12 Easy Ways to Clean Jewelry At Home

     Pearls on a string, diamonds on a ring, silver, or maybe, golden earrings. For hundreds of years, people have loved jewelry as their most prized possession. Over the ages, it has been a matter of honor and pride across countries and cultures. Helping your precious jewelry last a lifetime is easy with these 12 easy ways to clean jewelry at home. 

The love people have for ornaments is eternal. However, pieces of jewelry come with a limited lifespan, if you don’t take care of them. Learning to clean jewelry at home can be a huge help to keep your most valuable pieces looking new. 

The sparkle of jewelry loses its shine with use over time. Natural skin secretions, skincare products, make-up, etc. are all culprits that turn jewelry dull and lackluster. While you can get your jewelry re-polished at the jeweler, why not try some DIY methods at home for a quick clean of your beloved belongings?

Try using these everyday items available in your household for some easy at-home jewelry cleaning.

1. Toothpaste

Toothpaste has mild abrasives which help remove stains and tarnish from silver jewelry. Dab some plain white toothpaste (not the gel or herbal ones) on your stained silver ornaments. 

Smear on all sides, and gently rub with your fingers for a few minutes. Rinse the jewelry pieces in lukewarm water and pat them clean. Dry-wipe it with a soft cloth to make the pieces sparkle.

2. Ketchup

Drop your dull and discolored silver jewelry in a bowl of ketchup for a couple of minutes. Avoid leaving your precious knick-knacks for longer than necessary as it might damage the silver. Jewelry with a smooth surface can be just left dunked without interference and the ketchup will work its magic. 

Jewelry pieces with little nooks and corners would need a little bit of additional effort. Take an old, used toothbrush and work the ketchup in the crevices of your jewelry. Rinse your pieces in lukewarm water and dry them with a soft cloth. Buff the pieces with the same soft cloth and voila it is as good as new.

3. Vinegar

Immerse your gold jewelry completely in a mixture of 1:2 ratios of vinegar and water. Ensure that all the jewelry pieces are placed separately and not overlapping each other in any way. Let your baubles remain soaked for 15-20 mins. Rinse the pieces nicely under cold water and pat dry with a soft and clean cloth. Now you have shining, glittering gold trinkets that look as good as new.

4. Shampoo 

Mix a few drops of baby shampoo in 1/4th cup of cold water and dip your pearl jewelry in the solution. But do not keep it for too long as it may damage your priceless pearls. Take a small brush or a make-up brush to stroke each pearl and the holding metal. 

Use cold water to rinse and cool it with your hair dryer set on the cool mode of drying. Use a very soft cloth to wipe it very lightly. Gentle care will help keep your pearls bright and wondrous for a long time to come.

5. Dish Soap

A few drops of liquid dish soap in lukewarm water is a wonder tonic for your old and dull jewelry. Place your jewelry in this mixture and let it remain for a few minutes. If it is extremely dirty, then a few more minutes might be required. This method is best used for silver jewelry or costume jewelry pieces. 

Take a soft toothbrush (baby ones are the best) and scrub your jewelry softly with its bristles. Rinse with cold water, while slowly moving your fingers in a rotating motion over the jewelry pieces. Wipe down your jewelry with a soft cloth and bring it to a shine.

Dish soap is a readily available item that is gentle on jewelry. This is one of the easiest ways to clean jewelry at home!

6. Window Cleaner

Window cleaners can be used to clean plain old jewelry or ones with precious gemstones. Fill a spray dispenser with the cleaning solution and spray it on your jewelry pieces. Use an old and baby soft toothbrush to buff the trinkets softly and slowly. 

Wipe dry with a soft cloth and your jewelry will be shop-new. Avoid using window cleaner for pieces with opal, turquoise, coral, or pearl. The ammonia present in these cleaning solutions will discolor and damage these precious gems.

7. Baking Soda

Add 1/4th cup baking soda in 2 tablespoons of water and make a thick paste. Apply this paste on your tarnished silver jewelry or dull gold jewelry and keep it aside for a while. You would need to pour a bit of vinegar on your gold jewelry for maximum effect. Gently rub your trinkets with a soft, damp sponge. 

Rinse it with cold water and buff dry with a soft and clean cloth. This cleaning concoction should never be used on jewelry containing gems or pearls. It might damage the gemstones or loosen the glue, making it prone to misplacement.

8. Alka – Seltzer

Take Alka- Seltzer tablets and water depending on the amount of jewelry you want to clean. Drop a few Alka- Seltzer tabs in water and place your jewelry in the fizzing water. Keep it aside and let it sit for 10-15 mins. Take an ultra soft-bristled toothbrush and gently brush your jewelry pieces. Take a soft napkin, dry off, and you are ready to party.

9. Club Soda

Diamonds, rubies, sapphires, or emeralds: soak it in club soda for a fine sheen. Pour club soda in a bowl or glass and dip your precious gemstones. Soak it overnight for maximum effect. Rinse under cold water after a specified period and see it glisten and glow. 

10. Ammonia

Mix ammonia with lukewarm water in 1:6 ratios. Place your gold or silver jewelry pieces for 10 minutes in this solution. Take it out and wipe dry gently with a soft and clean cloth. Never use this solution for jewelry pieces with pearls as it could scar its delicate surface.

11. Aluminum Foil

Line a bowl with aluminum foil and fill it with a mixture of laundry detergent powder and hot water. Soak your silver jewelry in this solution for a max of 1 minute and rinse it with cold water. Air dry your pieces for a lustrous shine.

12. Denture Tablets

Denture tablets in a bowl of warm water: that’s all it takes for your hard stone jewelry to look shiny and new. Soak your diamond jewelry pieces for 15-20 mins and rinse clean with cold water. Air dry or use a paper napkin to pat dry to reveal shine and sparkle. Never use jewelry with pearls or Lapis as it would create permanent damage. 

Cleaning jewelry at home is not as difficult as it may seem at first. A few minutes and a tiny bit of enthusiasm is all you need to get going. Keep it simple and use cleaners that are easy on your trinkets and your hands.

** Please test each method in a small inconspicuous area before applying to the entire jewelry piece.