How to polish and clean jewelry?

How do I clean my jewelry at home?

If your jewelry or accessory has lost its luster, use expert-recommended cleaning methods. However, if you don't have a cleaning product handy, here are some recommendations to follow.

How do I clean my silver jewelry?

What can be done to prevent the silver from becoming tarnished? If you don't have professional products on hand and need to clean your silver jewelry asap, try one of the following methods.

1 - Use dish soap: mix a few drops of soap with warm water. Soak a soft cloth in the solution and rub the jewelry to remove the tarnish. Rinse with cold water and dry with another soft cloth.

2 - Try baking soda: For more severe tarnishing, mix 3 parts baking soda to 1 part water. Dampen the silver accessory and apply the paste with a soft, lint-free cloth. Work the paste into the crevices of the jewelry and rotate the cloth as it picks up the hardware. Rinse the cloth well and buff dry.

3 - Consider toothpaste: Just like the abrasives in toothpaste remove stains from teeth, they can also remove tarnish from silver. Apply a dab of white toothpaste (not gel) to the tarnished silver and rub gently with your finger or a soft cloth. Rinse with warm water and polish the silver with a soft cloth.

Note, however, that these treatments won't prevent tarnish from reappearing, and silver experts advise against using them too often (if at all). With silver-plated jewelry, you should avoid excessive scrubbing to avoid wearing down the surface.

The best way to clean and care for oxidized silver jewelry is to use a good quality detergent specifically formulated for silver. These contain ingredients that dissolve and remove tarnish while leaving a protective layer that prevents new tarnish from forming.

How do I clean my gold jewelry?

Soak solid gold bracelets, necklaces and earrings in a solution of a few drops of dish soap and a little warm water.

Place the jewelry in the solution and let it soak for about five minutes. You can swirl the jewelry in the solution. You can then rub a soft toothbrush over the cracks and links of the jewelry to remove dirt. Place the jewelry back into the solution and rinse under running water. Dry with a soft cloth.

For best results, experts recommend using professional gold jewelry cleaning products.

How do I clean a diamond ring?

It's easy to restore the luster of precious and semi-precious stones like diamonds, rubies, emeralds and sapphires set in gold jewelry. You can use the same method outlined above for cleaning gold.

Gently brush the stones and settings with a soft-bristled toothbrush, then soak in clear water to rinse, or place pieces in a colander and rinse under running water. Buff dry and admire the shine.

However, be very careful when cleaning gemstones as certain mixtures can affect their brilliance. We advise you to use products specifically designed by recognized professionals to clean precious jewellery.

How do you clean jewelry with stones?

Because they are very porous, cultured pearls can easily lose their luster. Rule number one: never soak your pearl jewelry as this can weaken and break the thread.

To gently clean pearls, first place the necklace on a soft cloth. Dip a small, clean makeup brush in a mixture of warm water and soap and gently brush off each bead. Let the thread dry flat so it doesn't stretch.

This "no-soak" treatment is also suitable for turquoise and opal.

How do I clean my fashion jewellery?

Soak a cloth in soapy water and gently wipe off the dirt. Then rinse with a cloth dampened with clear water. Pat the object dry and turn it upside down to keep moisture out.

However, make sure that you do not soak your costume jewelery in water, as stones (crystal, zirconia and glass) are often not set but glued. This could cause the glue to dissolve and the stones to come loose.