Spring cleaning your jewelry

March 17, 5:10 AMSoutheast MI Home & Living ExaminerJackie DiGiovanni

Previous Next

3 comments Print Email RSS Subscribe

Subscribe

Get alerts when there is a new article from the Southeast MI Home & Living Examiner. Read Examiner.com's terms of use.

Email Address   Include other special offers from Examiner.com Terms of Use

Neil Lane Diamond Ring (PRNewsFoto/TK Archives)

How long has it been since you cleaned your jewelry? I usually think about it when I put on a sterling ring and it is more black than silver.

Set aside an hour to inspect your rings, necklaces, and bracelets and use good techniques and care to bring them back to their like-new beauty.

The folks at DIY Network say you can clean silver (without stones) using boiling water, aluminum foil, baking soda, and salt. Click here to read more. 

Photo credit: Marieke Kuijjer

DIY Network also says you can clean gold (without stones) using dish soap, warm water, and ammonia. Click here to read more.

This website recommends using toothpaste to clean gold (without stones).

Photo credit: Stephen K Willi

Heloise, writing for Good Housekeeping shares her tips for cleaning pearls:

" Preserving pearls isn't difficult. I often wear my mother's, and they're over 50 years old. After each wearing, wipe a strand of pearls with a barely damp soft cloth to get rid of any perfume, makeup or perspiration. For occasional, more thorough cleaning, use a soft cloth that's been dipped in soapy water (use a mild liquid detergent) and wrung out; gently rub the pearls in each direction. Then, using another clean cloth dampened with plain water, wipe over the pearls several times to remove any soap residue.To keep pearls in good condition, apply perfume or hair spray before putting them on."

Photo credit: katrinket

This website says opals can also be cleaned by carefully wiping them with warm soapy water. They caution to avoid ultrasonic and steam cleaning.

AP Photo/Damian Dovarganes

For cleaning diamonds, eHow recommends either warm, soapy water and a soft brush, or a dilute solution of ammonia and water (1 to 6) and a soft brush. Either way, follow up by rinsing under warm running water and patting dry with a lint-free cloth.

In this photo,  Model Lauren Gish wears Martin Katz jewelry: a emerald cut ring, and five diamond bangles at the "Oscars Designer Challenge," an up-and-coming fashion designers competition to determine a gown worn on the 81st Academy Awards show, at the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences in Beverly Hills, Calif. on Tuesday, Feb. 10, 2009.  

If you are not comfortable cleaning your valuable jewelry, take it to a reputable jeweler. Ask them to check if there are any loose stones.

Just for fun: Install Google Earth. Enter Michigan in the Fly to text box.

If you would like to know about new articles, click on Subscribe for spam-free email.