How to Clean Jewellery for Endless Shine

When was the last time you gave your jewellery a good clean? From everyday accessories to the more precious pieces saved for special occasions, all jewellery needs a little TLC to retain its sparkle.

It is not necessary to pay for a professional clean. Feel free to peruse the ultimate guide on how to clean your jewellery.

1. Baking soda
To remove built-up residue on silver, prepare a thick paste with 1/4 cup baking soda to 2 tablespoons of water. Apply with a damp sponge and gently rub, rinse, and buff dry. To polish gold jewellery, cover with a light coating of baking soda, pour a tad vinegar over it and rinse thoroughly. Note: Do not use this technique with jewellery containing pearls or gemstones, as it could damage the finish or loosen any glue.

2. Dish Soap and Water

Do not underestimate the power of the classic mix of dish soap and warm water. However elementary it’s an effective way to clean gold, platinum jewellery, pearls and opals. Use a soft-bristle toothbrush or cloth to lightly brush any accumulation of dirt on the gold, skipping this step for pearls and opals. Instead, just remove them from the liquid and lay them to dry before storing in a cotton bag.

3. Toothpaste
Apply a dab of toothpaste to a toothbrush and use it to make your diamond ring glisten. Cleaning any residue with a damp cloth.

4. Vinegar
For an everlasting shine to your precious pieces of jewellery soak pure silver bracelets, rings, and other jewellery in a mixture of 1/2 cup white vinegar to 2 tablespoons baking soda for two to three hours. Rinse them under cold water and dry thoroughly with a soft cloth.

5. Alka Seltzer
It is said to be a great cleaner for diamonds and other hard stones. Let your jewellery soak in a mixture of water and Alka Seltzer and simply wipe with a clean, dry cloth.

6. Boil Your Jewelry
Hot water is an easy (and inexpensive) cleaning solution for hard metal jewellery. The process of steam and heat loosens dirt and debris from jewellery, making it easy to wipe away. Simply place jewellery in a heat proof container, add boiling water until items are completely immersed. Allow the jewellery to sit for a few minutes or until the water has cooled. Remove jewellery from the bowl and wipe away grime with a clean cloth. Dry thoroughly before putting it away. Keep in mind this method will not work for pearls, opals, and many other gemstones.

7. Aluminium Foil
Albeit an unorthodox method, cleaning jewellery with aluminium foil is a simple and effective one. Simply line a small bowl with foil, fill the bowl with hot water and mix in one tablespoon of bleach-free powdered laundry detergent. Place jewellery in the solution and let it soak for one minute. Rinse well and air-dry. The foil lifts the tarnish from the jewellery, however unconventional it may be.

8. Lemon juice
Prepare the solution by mixing one part water to one part lemon juice. Place the item in the bowl for 10-15 minutes. The magic element of this household hack is the acid in the lemon juice. If dirt and grime doesn’t lift, give your jewellery a quick rinse and place it back in the mixture for a further few minutes. Once the shine has been restored, rinse again with cool water, being careful not to immerse completely. Finish off by buffing dry with a clean cloth.