The Right Way to Clean Fine Jewelry at Home

Regular cleaning helps keep your jewelry looking beautiful and allows you to spot potential issues before they become costly repairs. While many pieces can be safely cleaned at home, different materials require different care.

Before cleaning any jewelry, always inspect it for loose stones, damaged settings, or signs of wear. If you’re unsure about a piece, consult a professional jeweler before attempting to clean it yourself.

General Jewelry Cleaning Tips

When cleaning jewelry at home:

• Using warm water is the best bet when cleaning your own jewelry. However, water can cause reaction with the cleaning fluids resulting in discoloration and Sterling Silver is especially susceptible to this problem. Should this occur, this problem can be remedied by buffing with a treated polish cloth or the application of a tarnish remover.
• Avoid bleach and harsh household chemicals, which can permanently damage jewelry.
• Use a soft brush to gently remove dirt and buildup.
• Rinse thoroughly after cleaning.
• Dry with a soft cloth rather than paper towels, which may cause fine scratches.

Commercial jewelry cleaners can be effective, but many pieces can also be cleaned safely using simple solutions made at home.

How to Clean Diamond Jewelry

Diamonds are among the most durable gemstones, but they can quickly lose their sparkle from lotions, soaps, cosmetics, and natural skin oils.

To clean diamond jewelry:

1. Mix one part ammonia with six parts water.
2. Soak the jewelry briefly.
3. Use a soft toothbrush to gently clean around the diamond and underneath the setting where dirt collects.
4. Rinse thoroughly and dry with a soft cloth.

Diamonds are durable, so they can be scrubbed and buffed with a little less caution than other gemstones.

How to Clean Rubies and Sapphires

Rubies and sapphires are durable gemstones that can typically be cleaned at home.

To clean these stones:

1. Mix lukewarm water with a small amount of mild dish soap.
2. Alternatively, use one part ammonia to six parts water.
3. Gently brush beneath the gemstone where dirt tends to accumulate.
4. Rinse and dry thoroughly.

Routine cleaning will help maintain their color and brilliance.

How to Clean Pearls Safely

Pearls can keep their luster for a very long time, when cared for. Proper pearl care is not difficult, as long as you remember that these gems are organic by nature, grown in water from living cells of a living creature.

The best way to help your pearls maintain their luster is to wear them regularly. Your own body’s natural oils, aid in maintaining the pearls’ beauty.

To help preserve their beauty:

• Pearls should be worn alone. If worn with other jewelry, such as a gold chain or other necklace, they may be scratched or damaged.
• Apply any cosmetics, lotions, perfume or hair spray before putting on your pearls. Make your pearls the last item you put on when getting dressed and the first item you take off.
• Avoid contact with salt water, chlorinated water, or perspiration.
• Wipe your pearls after wearing them, using a soft cloth.
• Remove spills immediately when pearls come in contact with any foods or liquids. Wipe them with a soft damp cloth and then with a dry soft cloth.

Store your pearls separately from other jewelry, preferably in a cloth bag. Storing them in a slightly damp linen cloth will help the pearls from drying out in low humidity atmospheres and centrally heated areas.

What Not to Use on Pearls

• Never clean your pearls with soap, detergents, or jewelry cleaner. A harsh cleanser can wear away the nacre.
• Never use an ultrasonic jewelry cleaning machine or steam cleaner.

Have your pearls restrung every two to five years if worn regularly, or when the silk becomes dirty. Take your pearls to a professional jeweler for cleaning prior to restringing, which will add to the beauty and long life of your pearls.

How to Clean Gold Jewelry

Proper care of your gold jewelry will assure a long-lasting glow. Gold jewelry can tarnish since a large portion of all solid gold jewelry on the market contains some type of alloy with the exception of 24k (pure gold). The alloys used in gold jewelry may tarnish. Not only that, gold jewelry collects dirt and grime and loses it’s luster over time.

To clean gold jewelry:

1. Use a mild detergent or ammonia solution (one part ammonia to six parts water). Avoid ammonia solution when cleaning pieces that contain pearls.
2. Use a soft brush to gently clean intricate filigree designs and under gemstones.
3. Rinse and wipe jewelry after cleaning.Avoid use of tissue or paper towel, fibers in these products can cause scratches.

Grease can be removed from karat gold jewelry by dipping the jewelry into plain rubbing alcohol. Check with your jeweler about colored gemstone pieces.

Do not use any kind of abrasive that might scratch the gold such as baking soda and toothpaste.

How to Clean Platinum Jewelry

Like gold, platinum jewelry does not tarnish.

Simply clean your platinum pieces with a soft cloth and mild detergent or ammonia solution (one part ammonia to six parts water) to maintain their luster.

Avoid use of tissue or paper towels as they can cause scratches because of fibers in these products.

How to Clean Silver Jewelry

Sterling silver by nature may tarnish when it is not worn. To maintain the luster of your jewelry, place silver anti-tarnish strips in your storage container to absorb the oxidants that discolor and tarnish the metal.

Use a treated professional cleaning and polishing cloth will restore luster without scratching or removing the finish. This cloth can also be used on your gold and platinum jewelry.

Alternatively, create your own cleaning solution. Baking soda is an abrasive that you won’t want to use on gold, but since silver is less expensive and a harder metal, you are much less likely to scratch it.

Homemade Silver Cleaning Solution

You’ll need:

• Aluminum Foil
• Aluminum or glass dish/pan with rimmed edge
• 1 cup Boiling Water
• 1/2 cup Vinegar
• 1 tablespoon Baking Soda
• 1 tablespoon Salt
• Soft cloth or microfiber cloth
• Tongs/tweezers

Directions:

1. Line the bottom of your pan or dish with aluminum foil.
2. Mix salt and baking soda together in pan.
3. SLOWLY pour the vinegar into the pan. There will be a reaction between the baking soda and the vinegar, so use caution.
4. Then slowly add the boiling water to the mixture.
5. Drop your jewelry into the solution, making sure all jewelry is touching the aluminum foil and isn’t overlapping one another.
6. Let the jewelry sit for 30 seconds to 3 minutes depending on how tarnished your jewelry is.

When you notice that the metal has become bright again, remove the jewelry and rinse under the tap. Wipe gently with a towel and polish with a soft cloth. Use of tissue or paper towels can cause scratches because of fibers in these products.

💡 Tip: If your dish is really large or you have a lot of jewelry, you may need to double or triple the recipe. You want it so that all of your jewelry is completely submerged in the solution.

⚠️ Important: This method should only be used if your jewelry does not contain gemstones as the saltwater could damage the settings.

When to Visit a Professional Jeweler

Home cleaning is a great way to maintain your jewelry between professional inspections.

However, if a piece contains delicate gemstones, antique settings, loose stones, or visible damage, professional cleaning is often the safest option.

At Jonathan K. & Co. Fine Jewelry, we offer complimentary cleaning and inspection services for our clients to help keep their jewelry looking beautiful and performing as intended.