Cleaning Your Jewellery At Home
Your jewellery will really benefit from regular cleaning to maintain its sparkle and shine. Most jewellers offer a professional cleaning and polishing service, but if you can't get to one, here is a guide to cleaning your jewellery at home:
- Fill a bowl with warm soapy water (dish soap is best)
- Leave your jewellery to sit in the bowl for 10 – 30 minutes
- Brush gently with a soft toothbrush or spoolie making sure to get into the underneath of the settings where dirt accumulates
- Rinse thoroughly in clean water
- Dry with a clean, lint free cloth
- Store your jewellery correctly in a jewellery box, not touching each other to avoid scratches
There are a few things you need to be mindful of when cleaning your jewellery:
- Avoid extremely hot water, this can damage some gemstones
- Do not use soaps or cleaning fluids of any kind with pearls and green emeralds
- Do not use baking soda or toothpaste , this is too abrasive for fine jewellery
- Don’t use any harsh cleaning products in your home when wearing precious jewellery (remove them first)
- Try not to spray perfume directly onto jewellery (i.e. earrings), and avoid hand sanitisers where possible
CHECK STONE SETTINGS
Cleaning your jewellery is also a good opportunity to check for any loose stones or raised claws. If you shake your ring next to your ear you may hear any larger stones ‘rattle’ if loose. More subtle clues would be if your jewellery is suddenly catching in or pulling your hair or clothes, that may indicate that a claw needs to be repaired. Loose or broken claws can mean lost diamonds!
DAILY HABITS
Diamonds, most gemstones gold and platinum are hard materials but not indestructible! Our advice to keep your jewellery in good condition is:
- Remove at bedtime and for showering
- Avoid wearing to the gym or any strenuous activity
- Avoid any manual activities such as gardening
SERVICING
Just as you would with your car, jewellery should also be serviced once a year! This can often prevent any damage or potential lost gemstones. A goldsmith can check and tighten all stone settings, make any repairs necessary and clean and polish your jewellery. Well serviced jewellery will last you a lifetime.