Jewelry cleaner is a liquid, cream, gel, wipes, or ultrasonic cleaning solution that removes dirt and grime from your precious metal and gemstone jewelry. These cleaners can be purchased at most jewelers, specialty stores, and online. However, you can also clean your jewelry at home with the use of household products and a little know-how.
Before buying jewelry cleaner it is important to understand what type of jewelry you have and which cleaning methods work best with them. Certain gems are more delicate and will not stand up to harsh chemicals or high heats, so it is crucial to know what you are working with and if a certain technique won’t damage your items.
Professionally cleaned jewelry is the most effective way to preserve and enhance your heirloom pieces. Advanced cleaning techniques, such as the specialized brushes that reach into tiny crevices, can help remove stubborn residues without damaging the delicate settings and stones. In addition, trained jewelers can spot potential problem areas such as loose or worn out stones, preventing these issues from getting worse and reducing the value of your piece.
While it’s tempting to save money by using a DIY kit at home, the benefits of having your jewelry professionally cleaned far outweigh the cost. It’s best to have items with sentimental value, such as family heirlooms and engagement rings, cleaned at least once a year by a professional jeweler, ideally using professional tools that will prevent the pieces from becoming damaged or eroded.
If you have a collection of delicate jewelry and are looking for an easy-to-use solution, we recommend the Brilliant Jewelry Cleaner. The kit comes with a jar of pre-mixed cleaner, a plastic tray that holds your jewelry items in place for soaking and a soft brush for loosening dirt and grime that is hard to reach.
The cleaner has a mild scent and does a good job of cleaning. However, it isn’t suitable for emeralds or other soft gemstones and can be rough on pearls. It doesn’t work very well on tarnished sterling silver, either.
Alternatively, you can mix your own jewelry cleaner with a half cup of white vinegar and two tablespoons of baking soda. Pour this solution into a bowl and let your jewelry soak for a few hours. Then rinse with cool water and dry your pieces with a soft cloth. It will remove tarnish, but it isn’t strong enough for rust or serious build-up. It is also not recommended for opal, coral, onyx, doublets, resin inlay, and moonstone. You can find this jewelry cleaner here.