If you have a lot of jewelry to keep clean, you might consider investing in a jewelry cleaner. These products use an ultrasonic machine or steam to loosen dirt and grime. However, they can also damage metals. In addition, they may be too aggressive for porous organic stones. If you want to avoid this hassle, you can try making your own cleaning solution.
The jewelry cleaner of choice should be big enough to accommodate the item, so it doesn’t get sucked into the nozzle. You should also choose a reusable cloth for the job. This will allow you to repeat the process with the same cloth. You might even want to invest in a professional quality jewelry cleaner for a more thorough cleaning.
For an at-home cleaning method, you can use soap and water. This is a cheap and simple way to clean hard metal jewelry. The solution should be a little hot, but not boiling. If you do this, be sure to rinse thoroughly before putting your jewelry back on.
While the soap and water method is a great option for jewelry, it won’t work on gemstones. You should avoid using baking soda or ammonia as these chemicals can scratch or ruin softer stones. You can also use a homemade solution containing salt and baking soda. Mixing these two ingredients into a small amount of dish detergent will make a fine cleaning solution. The key is to mix it all well before you apply it to your jewelry.
Another popular home cleaner is a mix of vinegar and baking soda. You can also combine a few drops of tea tree oil into the mixture to enhance the effect. You can then rinse your jewelry off with cool water. This will remove the most basic stains and grime.
To ensure you have the best cleaning experience, you should always test a cleaning solution before applying it to the entire piece of jewelry. You can do this by first testing it on a hidden part of the piece. This will tell you if the solution is going to do a good job on the rest of the piece.
You can also buy a cleaning solution that includes a variety of surface active agents. These are formulated to lift tarnish and dirt, while also being able to remove oils and chemical reactions. You might also find a solution that contains a small amount of sodium metasilicate, a small concentration of which is a strong base. This is a common ingredient in commercial jewelry cleaners, but it can be toxic to some metals.
For a more comprehensive approach, you can clean your jewelry with a mixture of distilled vinegar and baking soda. You can then follow up by polishing the piece with a clean, dry cloth. This will remove the most basic stains, while leaving the surface sparkling.
The other big wig in the jewelry cleaning world is a good old fashioned toothbrush. A soft bristled brush is ideal for this task. You can also use a wooden toothpick to gently pick out any residue.
