Jewelry Cleaning Methods

First and foremost, when in doubt ASK! Find a reputable jeweler. Check out of jewelry vendors!

By the time jewelry looks as if it needs a good jewelry cleaning, it is probably much worse off than you would imagine. Long before your jewelry looks dull or dirty and like it needs jewelry cleaning, soap scum, grease, dirt, cells from our skin, little hairs, and living organisms collect in the cracks and crevasses and pack themselves into the pockets beneath the stones. A good jewelry cleaning can help avoid many skin rashes resulting from an accumulation of unwanted filth on jewelry.

Inherited or other pre-owned jewelry should have a good jewelry cleaning and be inspected for repair before being worn by its new owner. Jewelry must be given regular jewelry cleaning to be truly beautiful. Diamonds, in particular, derive their beauty solely from the way they refract, reflect and disperse light, and jewelry cleaning is the best way to achieve this.

The least bit of film from skin oil, soap, or hand lotion will change the refractive index from that of diamond to that of grease, and most of the brilliance will be lost, jewelry cleaning will alleviate the problem. Diamonds, in particular, have a natural affinity for grease, and need to have a jewelry cleaning every day. There is a lot of different jewelry in the world, and there are some jewelry items that you just should not attempt to give a jewelry cleaning at all.

Those pieces that should never have a jewelry cleaning would include hair jewelry (popular in the Victorian era), jewelry set with real scarabs, butterflies and other delicate materials, jewelry with foil-backed stones, and jewelry whose materials are in doubt. In addition, there may be a natural patina (as opposed to dirt) on antique jewelry that could be removed by a jewelry cleaning, and some modern jewelry may have applied finishes that could be damaged during jewelry cleaning if not handled with care.

When in doubt, refrain from jewelry cleaning or ask the advice of a jewelry cleaning expert. The majority of jewelry, however, can withstand and benefit from jewelry cleaning. Below are some basics for getting started from the most gentle jewelry cleaning and continuing to the more vigorous jewelry cleaning.

Do your jewelry cleaning in a place where you will not lose an important piece.

The sink is not a good place for jewelry cleaning. Guard against losing a stone during the jewelry cleaning! Often, especially on jewelry that has been worn a lot, or pieces with very lightweight settings, the build-up of grime may actually be all that is keeping a stone in its setting! Cleaning off the grime could dislodge the stone. While this would be inconvenient, it is a lot better than having the stone fall out in an uncontrolled environment!

Carry out the jewelry cleaning in a small bowl, and check carefully for missing stones before pouring out the jewelry cleaning solution. Invisibly set jewelry is very popular. These gems are cut to fit together, held from beneath by grooves cut into the mounting. Be very careful doing jewelry cleaning on this type. Press you finger against the tops of the stones while brushing from beneath, and be gentle in your jewelry cleaning!

Damp Cloth Method:

For jewelry cleaning the most delicate jewelry or just about any jewelry, dampen a soft flannel cloth with warm water and wipe the jewelry. Use this method of jewelry cleaning for cleaning pearl strands, amber, jet, ivory and other delicate organic gems.

Bowl of Soapy Water Jewelry Cleaning Method:

Soak jewelry for a few minutes in a small bowl of warm water with a little dishwashing liquid added. When jewelry cleaning you might brush gently, using a child size soft toothbrush. This would be a good method for jewelry cleaning a pearl ring, and jewelry set with turquoise, lapis lazuli, malachite, coral, and similar stones.

Soak in ammonia, brush & rinse jewelry cleaning method:

To clean jewelry this way soak from a few minutes to overnight, depending on dirt build-up, in sudsy household ammonia. We recommend soaking your diamond ring once each month either overnight or in the morning, you complete the jewelry cleaning while getting ready for the day. Brush around and under the stones, using a soft-bristled child’s toothbrush for jewelry cleaning. Wipe the mounting with a soft flannel cloth to remove any remaining film after jewelry cleaning. Safe for diamonds and all faceted colored stones, except those such as emerald that might be filled with oil. Do not use this, or any of the jewelry cleaning methods listed below, for any jewelry that may have foil-back stones, or stones that may be glued into the mountings as is the case with many earrings

Water-Pik jewelry cleaning method:

A very useful tool for jewelry cleaning as well as cleaning your teeth! Do this after you have used the "soak and brush" method to soften the grime. The water jet can be a messy jewelry cleaning technique, so work inside a plastic bag. Set the pulse on "medium" and direct the jet under and around the stones. With invisibly set jewelry, start the jewelry cleaning at the stones first from the top, then from the bottom while pressing your finger against the stones from the top. This method is very effective for jewelry cleaning emerald jewelry (skipping the ‘soaking’ step.) If you use a detergent in the water tank, be sure to rinse thoroughly and run a tank of clear water through the unit when finished.

If you are ever in doubt about how to clean a piece of jewelry, contact your local jeweler. Most carry special cleaning compounds especially formulated for fine jewelry cleaning.