Keeping your jewelry clean isn’t just about preventing a dull glow, it’s also important to maintain the integrity of the stone or metal. A dirty piece of jewelry will not reflect light the way a clean one will, and can even damage or scratch the surface. Luckily, there are plenty of gadgets, solvents, solutions, and quick fixes to keep your favorite gems sparkling like new. But the best jewelry cleaner will depend on what you’re cleaning, with a huge divide between products designed to clean just metal and those that can tackle both. We’ve rounded up the best in each category, so you can choose the one that’s right for your needs.
This elite jewelry cleaner doubles as both a pressurized steamer and an ultrasonic machine, which means it can clean any kind of jewelry. Just place your bling in the tank and select the timed cycle of up to 6 minutes (or use the manual setting for a shorter runtime). You can either hold your jewelry with tweezers, or simply set it on the bottom of the tank. When the cleaning cycle is over, just rinse away and you’re done! The ultrasonic compartment is great for sensitive pieces, and since the whole system is compact and portable it can be taken with you on your travels.
Most glitzy necklaces, rings, bracelets, and earrings are made from a mixture of metals and stones. Most can be cleaned in similar ways, but porous organic gemstones like pearls and amber need to be treated more delicately. In general, you should avoid submerging organic gemstones in cleaning fluids as they can absorb the chemicals and lose their natural sheen. Antique and rare artist jewelry should also be handled with care.
There’s a lot of jewelry cleaner hacks floating around the internet, but many of them can be dangerous or damaging. Some, such as using toothpaste to scrub jewelry, are downright unsafe and could scratch or dull your precious baubles.
Our top pick for a DIY jewelry cleaner uses ingredients you probably already have in your kitchen: baking soda and hot water! Mix a solution of a cup of water with 1-2 tbsp baking soda and soak your gold and silver baubles in it for 10 minutes. The abrasive baking soda and instruction to scrub the pieces with an old toothbrush are what make us hesitant about this hack; they’re both incredibly unsafe.
Another quick and easy jewelry cleaner is to soak your pieces in clear ammonia for ten minutes. Then, rinse and wipe them clean with a soft cloth or toothbrush. This works on most metals and some non-porous gemstones, although you shouldn’t use it on pearls or other glued gems. If you have any questions about a specific piece, always check the care instructions on the back of your jewelry or contact the maker directly. Store your baubles in a jewelry box or organizer when you’re not wearing them to prevent them from getting tarnished and dusty.
