While diamonds are known for their enduring nature, it is essential to maintain the brilliance of your precious jewelry. Professional jewelry cleaning services and products can be expensive, but there is a cost-effective and versatile alternative to keep your gold and silver pieces gleaming.
Over time, gold and silver jewelry can lose their shine and develop tarnish, especially gold-plated items that are susceptible to tarnishing from exposure to moisture, acids, and chemicals present in various daily products.
Exposure to chlorine and sunlight can also contribute to the fading of jewelry. If you feel your jewelry needs some attention, there are affordable methods to restore its original beauty, as advised by jewelry expert Ajay Anand.
Ajay Anand, a specialist from the online diamond vendor Rare Carat, has revealed two effective and economical jewelry cleaning techniques, costing just around 10p each. Anand has shared effective methods for cleaning gold-plated jewelry.
In case your gold-plated jewelry has lost its luster, a simple mixture of warm water and mild liquid soap can be the solution, according to Anand.
“Prepare a foamy mixture by combining liquid soap with warm water in a bowl. Soak your jewelry in this solution for a few minutes,” suggests Anand.
“After soaking, delicately scrub the pieces using a soft cloth to eliminate dirt. For intricate designs, utilize a soft-bristled toothbrush to clean hard-to-reach areas,” he further explains.
“Once scrubbed, rinse the jewelry with warm water and dry it using a lint-free cloth. Ensure thorough drying before storing the jewelry,” advises the expert.
For a more intensive cleaning, Anand recommends a baking soda method that can effectively remove tough grime. He suggests using a glass bowl lined with aluminum foil, adding baking soda, salt, and hot water to create a solution for soaking the jewelry.
“Immerse your gold-plated jewelry in the solution and let it sit for a few minutes. You may observe black and yellow particles dispersing from the jewelry, which is normal as sulfur is attracted to the foil,” Anand clarifies.
“Once the tarnish is removed, take out the jewelry, rub it with a lint-free cloth, rinse it under warm water, dry it thoroughly, and you’re good to go,” concludes the expert.
While dish soap and baking soda methods are suitable for cleaning silver jewelry (excluding sterling silver), it’s important to avoid using baking soda on sterling silver due to its abrasive nature, which could lead to scratches.
“Although the baking soda method is effective, it can be harsh on delicate sterling silver, potentially causing damage,” Anand explains. For sterling silver, he recommends using a specialized jewelry dip designed to clean silver without