How To Get Professional Level Cleaning Of Jewelry At Home?

Believe it or not, your jewelry needs cleaning from time to time as well. It stays on you and goes wherever you go, collecting dust, grime, and dirt. However, the sad part is that most of us often ignore the cleaning part until it our jewelry and gems begin to lose their shine. According to the leading gemstone distributor in Hong Kong, “people often come to us with the complaint of their jewelry looking lackluster after only a couple of years of use. We often ask them back about how frequently do they clean it? They mostly say they had no idea they needed to do it.”

In this time where you are not advised to move out of the house and where most non-essential businesses are not in operation, professional cleaning may not be available to you. However, that should not mean that you cannot get it done at all. Here is a small article to help you clean your jewelry just like how an expert would.

Here Are Some Tips For Cleaning Your Jewelry Like a Professional:

●       Soak in Dish Soap

Some dish soap in warm water (not hot) will be the best treatment that you can give your jewelry. This will take away any dirt or grime still on the piece, especially the stone if it has an added finish to it. A number of gemstone manufacturers in Hong Kong suggest this treatment for cleaning jewelry. All you need to do is let it soak for about 5 minutes in the solution and then rinsing in lukewarm water. Buff dry with a microfiber fabric and you will notice the difference.

●      Cleaning With A Toothbrush

For getting into the areas that might not have been cleaned by the soak itself, you need to take a brush to the piece. Take a new, soft-bristled, baby-size toothbrush, bring the piece out of the soap solution and gently clean with the brush before buff drying on a microfiber fabric. Do not use an old used toothbrush as the toothpaste residue may cause more damage.

●      Keeping Them Dry

Especially for pieces made with brass and silver, it is important to clean them and dry them completely before you store them following the clean and wash. Moisture is an enemy for silver and brass finishes and may cause irreparable damage.

●      Avoid Acid Based Cleaners

It is always advised to steer clear of acid-based cleaners, like vinegar or witch hazel. These may especially harmful for porous metals and stones. Baking soda has a very abrasive nature and can easily scratch softer stones.

●       Be Gentle with Delicate Pieces

Softer stones like opals, pearls, turquoise, coral and natural materials like wood and mammoth bone need a gentler touch. They can expand, crack, get discolored, or shrink because of temperature changes. Which is why instead of submerging these, you can dip a microfiber cloth into the solution and gently buff clean the surface. Use another dry microfiber cloth to completely clean the surface.

Apart from these, if you have any heirloom piece that has been in the family for decades now, it is advised that you wait and only let a professional take care of the piece for you. Some pieces need ultrasonic and steam cleaning, and that can only be determined by an expert.