CLEANING YOUR JEWELLERY AT HOME DURING LOCKDOWN
Since the corona-virus was first discovered, the world has changed immensely! One of the biggest and most visible changes is us having to sanitise and wash our hands more regularly. It has everybody’s hands feeling dry and uncomfortable, but it’s affecting something else that you’re probably not aware of; your jewellery!
Every time you sanitise, wash your hands or apply cream (because our hands so desperately need it right now) your jewellery gathers a little bit of the sanitisers, soaps and creams in all its cracks and crevices. This is completely normal, and there is an easy and safe way to clean it at home.
HOW TO CLEAN YOUR JEWELLERY AT HOME:
This is an easy, no-fuss way to clean your jewellery that is both safe and effective.
- Mix WARM water with some dishwashing liquid in a cup or bowl. The dishwashing liquid is a degreasing agent and helps break down all the creams and excess soaps left behind on your jewellery.
- Allow your jewellery to soak in the solution for a while. This allows everything to soften and makes it easier to clean.
- Use a soft toothbrush to scrub your jewellery. It is important that you use a soft toothbrush because a harder toothbrush could scratch some precious gemstones that are softer, such as tanzanite or pearls. I personally like to use the toothbrushes for babies as they are the softest and the bristles are small enough to fit the inside of rings to clean behind all the stones.
- Use a soft cloth or an old t-shirt to dry the jewellery. Harder cloths or towels might be too abrasive on some softer stones.
WHAT TO AVOID WHEN CLEANING YOUR JEWELLERY AT HOME
There are a number of things to remember to avoid or you could risk doing more harm than good
- DO NOT use boiling water. Allow the water from a kettle to cool for a while. There are a few gemstones that are heat-sensitive, such as tanzanite and emeralds, and placing them in boiling water could damage or shatter them.
- DO NOT use a hard toothbrush or scrubbing brush. This could scratch your metal and damage your gemstones.
- DO NOT use any bleach or cleaning agents that contain ammonia in them. Bleach will tarnish your jewellery making it look even worse than before and ammonia is abrasive and could damage gemstones or even dissolve some finer chains. Rather avoid using any chemicals than risk damaging something precious or sentimental.
- DO NOT use commercial jewellery cleaners. Some of these contain ammonia and chemicals that, if not used correctly, could damage your jewellery more than it could help clean it.
- DO NOT put your jewellery in the dishwasher! As ridiculous as this sounds, I have heard of so many people who swear by it but the risk is far greater than the reward! If something were to get loose and get tangled up it could end up being completely damaged. The risk of losing a gemstone is also far greater because if a stone fell out while it was in the dishwasher, you would not be able to find it again.
These are the most important things to remember when cleaning your jewellery at home. While this helps keep your jewellery looking clean and sparkly, it does not polish it up again.
WHEN TO GET YOUR JEWELLERY PROFESSIONALLY CLEANED
There are times when it’s important to take your jewellery to a professional jeweller to get cleaned rather than just cleaning it at home.
- When your jewellery is tarnished. While cleaning your jewellery at home this way gets rid of any residue it does not polish the jewellery and therefore does not remove any tarnishing, especially with silver jewellery. Taking it to a professional jeweller ensures that it is polished so that it looks like brand new all over again.
- When you need specialised services. Some jewellery, especially white gold needs specialised treatments like rhodium plating to stay looking shiny and new. This is not something that you can do safely at home, so the only way to do that is to take it to a jeweller to be done.
- It is a good idea to take your jewellery to a jeweller periodically to get cleaned. Not only does it keep it looking shiny and new but it is also a good idea for a jeweller to check if any repair or restoration work needs to be done to the jewellery.
- When you have a major event. When you want to look your best and show off the beautiful things you own, go to a jeweller and get it cleaned professionally. That way, you can guarantee that you and your jewellery will look amazing!
- When you are not confident enough to clean your own jewellery. If you are unsure or uncomfortable doing this at home in any way, don’t be afraid to take it to a jeweller. They will be able to help you do it safely.
To have your jewellery collected and professionally cleaned during the lockdown, contact JoyBerry Jewels today.
So even though the corona-virus has our hands feeling a little bit dry and unhappy at the moment, remember, there is a safe and easy way to clean your jewellery at home to keep it looking great!
