How To Clean Jewellery
Whether you own lots of jewellery or just the odd ring or two, chances are those pieces hold a lot of sentimental value for you. You will want to make sure that they are handled with the best care possible, which means that every so often, your jewellery will require some cleaning, especially those pieces that you wear most frequently which will accumulate lots of dust and dirt on their surfaces. But not to worry, you can easily clean your beloved jewellery at home, and it won’t take you all day.
How to clean gold jewellery
Gold jewellery is relatively simple to clean. When you notice that your gold pieces could do with some love, all you need to do is soak them in a bucket of warm water and add in a few drops of washing up liquid. Leave your pieces of jewellery in the mixture for up to five minutes and then remove them. After this, it is a good idea to try and dislodge any stubborn pieces of dirt with a toothbrush, but remember to be really gentle when you do this. Finally, gently dry your pieces off with a piece of cloth, and they are good to be worn again!
How to clean silver jewellery
If you only have some slight tarnishes on your silver jewellery, then all you need to do is soak your pieces in a bucket of lemon-lime juice. Just leave your jewellery in the water for up to an hour and then rinse them off with pure water before gently drying them with a towel. If your pieces of silver are badly tarnished, however, then this technique probably won’t make much of an improvement. In this case, you will need to use ammonia. Mix ammonia with water to create a solution that is ⅓ ammonia and ⅔ water, which you will then soak your jewellery in for ten minutes. Then you just need to gently pat your jewellery dry and wipe down with a soft cloth. This technique works well for silver jewellery, but it is not recommended for use on antique pieces and should not be used frequently, rather, use it once in a while for a deep clean.
How to clean pearls
When cleaning pearls, do not be tempted to let your piece soak in a bucket of water for any amount of time, as this can cause the silk thread which holds your pearls together to weaken. What you should do instead is gently wipe your pearls down with a clean cotton cloth which has been dampened with lukewarm water, as you individually wipe each pearl you will notice the dirt beginning to accumulate on your cloth. When you are finished cleaning your pearls, you should also let them dry naturally, as this will give the silk thread a chance to regain its elasticity before you wear it again.
Go to a professional cleaner
When all is said and done, you cannot beat taking your items of jewellery to a professional cleaner. At Callaghans, we know exactly what products will clean your items of jewellery the best without diminishing the quality of your piece and will be well experienced in such matters. It is recommended that you have your pieces of jewellery cleaned professionally twice a year, but once a year with some careful cleaning at home can work just as well.
Did you know we offer a jewellery cleaning and polishing service? Visit our website for more information on how we can help. Or, to purchase jewellery cleaning products click here.