As with any piece of jewelry, regular cleaning will keep it looking its best. Jewelry cleaners are specially formulated products used to remove build-up and maintain shine on fine jewelry like rings, necklaces, earrings and wedding bands. Jewelry cleaners are available in a variety of forms, from liquid to foam, wipes, dipping tanks and ultrasonic machines that use sound waves to agitate and clean jewelry. Some are safe for all metals and stones while others may be damaged by certain types of materials. It is important to always follow the label guidelines of the specific product you choose to use.
To help consumers select the best Jewelry cleaner for their needs, Real Simple conducted extensive research on the market and tested and analyzed 12 jewelry cleaners. We evaluated each product based on its formula, type of jewelry it is compatible with and whether it was manual or ultrasonic. We also consulted with gemological experts like Brittany Groshong, founder of Valley Rose Jewelry to ensure that we were selecting only the safest and most effective Jewelry cleaner for every jewelry type.
The results of our Jewelry cleaner tests revealed that many consumer-rated jewelry cleaners have a high amount of ammonium, which damages some gemstones and oxidizes silver and gold. In addition, some jewelry cleaners are too harsh, causing damage and dulling to delicate metals. For these reasons, we focused on products that are gentle enough for fine jewelry and that are formulated using natural ingredients.
One of the most effective Jewelry cleaners we found was Weiman’s Fine Jewelry Cleaner, which comes with a convenient dipping tray to set your jewelry in and lower into the solution. This jewelry cleaner includes a tiny scrubbing brush to access hard-to-reach nooks and crannies, and it is safe for most precious jewelry. Weiman’s Fine Jewelry Cleaner worked well to restore the shine on our tarnished silver jewelry, though it did not completely remove some of the more stubborn dark spots from the surface.
Another easy-to-use Jewelry cleaner is a clean, soft-bristled toothbrush. Its tiny bristles are perfect for removing light stains and scrubbing out tough ones. The only caveat is that you should be careful not to use any type of toothpaste on your precious metals, as the abrasiveness of the paste can damage them.
In a pinch, you can also make your own DIY Jewelry cleaner by combining white vinegar with baking soda and salt. The solution can be sprayed directly on pieces of jewelry to remove build-up or soaked in the mixture for 10 minutes. It is recommended that you do not soak plated jewelry in the mixture, as it can rust.
Ultrasonic jewelry cleaners are very efficient, but they can be dangerous if you don’t follow the manufacturer’s instructions. They can also damage some soft gemstones or organic materials like opal, turquoise, doublets and resin inlay. They are also not recommended for emerald, pearls or soft gemstones with inclusions. To be safe, you should avoid getting your jewelry cleaned at a jeweler who uses an ultrasonic machine.
