3 things you didn’t know about jewelry cleaning

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Jewelry cleaning isn’t as easy as one might think. There are various methods you can give a try, some of which are homemade and barely cost a thing. While the internet is packed with thousands of such suggestions, we recommend you take a step back and do a bit of research before risking to ruin your precious bling.

Even the Gemological Institute of America tells us to steer clear of chemical cleaners and avoid exposing precious gems to light or heat. Here are three things you might not have heard about jewelry cleaning, in general, just in case you want to learn more about it and even find out some ways you can save some bucks.

  1. Ultrasonic cleaners have to be used with caution

Professional ultrasonic cleaners are more or less affordable depending on the features they come with. There are some models destined for cleaning not just jewelry, but also dentures and a variety of other instruments used by orthodontists and dentists. These choices are capable of a superior performance when compared to their regular counterparts.

You might find it difficult to select the best jewelry cleaner if you plan to utilize it for gemstones with surface-reaching breaks, pearls, gems coated in plastic or wax, heat-treated gems, and those that are susceptible to heat, such as topaz, opal, lapis lazuli, and zircon, for instance. If you have any pieces with such gems, you may have to clean your pieces by hand.

  1. Making a homemade cleaning solution is as easy as pie

If you’re no fan of expensive gadgets and let’s face it, the chance of you being so are quite slim with the current economy and all, perhaps you’d like to make your own cleaning solution. From a simple pulsed-water dental cleaning appliance to a lint-free cloth, some warm water, and mild dish soap, you can choose the one that best suits your preferences.

Needless to say, there’s always the option involving baking soda, some hot water, and an old toothbrush, but you first have to make sure that the gems are well-fastened and that they won’t fall off if you tend to scrub them a bit too hard.

You definitely do not have to apply too much pressure, especially if you leave the jewelry in the baking soda solution for ten minutes or so. You’ll come to notice that the gunk naturally comes off once you’ve soaked your diamond wedding ring, earrings, bracelets, and necklaces in the solution.

  1. Don’t be afraid of toothpaste and vinegar

White vinegar is extremely effective when it comes to getting rid of stuff like lime. Millions of people all over the world clean their electric kettles using vinegar, and that’s because it does a great job.

Toothpaste is a bit abrasive, so you’ll have to be gentle when scrubbing your jewelry. Nonetheless, if you don’t own any pieces with gemstones with surface-reaching breaks, you can safely use toothpaste. After all, it’s cheap and you probably own it already, so you won’t even have to go out and buy some.