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Dreamscape Jewelry Design

March 5, 2023-The “Do’s and Don’ts” of Cleaning Jewelry

Once a piece of fine jewelry is purchased, it’s important to treat it with care to preserve and protect its beauty and longevity.  We researched both the best and worst practices to keep your jewelry at its best.

The “Dont’s”

  1. Baking Soda is an abrasive which can scratch gemstones and precious metals
  2. Toothpaste is also considered an abrasive as many toothpastes have baking soda in them.  Ones that have whitening agents in them can also be damaging.
  3. Boiling water can expand metals and loosen gemstones.  It can also cause cracks in some gemstones.
  4. Alcohol is considered a drying agent and can also cause cracks in precious gemstones like opals and emeralds

The Dos of Cleaning Jewelry

1. Use only jewelry polishing cloths to clean your pieces, as dipping in cleaning fluids can damage the luster of both the crystals and gemstones. The one we recommend and use in our studios are the Sunshine Jewelry Cloths. The cloths are effective for a long time when kept enclosed in its tube. https://dreamscapejewelry.com/sunshine-jewelry-cloth/

Sterling Silver:

  • Try to to keep your sterling silver jewelry in a cool, dry place. Anti-tarnishing cloths or strips also help in resisting tarnish.
  • Polishing cloths are an excellent choice for cleaning your copper and sterling silver jewelry. 

Gemstones:

  • Gemstones require different cleaning methods based on their hardness. Just as a dermatologist advises us to about the harmful rays of the sun, it’s equally potentially damaging to the color and durability of gemstones as well. Both heat and light can actually impact a precious stone’s color causing it to fade (amethysts and smoky topaz in particular) and in some cases even crack. 
  • One method which is safe for all types is to use an untreated polishing cloth to bring back the lustre and shine.
  • Gemstones also have different levels of hardness, softer pearls can be scratched by harder stones like diamonds.  
  • Store your gemstone jewelry separately in separate compartments of a jewelry box or drawer. One idea is to put them in separate pouches.   
  • To clean: scrub gently with a brush with soft bristles, warm water and a mild detergent.  (A safety tip learned by an unfortunate experience, clean in a bowl and not over open drain in sink!) Dry with a soft, lint free cloth.
  • Helpful link: http://www.firemountaingems.com/encyclobeadia/beading_resources.asp?docid=CLEANINGGEMSTONES

Copper:

Gold or Gold Plated:

  • Clean gold plated jewelry the same way you clean solid gold jewelry, being mindful not to scratch it.
  • Put a couple drops of dish liquid in warm water. Do NOT use automatic dish liquid because it does contain abrasives.
  • Let the jewelry soak for a few minutes to loosen the dirt.
  • Brush the jewelry with a small, soft brush (i.e. an old toothbrush). You especially want to brush around stones and clasps to remove accumulated body oils and dirt.
  • Rinse with water taking care not to let the pieces escape down the drain (you can use a small wire strainer or mesh tea strainer).
  • Dry with paper towels or anything else that’s lint-free.
  • A solution of half Mr. Clean, half water with a splash of ammonia can be used to clean gold plated jewelry. This is what many jewelry stores use in their ultrasonic jewelry cleaning machine. Soak for 15 seconds then rinse with water and dry.*

Leather Jewelry/ZoBangles Care:

  • Pat down leather with damp (not wet) cloth.
  • Put a tiny dab of mild, moisturizing hand soap or leather cleaner on the cloth on both sides.
  • Rinse and dampen the cloth with clean water.
  • Wipe the leather clean and dry.
  • For the metal components, wipe gently with a quality jewelry cloth.

Last, but Not Least!

Sad but true news, your jewelry will experience some discoloring and ‘tarnishing” over time due to factors such as exposure to moisture, chemicals and air.  Tarnish is inevitable, but you can take preventative steps to preserve your jewelry’s appearance.

  1. Remove jewelry before showering, swimming or exercising
  2. Allow time for your perfume, lotions, and creams to be absorbed before putting on your jewelry.
  3. After wearing, clean your jewelry with a soft, dry cloth (like our Sunshine cloths) to remove skin oils and any dirt particles.
  4. When not in use, store your jewelry in a cool, dark, dry place to prevent oxidation.
  5. You can purchase anti-tarnish strips and which can be put with jewelry into sealed plastic bags
  6. Try not to jumble your jewelry together, especially anything plated,

Thank you for taking the time to read our blog.  Hopefully these tips will keep your jewelry looking as good as new for years to come. We invite you to share it with someone who might find it meaningful.

Best regards,

Wendy and Ron

Comments

  • Judi D
    March 5, 2023

    Thank you for taking the time to write this outstanding article filled with proven tips for taking care of our beautiful jewelry. Anyone lucky enough to own one or more of your beautiful pieces will benefit from these information.

    reply

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