water. Buff dry and admire the sparkle.
To clean rings while traveling, keep a jewellery cleaning stick in your wallet. Just turn the stick to release the cleaner and use the soft end of the brush to remove dirt and dirt. Rinse well m and see your gems shine!