We all know that it’s important to brush your teeth regularly and to floss — but a trip to the dentist is still necessary twice a year to get a deep clean that you simply can’t replicate at home. It’s the same with your jewelry: Light, regular cleaning sessions at home are essential, but you’ll want to leave the deeper work to the experts to keep your rings sparklingly fresh and beautiful.
While it’s true that professional jewelers use a variety of tools and chemicals not available to the average consumer (like an ultrasonic cleaner), many of their methods are simple enough to do at home. Here are some of the best cleaners we’ve found to help you keep your precious jewellery looking great.
For Gold Jewellery
The easiest way to keep your gold ring from getting tarnished is by keeping it clean. You can use a bit of mild dishwashing liquid mixed with warm water to soak your ring in, and then gently scrub it clean with a soft toothbrush or cotton swab. Be sure to let your ring dry completely (even if it takes overnight) before wearing it again — a damp ring is more likely to become tarnished.
If your ring is set with diamonds or other gemstones, you’ll need to be more careful when cleaning it. You should only soak them in warm, soapy water; hot or cold water is too harsh and can damage the gemstones. For this reason, it’s usually a good idea to have your jewellery cleaned by the jeweller from whom you purchased it. They’ll be able to offer the best advice for keeping your rings lustrous and shiny.
For Sterling Silver Jewellery
The safest way to clean sterling silver jewellery is to use a mild liquid dishwashing detergent or gentle, liquid soap in warm water and then gently scrub it with a soft toothbrush or cotton swab. Once it’s fully rinsed and dry, you can buff it with a soft cloth to polish it up. You can also try using toothpaste or baking soda to polish your jewelry, but this is generally not recommended for most pieces because it’s too abrasive and can scratch the surface of your ring.
For Pearls
The most important thing to keep in mind when caring for pearls is that they are very porous and can be damaged by soaking or prolonged contact with water. The pros recommend a mix of wipes or using a small make-up brush dipped in a cleaning solution to clean your pearls. We love this deluxe pearl cleaning kit, which includes individual care wipes and a special brush specifically designed to clean lustrous pearls safely.
Elizabeth Berry is the Updates Editor at Good Housekeeping Institute, where she optimizes lifestyle content across verticals. Her articles have been published in magazines and online, and she holds a B.A. in English and Italian Studies from Connecticut College. She regularly tests products in the GH Institute’s Home Care & Cleaning Lab to evaluate their performance, ease of use and ingredient labels.
