The little secrets to sparkling jewelry:
Looking at my diamond, the top looks shiny and brilliant however on the sides it gets a bit dirty. Like any expensive diamond ring that worth quite a bit, it has a warranty that includes regular cleaning services. So I used it once. I went straight to the diamond exchange, waiting in line, taking pictures, asking ID and a very long story just to write here.
A diamond expert in a jewelry store, told me a secret, you do not have to run to the store to clean the sparkling and shiny ring – you can do it by yourself at home.
Unlike silver, gold does not acquire a stained finish and dullness over time. However, gold can still accumulate dirt in everyday use. To restore the brilliance of precious diamond rings, bracelets, necklaces and other gold jewelry, you can do the following:
1-Cleaning jewelry with soap:
Pour a few drops of dishwashing liquid into a bowl or cup with warm water (not boiling) and mix gently. Regular tap water will work, but for better results, you can use soda water. Do not use boiling water, especially if the jewelry contains precious stones and fractures such as opal stones which can crack due to rapid and extreme temperature change
Soak the gold jewelry in solution for about 15 minutes. During soaking, hot water and soap will find their way into the cracks and cracks, and remove the dirt that is difficult to remove by hand.
Remove the jewelry and rub it gently with a toothbrush. Scrub each piece individually, paying special attention to hidden corners where dirt may be hidden. Use a very soft brush – the softer the better. Hard bristles can scratch the surface of the jewelry. If the jewelry is coated with gold (as opposed to pure gold), especially hard bristles can even remove the golden layer completely. Special brushes designed for this purpose are the best, but most of the soft, soft brushes (such as eyebrow brushes) will also work.
Then, wash each piece with warm running water. Additional washing with running water will help remove dirt that is not caught on the brush. Again, make sure the water is not too hot. If washing the jewelry is done in the sink, make sure you put something to block the drain. This way you will not accidentally lose your jewelry if they slip off your hands. Alternatively, you can wash the jewelry in a colander.
Finally, dry the jewelry with a soft cloth and put them to dry on a towel in the open air before you wear them again. If the jewelry is still wet, they will form a moisture trap for the skin, which can lead to irritation.
2- Cleaning jewelry with toothpaste:
Mix a small amount of toothpaste with water (for each inch of toothpaste in a bowl or palm, mix a tablespoon or two of water to make the paste). Toothpaste is good for removing the dirt that has accumulated on the gold jewelry without scratching them. This cleaning method does not wear the jewelry and therefore can be used frequently, for quick cleaning or when other cleaners are not available.
Rub the mixture of toothpaste gently with a soft bristle toothbrush. If there are scratches on the jewelry, it is probably due to the toothbrush and not the ointment. Use as soft a brush as possible. Alternatively, you can simply rub with toothpaste without diluting with water. But this method can be harder to clean out of small cracks in jewelry.
Finally, thoroughly wash the jewelry to remove any accumulated dirt.
3- Use of boiling water:
As mentioned earlier, one must know when cleaning in boiling water is appropriate. Pure gold can be boiled without a problem. However, the boiling of delicate gems (like clarity enhanced diamonds, opal, pearls, coral, and transparent stones) can crack and destroy them. Especially if the jewelry is at a cool temperature before boiling. Boiling is also not good for jewelry with gems glued, as it can release the glue. If the goal is to clean pure gold jewelry or gold jewelry with “strong” gemstones (like diamonds, not clarity enhanced diamonds), cleaning with boiling water is an excellent choice.
There is no need to boil a lot of water to “drown” all the jewelry.You can boil them in a small pot on the gas or other tools that will not be damaged by the water (such as a cup, Pyrex bowl or metal). It is important to make sure that the jewelry is not placed on top of each other because the water should be able to reach any jewel. So make sure the tool is the right size.
Wait for the water to cool. When you can put your hands in the water, it’s time to remove the jewelry. Scrub each piece with a soft brush, then dry them on a soft towel and leave to dry fully in the open air.
Do not be alarmed if the water looks dirty – that’s a good sign! When the boiling water releases the dirt that has accumulated on the jewelry, it can float to the surface of the water. The appearance of the dirty water, promising clean jewelry!