Jewellery cleaning is often a time-consuming task, especially if you are getting into jewellery collecting or have no time to spend on cleaning. However, having the proper knowledge of cleaning jewellery can make this task accessible. Many tips can be used on cleaning personalised jewellery daily to keep it looking as good as the day you purchased it.
The first and foremost tip for cleaning jewellery is understanding the difference between precious metal (gold, silver, diamond, platinum) and non-precious metal (plated metal). A good rule of thumb is to use gentle force when handling silver or golden dip to avoid scratching or staining the metal. Using a damp cloth for other metals such as copper will be fine. You may need to use a soft brush when cleaning jewellery made of gold or platinum. However, please do not use anything too hard or scratchy on these precious metals, especially when trying to restore them to their original state.
Another important jewellery tip is to avoid using soap or any cleansing products that contain lanolin. Although they may smell great and leave a nice sheen, lanolin is a detergent that is harsh on silver and gold pieces, can cause discolouration, and can also leave residues that can be difficult to remove. If you must use these products to clean your jewellery, try to use only small amounts at a time and rinse thoroughly after every use. It’s best to get your jewellery professionally cleaned by a jeweller or cleaning lady at least once a year to avoid any of these problems. This will help prevent cleaning your personalised jewellery for her more often than necessary.
If you have silver jewellery that has been tarnished, you should first place the pieces in a container that has some air circulation and a few drops of vinegar. This should allow the pieces to breathe and dry out properly. If you try to dry the parts out on your own, you could damage them, so make sure you contact silver jewellery cleaning professional to get them back into shape. Silver jewellery cleaning professionals usually have special units called steamers that use hot water to scrub the tarnished areas, much like you gently would a pool cue or your car’s interior.
Another essential cleaning jewellery tip is to avoid using mineral spirits, polish removers, bleach, and ammonia-based cleaners. The reason is that some of these ingredients are known to cause permanent discolouration to precious gemstone jewellery. Even the very best-looking jewellery can quickly become hideous if not cleaned properly. Even sterling silver jewellery can be tarnished if you don’t dry it properly before wearing it. Most gemstone jewellery should never be placed in a plastic bag, as this will cause the delicate stone to react by breaking down into tiny crystals, which will then cause the piece to discolour.
The final thing you should do to keep your jewellery in top condition is to store it away from direct sunlight, heating sources (such as the sun), freezing temperatures, and extremely high humidity levels, all of which are known to cause damage to delicate stones. Most jewellers agree that wearing jewellery that these factors have damaged can cause the damage to get worse! It’s a good idea to keep your earrings in a box, or another protective case, whenever you’re travelling to avoid this problem. It’s also a good idea to clean your gemstone jewellery regularly, either by soaking it in warm water and gentle dishwashing or by using a good quality polishing liquid. Cleaning jewellery should become an enjoyable, pleasant experience, so be sure to protect it well.
For more tips about cleaning your personalised jewellery, read the infographic below from Charming Jewellery Store.
