How to Clean Jewelry at Home
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Your favorite jewelry holds special memories, deep meaning and serious style. But unless you clean your jewelry regularly, it also likely holds unwanted dirt and grime that can dull its beauty.
Regular cleaning helps all jewelry look its very best. Clean settings let diamonds and gemstones sparkle without debris getting in the way. Polished metals can shine brighter with well-maintained surfaces.
While many local jewelry stores offer cleaning services, you can save yourself a trip and clean many of your favorite jewelry pieces right at home. Everyday items like a clean toothbrush or dish soap can help with cleaning your jewelry at home.
Home Jewelry Cleaning Supplies
Here are five simple tools for creating an at-home jewelry cleaning kit:
- Gentle dish soap
- Warm water
- Clean, soft toothbrush
- Microfiber cloth
- Two small bowls or cups
With these five items, you’ll have everything you need to clean most of your jewelry at home.
Steps for Cleaning Jewelry at Home
You can easily clean most jewelry at home with 7 steps. The process for cleaning a diamond ring, earrings, platinum necklaces, and other fine jewelry with DIY methods takes just a few minutes.
Step 1: Check for Delicate Designs
Before jumping in and cleaning your jewelry, check your pieces to ensure they’re sturdy enough for cleaning on your own.
Most gemstone jewelry can be cleaned at home, but certain gemstones like opals, pearls, and turquoise should not be submerged in water. Gemstone enhancements like oiling can be damaged by excessive water exposure.
Additionally, many pearl jewelry settings can be damaged by water. The unique settings for pearl rings may not work well with full water submersion. You should also never submerge pearl strands in water, as the moisture can damage the thread.
Jewelry made with real diamonds, solid gold, silver, platinum, and gemstones like sapphires and rubies can be cleaned at home safely.
Step 2: Visually Inspect Your Jewelry
Look for any dirt spots you may want to focus on when you start cleaning your jewelry. This is also an opportunity to see if any gemstones are loose by looking at your prongs to ensure they’re still hugging your gemstones and diamonds tightly. If your gemstones and diamonds wiggle when you gently move the ring around, they may be loose. In that case, you should contact your jeweler for repair before cleaning your jewelry.
Step 3: Prepare a Jewelry Bath
Mix 1-3 drops of gentle dish soap with warm water in one bowl or cup. Ensure that the water is not too hot. For full visibility, a clear cup or bowl works best. Fill a second bowl or cup with only water and set aside.
Step 4: Soak Your Jewelry
Place your pieces in the soapy water bath and let them soak for several minutes. The water may get cloudy, which means the pieces are being cleaned.
Step 5: Use a Toothbrush
This is an optional step that can help remove stubborn buildup from gemstone settings. While your jewelry is still wet, take a soft-bristled clean toothbrush and gently run the toothbrush along your diamond and gemstone settings. Focus on gently brushing any dirt clear. You may need to dip your jewelry in the soapy water a few extra times to clean pieces after they’ve been scrubbed.
Step 5: Wash off the Soap
Once your jewelry is cleaned to your liking, remove any soap used for cleaning your jewelry by dipping your pieces in the water-only bowl you’ve set aside.
Step 6: Dry Your Jewelry
Thoroughly dry your pieces with a soft microfiber cloth. Microfiber cloths are best for drying your jewelry, as they’re less likely to snag on prongs or clasps.
Step 7: Visually Inspect Your Jewelry Again
Take a close look at your jewelry to ensure you’ve cleaned it to your liking. Double check that everything’s fully dry.
Bonus Step: Polish the Metals
Jewelry Cleaning Tips by Metal and Style
How to Clean Gold Jewelry at Home
You can restore the beauty of your solid gold jewelry with a specialized cleaning solution or a mixture of dish soap and warm water. There are also gold jewelry polishing cloths that can restore the shine of your pieces.
How to Clean Silver Jewelry at Home
Baking soda is a popular homemade solution for removing stubborn silver patina, but it’s better to take a cautious approach. Use a commercial silver jewelry paste or polishing cloth to restore your silver jewelry.
Cleaning Platinum Jewelry at Home
Use a specialized platinum jewelry cleaning solution or a homemade mixture of warm water and gentle dish soap to clean your platinum jewelry at home.
How to Clean a Diamond Ring
Diamond engagement rings and wedding bands are simple to clean at home. Soak your diamond ring in a mixture of warm water and dish soap, then use a soft, clean toothbrush to remove any grime.
Cleaning Jewelry that Can’t Get Wet
Precious metals like gold, platinum and silver can get wet without getting damaged. But certain designs like enamel, delicate gemstones like opals or emeralds, silk string pearl strands, and even costume jewelry metals should not be cleaned with water. Instead, these pieces are best cleaned with a gentle, water-free cleaning technique.
You can still clean many types of jewelry at home, even pieces that can’t get wet. You’ll need a microfiber cloth and a specialized jewelry polishing cloth to clean delicate jewelry at home without water. Jewelry polishing cloths are available from many online retailers and are tailored to each metal type.
How to Clean Emeralds, Opals and Pearls at Home
You can restore the beauty of your delicate gemstone jewelry with a microfiber cloth and polishing cloth. Gently pass the clean microfiber cloth over any delicate gemstones in your jewelry. Then use a polishing cloth on the jewelry metals to restore some shine.
How to Clean Enamel Jewelry at Home
Many people soak their enamel jewelry to clean it, but extra caution is always best for enamel, especially vintage jewelry with enamel details. You can clean enamel jewelry at home by gently wiping any debris from the enamel using a microfiber cloth and polishing the metals with a metal polishing cloth.
FAQs About Cleaning Jewelry at Home
Can I clean my jewelry with a toothbrush?
Yes, you can clean your jewelry at home with a clean, soft-bristled toothbrush. Be gentle as you pass the bristles around prongs or other settings.
What is the best jewelry cleaner?
The best jewelry cleaner is the one that you’re comfortable using at home to safely clean your pieces. For most people, this is a homemade mixture of gentle dish soap and warm water.
Can I put my jewelry in water?
Most jewelry is safe to submerge in water for cleaning, especially if it is waterproof jewelry. You should avoid submerging gold plated jewelry, opals, emeralds and strands of pearls. When in doubt, opt for home jewelry cleaning methods that do not require submersion.
Do I need to clean my jewelry regularly?
You are not required to clean your jewelry frequently, but doing so can help your pieces look their best and improve durability for prolonged wear.
Can I clean my jewelry with toothpaste?
You should not clean your jewelry with toothpaste, as it can be abrasive for many metals. While you can use a toothbrush to clean your jewelry, you should not use toothpaste.
What chemicals should I avoid when cleaning my jewelry?
Avoid the following chemicals and products for any at home jewelry cleaning solutions or at home mixtures:
- Chlorine
- Abrasives
- Toothpaste
- Vinegar
- Bleaching agents
- Baking soda
- Lemon juice
These can be abrasive for all types of jewelry, causing damage. Avoid commercial jewelry cleaners or homemade cleaning approaches that use these or similar elements.
Home Jewelry Cleaning Frequency
Consider cleaning jewelry you wear daily every few weeks. For jewelry you wear less frequently, clean your pieces every 4-6 months. Consider bringing broken or delicate jewelry to your local jewelry store for expert cleaning.
