How to Clean Jewelry at Home: Precious Metals

Each piece of jewelry is unique and the stones, diamonds, and metals within them are no exception. Last time, we learned about keeping diamonds and precious gemstones in top notch condition through effective home jewelry cleaning, and today we will discuss how to clean jewelry that is made with precious metals. Keep reading to discover what the professionals at Brittany’s Fine Jewelry say about keeping your beloved pieces pristine and timeless.

Effective Home Jewelry Cleaning for Precious Metals

Silver

Sterling silver is a precious metal that can oxidize over time. There are many methods that keep your silver jewelry sparkling:

• Wear Your Jewelry Often – Wearing your silver jewelry on a regular basis helps to keep the tarnish at bay, improving your pieces with age.
• Soap & Water – Mild soap and water can clean your silver jewelry if you notice tarnish is forming. Allow the water to bead up on the silver while cleaning, then pat your piece dry with a soft cloth.
• Commercial Cleaners  – Commercial cleaners designed for use on silver can help remove more stubborn dirt and tarnish, as can rubbing the piece with a polish cloth or a section of fine felt. Refrain from rubbing your sterling silver with tissue paper or paper towels as the fibers in these materials can scratch your silver.

Gold and Platinum

As gold and platinum are both commonly used interchangeably as settings for diamonds and gemstones, the same basic cleaning methods can be applied to these precious metals.

• Avoid Soap – Soap can cling to these metals, so remove your jewelry before washing your hands or taking a shower.
• Commercial Cleaners – If you do begin to notice a film forming over your jewelry, you can use a commercial cleaner to remove some of the more stubborn dirt. Many different commercial cleaners can return the gleam to your gold pieces, but keep in mind that rubbing with a soft chamois cloth works just as well and can be less expensive.
• Ultrasonic Cleaners  –  Use ultrasonic cleaners on your gold and platinum jewelry if the pieces do not contain the delicate gemstones previously listed, or use the same ammonia and water solution to scrub tarnish away from your gold or platinum jewelry with a soft bristle brush. Rinse in lukewarm water and let dry.
• Rubbing Alcohol – If your gold or platinum jewelry encounters grease, simply dip quickly into rubbing alcohol and allow each piece to dry naturally.

Essential Professional Jewelry Cleaning

Have you ever tried to wash and iron a dress shirt to the same high-quality of a professional Dry Cleaner’s? How about detailed your car with the same pristine excellence of a professional? Home cleaning remedies can help keep your jewelry shining between cleanings, but a professional cleaning from a jewelry store or boutique is the best way to keep your pieces shining, polished, and perfect. So what do those jewelry professionals do differently?

The Professional Difference

Professional jewelry cleaning has several advantages over standard home cleaning, including:

• Professional-Grade Equipment – The tools they have in-store are what give your jewelry pieces that extra quality, which cannot be duplicated exactly at home.
• Experience – Professional jewelers have a precise step-by-step process for cleaning your jewelry that they practice each week over a course of many years. Although you may be able to emulate the process and add time to the brilliance of your pieces between visits, these at-home cleanings are not to replace visits to your local jeweler.
• Expertise – Professional jewelers are fine jewelry experts, and know correctly how and where to buff and polish your pieces. They have worked with multitudes of stones, metals, and diamonds, and therefore know exactly what your fine jewelry piece needs each time you bring it in!

See the Jewelry Experts at Brittany’s Fine Jewelry

It is recommended to take your pieces of jewelry for a professional cleaning every six months, which will provide critical care for your fine jewelry. An added benefit of taking your jewelry to a store such as Brittany’s Fine Jewelry, is that our complimentary jewelry cleanings include an inspection of your piece that checks the prongs and mounting for cracks or excessive wear. We also immediately provide you with a no-charge estimate of any additional attention your piece may require to restore it to mint condition.

Make sure to call the experts at Brittany’s Fine Jewelry with any questions and we hope that you will enjoy your fine jewelry pieces for a lifetime!