14 Easy Ways To Clean Jewelry At Home (Silver, Gold, Diamond)

It is undeniable that people’s love for jewelry is immense, and it will be so forever and ever. But it is also true that jewelry needs constant care and attention so that shine of it can be maintained for the longest period of time. So if you have constantly been plagued by the question of how to clean jewelry at home, then we are glad to inform you that you have landed in the right place. Today, in this article, we will teach how to clear all the grime and dirt from the deepest crevices of your jewelry with things that are readily available in your household. So dig in and find out what we have in store for you. Go on!

Ace The Look

• Storage: Store your jewelry in a divided padded box to prevent tangles and damage.
• Restore Shine: Placing your natural gemstone jewelry in direct sunlight for 20-30 minutes helps restore its color and shine.
• Cleaning Gemstone: Clean your gemstone jewelry in soapy water with a soft-bristled brush to remove dirt and grime.
• Prevent Tarnish: Place a piece of chalk in your silver jewelry box to absorb moisture and sulfur compounds to prevent tarnish on silver jewelry.

14 Easy Ways To Clean Jewelry At Home

1. Vinegar

What You Will Need

• ¼ cup vinegar
• 2 tbsp baking soda
• Warm water

Processing Time

5-10 minutes

Process

• Mix all the ingredients in a bowl to make a thick paste.
• With an old but soft toothbrush, rub the paste all over your diamond ring or jewelry. Continue to do this for a few minutes.
• Rinse it with tap water and pat it dry.
• Alternatively, you could soak the jewelry in vinegar for about 5 minutes before you go ahead and clean with the paste.

2. Baking Soda

What You Will Need

• 2 tbsp baking soda
• Hot water

Processing Time

5-10 minutes

Process

• Take about 2 tbsp of baking soda and add a little water to it to make a thick paste.
• You can replace water with white vinegar (optional).
• With an old toothbrush or a scrub, apply this paste to the jewelry you plan to clean. Scrub carefully.
• You will start to see salt depositions gone, the dullness diminishing and your jewelry piece beginning to shine.
• Rinse it with water and repeat this procedure if needed.
• Avoid using them on anything with enamel, gemstones, or pearls.

3. Toothpaste

What You Will Need

• Toothpaste
• Cotton cloth or toothbrush
• Fresh towel

Processing Time

5 minutes

Process

• Toothpaste is one of the most inexpensive, easy, and effective ways of cleaning your junk or silver jewelry.
• With a soft cotton pad, polishing cloth, or toothbrush, rub a little paste all over and wipe it thoroughly.
• Give it one last rub with a damp or fresh towel.

Quick Tip

Make sure you do not scrub your jewelry too hard with the brush. Use a microfiber towel to pat it dry.

4. Hydrogen Peroxide

What You Will Need

Hydrogen peroxide

Processing Time

5 minutes

Process

• Pour a cap full of hydrogen peroxide into a cup. Make sure the ring gets fully immersed in it.
• The dust will react with the hydrogen peroxide and start to make bubbles.
• Remove the ring from the liquid. After a while, dip it back in and leave it there for another minute or so.
• Take it out and rinse it with regular water. Your ring will be shinier than ever.

Note:Hydrogen peroxide helps remove all the stubborn grime and grit that has settled on your diamond rings over the years.

5. Alcohol – Vodka, Tequila, Beer

What You Will Need

• Alcoholic drinks like vodka, tequila or beer
• Bowl
• Soft cloth

Processing Time

5 minutes

Process

Dip a soft cloth in vodka, beer or tequila and rub it onyour jewelry thoroughly.
You will start to see that your jewelry will start to shine. These come in handy for more things than one, if you know what I mean.

6. Ammonia

What You Will Need

• 1 cup warm water
• ½ cup ammonia
• Paper or cloth towel

Processing Time

15-20 minutes

Process

• Take ½ cup of ammonia and mix it with a cup of warm water – put your diamond, silver or gold jewelry in this.
  Let it be submerged in the liquid for 15-20 minutes.
• Rinse it with water, and let it dry on a cloth or a paper towel.

7. Tamarind Paste

What You Will Need

• Tamarind paste
• Toothbrush
• Paper towel or cloth

Processing Time

15-20 minutes

Process

• Tamarind is acidic and helps remove the black pigment on your silver items and jewelry. Plus, it is the most natural way of cleaning your silver items.
• Soak a lemon-sized portion of tamarind in a little water for about 15 minutes and mash it into a paste.
• Scrub your items with a brush using the tamarind paste. You can do this as often as you like to keep your silver shining and brand new.

8. Soapnuts

What You Will Need

• Fistful of soapnuts
• Warm or regular water
• Bowl
• Scrub or toothbrush

Processing Time

20 minutes

Process

• Take a handful of soap nuts and soak them in a cup of water for about 15 minutes.
• Now, extract the soapy liquid from it and submerge your gold or silver jewelry in it for some time.
• Scrub the items and wash them with tap water.
• Let them dry, then clean them with a paper towel.

9. Aluminum Foil

What You Will Need

• Aluminum foil
• Laundry detergent liquid or powder/ baking soda
• Pot of boiling water
• Toothbrush
• Paper towel or a cloth to dry

Processing Time

30 minutes

Process

• Line a steel bowl with aluminum foil and fill it up with water.
• Let it come to a boil.
• Now, add laundry detergent powder or baking soda and turn the stove off.
• You could alternatively just use shredded aluminum foil and throw it in the boiling water.
• Add your jewelry pieces to this and leave them for a couple of minutes.
• Take them out and brush them using a scrub or an old toothbrush.
• Dry them on a paper towel.

Helena, a blogger, recalls her personal experience of cleaning her favorite jewelry pieces at home with aluminum foil. She shares the entire step-by-step process of creating the mix with aluminum foil, warm water, baking soda, salt, and dishwashing liquid and then submerging the jewelry in it for a magical cleaning method. She adds, “I love that I can get all of my jewelry clean without the use of harsh, store bought chemical-filled jewelry cleaners that can possibly even tarnish your jewelry (i)!”

10. Ketchup

What You Will Need

• 2 tbsp ketchup
• Soft cloth

Processing Time

10 minutes

Process

• Dip a soft cloth or a brush in ketchup and clean the items with it.
• Rinse it with tap water.
• Repeat, if needed.

Note:

Ketchup might sound a little bizarre, but it works because it is highly acidic and helps getting rid of all the grit and grime build up on your silver jewelry.

11. Boiling Water

What You Will Need

• Pot of boiling water
• Laundry detergent (optional)
• A dry towel

Processing Time

30 minutes

Process

• Cleaning your jewelry with boiling water is the safest option.
• Turn the stove off. (Add a little detergent of any kind to the bowl if you want.)
• Soak the jewelry for about 15-20 minutes.
• Scrub them and clean with fresh water.

Quick Tip

This method will not work on gemstones. You can use it for gold, silver, platinum, and diamonds.

12. Lemon Juice

What You Will Need

• 1 tbsp lemon juice
• ½ cup water
• Scrub or toothbrush
• Paper towel

Processing Time

Overnight

Process

Squeeze out 1 tbsp of lemon juice and add it to ½ cup of water. For best results, soak your jewelry in this solution overnight and wash them the next morning. If you are in a hurry, scrub your jewelry with this liquid for a few minutes and rinse it with tap water. If you wonder how to clean your fake jewelry, this is a gentle solution that cleans base metals without corroding them.

13. Dish washing Liquid

What You Will Need

• Dish washing liquid
• Warm water

Processing Time

30-35 minutes

Process

• Add a few drops of the dishwashing liquid or dish soap to a bowl of warm water.
• Add your silver, gold or diamond jewelry to this.
• Let them soak in the water for 30 minutes or so.
• Rinse them with cold water.
• Pat them dry with a paper towel or a soft cloth.

Did You Know?

Dishwashing liquid works for mild stains and general wear-and-tear marks on metal. It can also sanitize your jewelry. However, it will not have much effect on stubborn rust and buildup.

14. Alka Seltzer

What You Will Need

• Alka Seltzer
• Warm water
• Dry cloth

Processing Time

30 minutes

Process

• Alka Seltzer cleans your diamond rings in minutes and makes them sparkle like new.
• Just add a couple of Alka Seltzer tablets in a bowl of warm water. Put the jewelry in the bowl.
• Let them stay there for about 20-25 minutes.
• Take them out and clean with a dry cloth.

If you have piercings and want to know how to clean piercing jewelry, you can try out some of the gentler methods given above. However, avoid using harsh solutions like hydrogen peroxide and alcohol as they can ruin your jewelry while also drying out your skin.

While the above-mentioned tricks are effective, you may need an extra hand with excessively tarnished pieces of jewelry. If you wish to know how to clean them, take a look at the section below.

How To Clean Tarnished Jewelry

Mix equal parts white vinegar and water in a bowl. Submerge your jewelry in the solution and let it sit overnight. The next morning, allow it to simmer on low heat, then gently scrub it with a soft toothbrush to remove stubborn tarnish. Rinse under cool water and pat dry with a soft cloth. For intricate designs, utilize a cotton swab to clean.

Alternatively, you can create a paste of baking soda and water, apply it with a cloth, and rub gently. Rinse and dry thoroughly. Steer clear of using harsh chemicals that may damage delicate pieces. Embrace the sparkle of your rejuvenated jewelry with these quick and easy cleaning methods.

Regular cleaning of jewelry is important to keep them sparkling. And equally important is keeping them in a good condition so that they don’t get dirty or dull too often. Here are some tips.

Maintenance Tips For Jewelry

To keep your jewelry looking beautiful and lasting for years, regular care and proper storage are super important. Here are expert tips on keeping your jewelry safe and clean!

1. Store Carefully

Store your jewelry in a dry, cool place away from direct sunlight and moisture. Keep each piece separately in soft pouches or lined jewelry boxes.

2. Check For Damage

Regularly inspect your jewelry for any signs of wear, such as loose stones, worn clasps, or damaged settings. If you find any, take prompt action to repair it or the damage may escalate.

3. Take Professional Help

If your jewelry piece is too heavy or too intricate, it’s best to leave it to professionals to do the maintenance and care. You can take it to professionals for cleaning and keep it how they recommend you to.

By following these maintenance tips, your jewelry will stay as radiant and well-preserved as the day you bought it.

Infographic: 5 Easy Ways To Clean Jewelry At Home

Jewelry, especially silver ornaments, may quickly lose shine and appear dull and dirty. Don’t worry. We have shortlisted five easy hacks and remedies to clean your ornaments and restore their shine within minutes. Scroll down to check out the infographic for more information.

Illustration: StyleCraze Design Team

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use bleach to clean my jewelry?

No, bleach can damage metals and gemstones, which are commonly found in jewelry. Use a cleaning agent that is made for your specific jewelry metal.

Can I clean my jewelry with a nail polish remover?

It is not advisable, especially if it is an expensive diamond ring or jewelry piece. If it’s inexpensive and not something very valuable, you can dilute acetone or nail polish remover in water and clean it.

Will any of the household ingredients spoil my jewelry?

You can clean your silver jewelry with almost anything without having to worry about them losing their shine. However, if you have precious diamond, gemstones, gold or pearl jewelry, it is best to use the most delicate methods like soapnuts, detergents or washing liquids. If you are not sure, it’s always best to take it to a professional or a jewelry store.

Can you clean jewelry with hand sanitizer?

The chlorine-based chemicals in a hand sanitizer may tarnish the quality of your jewelry. Therefore, it is not ideal to clean jewelry with it.

Illustration: Easy Ways To Clean Jewelry At Home (Silver Gold And Diamond)

Image: Dall·E/StyleCraze Design Team

Learn the best ways to clean your jewelry at home! Get tips from this video on how to make your jewelry sparkle and shine with simple household items.

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Pratima AtiFashion & Lifestyle Writer

 

Pratima Ati is a postgraduate in International Business from Staffordshire University. After working in Marketing and Business Development for a few years, she jumped ship to pursue two things she loved – fashion and writing.

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Srijita DeCommerce Writer

Srijita De is a makeup and fashion enthusiast with a passion for empowering readers through practical tips and tricks to present their best selves with confidence. Armed with a postgraduate degree in English and Literature from the University of Calcutta, she has honed her writing skills and developed an in-depth understanding of the beauty and fashion world.

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