Keeping Your Jewellery Shining: Jewellery Care Tips
You know that good things come in small packages if you love jewellery as much as we do. There's something about a piece of jewellery makes it feel so much more special than other standard accessories. Wearing beautiful jewellery makes us feel confident and ready to tackle our daily tasks and grab life by the throat! That’s why we love it so much!
So many of our favorite celebrities can be seen wearing jewellery on almost any given day. Keeping your jewellery sparkling is not always an easy feat. But with these tips, caring for your precious jewellery will be a breeze. Whether you're trying to clean a diamond engagement ring, precious pearl necklace, or a gold bracelet, follow this guide and take good care of your precious metals.
Jewellery is often an investment which often carries significant sentimental values over the course of time. Therefore, the jewellery should constantly look at its glossy, gleaming best. Follow our guide and care for your precious metal jewellery with complete confidence. As long as you take good care of it, your jewellery will continue to look great and hold sentimental value for decades to come.
TIP 1 - Always store your jewellery in a soft cloth pouch or box.
Jewellery must be stored in a pouch, or a special jewellery case to minimize the build-up of dirt or dust particles. It is also very important to keep your jewellery stored in a dry environment so that it doesn’t build up rust, or start tarnishing. Your jewellery box should also contain anti-tarnishing strips or a desiccant. It is also important to keep jewellery separate if you are storing several pieces together.
This will prevent the clinking of chains and other pieces that can cause scratches and dents. This will also let them keep their original luster for much longer.
TIP 2 - Use a soft bristled brush to gently scrub your jewellery.
If you have a piece of jewellery that is extremely dirty, you can use a soft brush to gently scrub the piece. This can remove dust and dirt from hard-to-reach places and make your jewellery clean again. Make sure to rinse the brush under warm water between each piece, this will prevent the transfer of bacteria and germs from piece to piece.
You can also use a soft toothbrush to clean the inside of rings that have gemstones in them. This way, the gemstones will be clean and sparkly, and you won’t risk scratching them while cleaning them with a cloth or paper towel.
TIP 3 - Always wear the right type of material for your occasion.
Some types of jewellery are only appropriate for certain occasions. For example, pearls and diamonds are precious stones that are often used for evening wear. They add a touch of elegance and refinement to any outfit, making the wearer look more beautiful and sophisticated.
It's fair to assume that you don't intend to wear your best pearl earrings to go mow the lawn, do you? Always keep this in mind when you are getting ready for a special occasion. You don’t want to ruin your favorite pieces of jewellery by wearing them when the timing is not right.
TIP 4 - Store your jewellery properly after usage.
If you are storing your jewellery for longer than a day or two, you may want to put a few drops of ethyl alcohol, or a couple of drops of water inside the piece. This will prevent it from getting too dry and cracking.
When storing multiple pieces together, make sure that they are in separate bags or boxes so that they don’t scratch each other. This will also prevent the pieces from getting tangled up in each other while they are being stored.
TIP 5 - Cleaning with mild dish soap is also important.
If your jewellery is made of a material that is not water-resistant, like gold and silver , or pearls, you should clean it with a soft lint free cloth or a soft toothbrush and a mild detergent. Make sure that the soap doesn’t have too many harsh chemicals as part of its ingredients, since it can damage the other materials in your jewellery.
You can also use very mild household cleaners if you don’t want to spend money on a special cleaning solution. After scrubbing the jewellery clean, rinse it off with warm water. Be careful not to scrub the jewellery too hard, to avoid scratching.
Cleaning Different types of Jewellery
Now that you have read all of the aforementioned tips for jewellery care, your jewellery is destined to maintain its luster over the long term! However, you might be thinking that you need specific cleaning tips for your white gold diamond rings, or sterling silver jewellery. No worries we've got you!
Below are cleaning tips for different kind of fine jewellery ranging from gold jewellery to organic gemstones.
Cleaning Gemstones
A proper and mindful care for gemstones is crucial, as they are valued for their glimmer and colour. You must know what type of gem you are cleaning and how to return it to its pristine condition in order to get the most out of it.
Coloured gemstones have been enhanced to improve their appearance, and some of these enhancements may damage the jewellery if they are exposed to certain cleaning products. If you're uncertain, contact commercial jewellery cleaners for advice.
Many gemstones are vulnerable to extreme temperatures, so always use cool water when cleaning them. If a gemstone's structure is broken, it may be damaged by aggressive cleaning. When using mechanical cleaning, such as ultrasonic and steam cleaning, gemstones that have been oiled to enhance colour, such as emeralds, should be handled with extreme care.
Almost all coloured gemstones can be cleaned with warm clean water, a couple of drops of washing-up liquid, and a soft brush. Hard and inflexible brushes should be avoided. A toothbrush is a great option because of its size and flexibility. If you prefer to utilize a toothbrush, you must purchase one with a soft or extra-soft brush.
Cleaning Diamonds
Even though diamonds are the hardest naturally occurring substances on Earth, they still need care and attention. Directional hardness, which makes diamonds difficult to scratch, also makes them vulnerable to scratching by other diamonds. Finger oil deposits and general dust and grime can rapidly stick to the diamond surface and degrade its brilliance.
It is important to handle the diamond carefully and keep it away from other jewellery so that it does not scratch the other jewellery pieces, including other diamond jewellery. By keeping the diamond in individual small plastic bags or a fabric-lined case, damage, wear and dirt accumulation can be reduced.
A diamond should be cleaned regularly. Soak it in warm water mixed with a degreasing detergent (a few drops of washing-up liquid will do the trick). Gently rub with a soft, clean toothbrush and then use a lint free cloth to dry it. Be extra mindful of the stone's setting, as it may be delicate. Avoid using household cleaning products like abrasives or bleaches.
Cleaning Gold
Gold jewellery is a beautiful accessory that can quickly become dull, especially if it is worn on a daily basis. Fingerprints and dirt accumulation can quickly lead to a loss of shine, but there are some easy tips to help you restore your gold jewellery to its former glory.
A simple cleaning with warm water and soap will often do the trick, but if your jewellery is particularly dirty, you may need to use a mild abrasive cleaner. Be sure to rinse well and dry thoroughly after cleaning to prevent further damage or discoloration.
It is safe to use a cleaning solution specially formulated for jewellery, but ensure that the solution is suitable for the correct precious metal or stone. If you are unsure, follow these steps:
Remember to be gentle when cleaning and drying gold, as it is a very soft metal and can be easily scratched.
Cleaning Silver Jewellery
Silver jewellery can become dull or black over time as a result of tarnishing. Tarnishing occurs when silver is exposed to oxygen and sulphur in the air. Thankfully, tarnishing does not harm the metal and can be removed easily with cleaning.
Wearing silver jewellery will slow the tarnishing process down, but storing and wearing it carefully will further reduce said process.
It is high time to get the cleaning products out to get the jewellery looking like new when the metal begins to look dull or turns black. Silver should be cleaned regularly to prevent tarnishing.
There are many cleaning solutions and cloths available for silver cleaning. The simplest way is to buy one. Make sure that the cleaning solution or cloth has been specially designed for cleaning silver. Silver cleaning cloths should be soft and infused with anti-oxidizing agents.
You don't need to employ a cleaning specialist if you don't have one, as there are simple household alternatives to help brighten your silver. A bowl of lukewarm water and a few drops of dishwashing liquid will remove tarnishing.
If your silver is particularly tarnished, you can use a mixture of white vinegar and water to clean it.
Conclusion
Jewellery is one of those random items or accessories that we casually just put on and then throw them away. We wear it every day, so it's important to take care of our jewellery and keep it in excellent condition. One way to do this is by storing it away from other pieces of jewellery so that it doesn't get scratched.
In addition to more frequent cleaning, be sure to keep your jewels sparkling for years to come by maintaining a consistent cleaning schedule. This will prevent them from getting too dirty and potentially starting to smell.