Whether you have a handful of fine baubles or an entire collection, they need to be cleaned regularly to avoid build-up and dullness. Oil and dander from skin, dust from the environment, even metal polishing residue all contribute to jewelry that is less than shiny.
Regular glass cleaner can be a good option for most pieces, as long as you avoid spraying directly onto delicate stones and metals. Using a clean, soft-bristled toothbrush is also helpful to get to those hard-to-reach nooks and crannies.
A good jewelry cleaner solution should be free of ammonia, which can damage certain materials and irritate your skin. Look for a solution that can safely lift tarnish from silver jewelry, and doesn’t contain chemicals that will etch or dull non-porous gemstones like sapphires and diamonds.
One of the easiest and most effective homemade jewellery cleaner solutions is a mixture of lukewarm water and mild dish liquid soap, such as Dawn. Soak gold and silver jewelry for a few minutes in the solution, then scrub away the dirt with a clean, dry toothbrush or sponge. (Avoid soaking costume jewelry with “gems” that are actually glued to the backing, as prolonged exposure to water may weaken the glue.)
Alternatively, a concentrated jewellery cleaner solution like the one from Branson Ultrasonics can be used in an ultrasonic cleaning tank to make your gold, silver, platinum and diamond jewelry sparkle with a brilliant shine! This product includes a large packet of concentrate, a measuring scoop and an instruction sheet.