Project Summary
- Duration of Work: 5 to 7 minutes
- Duration: 30 to 45 minutes
- Proficiency Level: Novice
There are various methods to clean delicate jewelry at home. One effective approach is using ammonia, which works well for silver, gold, platinum, brass, and diamond pieces. Common sources of grime on jewelry include soaps, lotions, wearing jewelry while showering, sweat accumulation, and sleeping with it on. When jewelry gets dirty, it may appear dull, dark, and less vibrant, diminishing its shine and brilliance. Additionally, items like rings can sometimes harbor bacteria.
Exercise caution when utilizing ammonia. While it can enhance the brilliance of your diamonds, it is a powerful substance that can pose risks if not handled properly. Improper use may harm your jewelry. Furthermore, despite its strength, ammonia is not effective at eliminating germs.
Contents
Warning
Always ensure that ammonia is kept separate from bleach, as their combination produces a harmful gas. Additionally, refrain from using ammonia on pearls, gemstones, or clarity-enhanced diamonds, as these materials have a protective layer or resin that ammonia can damage. It’s also advisable to avoid ammonia on copper surfaces.
Continue reading to discover how to use ammonia to clean your jewelry. If you’re looking for a milder option, there are also various effective techniques for cleaning gold, silver, or diamond pieces.
Frequency of Jewelry Cleaning
The cleaning frequency for your jewelry is influenced by how regularly you wear it and the environments it is exposed to. If you wear your engagement ring daily and it encounters various substances, it may require cleaning weekly. Conversely, if you take it off for activities like handwashing, showering, exercising, and sleeping, a monthly cleaning may suffice. For jewelry that is seldom worn, it is advisable to use a lint-free cloth to give it a wipe at least once a month.
When cleaning your jewelry with ammonia, it’s important to remember that frequent or excessive use is not advisable. Over time, ammonia can harm and tarnish your metal, degrade your gemstones, and cause fracture-filled diamonds to look cloudy. It’s best to reserve ammonia cleaning for a special treatment every three to four months.
Requirements You’ll Need
Devices / Instruments
- 1. Toothbrush with soft bristles
- 1. Cloth that does not produce lint
- Sanitary gloves
- Inert dish or bowl
Materials
- Ammonia
- Gentle liquid dish detergent (optionalfor items with tarnish)
Instructions
A Guide to Cleaning Jewelry Using Ammonia
Prepare an Ammonia Mixture
Put on cleaning gloves and combine one part ammonia with six parts lukewarm water in a shallow dish or bowl made of a non-reactive material, such as ceramic, glass, or stainless steel, as these are the most suitable options. It’s important to be cautious with this solution, as a small amount of ammonia is quite potent.
Immerse the jewelry.
Immerse your jewelry in the solution for a duration of 10 minutes.
Carefully Clean the Jewelry with a Brush
Once the jewelry has been immersed for 10 minutes, remove it and carefully use the softest bristle toothbrush available to remove any dirt. Be gentle while brushing, as excessive force can dislodge a diamond or scratch some metals. When cleaning a diamond ring, focus particularly on the area behind the diamond, as that is where dirt and grime tend to accumulate.
Soak again for 10 minutes.
Place the jewelry back into the solution for an additional 10 minutes. This process will assist in removing any persistent dirt and grime that may remain after the initial cleaning.
Reapply and Shine
After allowing the item to sit in the new solution for 10 minutes, lightly brush it again. Next, use a lint-free cloth to buff and enhance the shine of the metal.
Wash with cool water.
Wash the jewelry under cool running water. If you’re using the sink, be sure to plug the drain to avoid the risk of the jewelry slipping away. Gently dry it with a clean, lint-free cloth. Ensure the jewelry is completely dry before putting it away.
Suggestions for Maintaining the Cleanliness of Your Jewelry for an Extended Period
Here are a few extra suggestions to maintain the shine of your jewelry:
- Taking off your jewelry after wearing it is the most effective method to maintain its cleanliness for an extended period. If you need to keep your rings on while doing the dishes, be sure to use gloves each time.
- Regular application of hand sanitizers may damage jewelry or create a residue on its surface.
- It is recommended to have an engagement ring assessed and professionally cleaned at least every six months or once a year. Jewelers utilize steam or ultrasonic cleaning methods to polish and clean the ring, while also examining the prongs of the diamond settings to confirm the stones are securely held. Over time, prongs can become worn, and a deteriorated setting is a primary cause of diamonds or gemstones becoming loose and potentially falling out.
- In addition to ammonia solutions, home jewelry cleaning kits often include cleaning devices or specially designed solutions that are both gentle and efficient for maintaining jewelry.
- A simple and secure approach—just a bit of dish soap mixed with water—can effectively serve as a standard cleaning practice.
Eliminating Discoloration from Jewelry
Jewelry made of gold plating and sterling silver can develop tarnish, typically due to reactions with sulfur or various other elements. To restore tarnished pieces, mix a few drops of a gentle dish soap, such as Dawn, with water until it becomes soapy. Then, follow the previously outlined steps to clean the jewelry using this soapy solution. The dish soap will effectively eliminate the tarnish that has accumulated on the gold-plated or sterling silver items.
