Jewelry stores make a lot of money around Valentine’s Day and other major holidays. This is when people are seeking gifts for the special people in their lives. Apart from experiencing an upsurge in sales, jewelry stores also make significant profits from cleaning jewelry as well as selling their jewelry cleaner formulations.
According to an article published in AOL, spending your hard-earned cash on these cleaners is equivalent to throwing it out of the window. This is because these jewelry cleaners are actually just the same as window-cleaning solutions.
However, you can’t do without cleaning your jewelry. In an article published on the Reader’s Digest website, it was revealed that cleaning your jewelry can result in it looking better than jewelry that is worth much more.
The following are simple and inexpensive ways to clean jewelry for women with agents that you probably already have in your pantry.
- Vinegar
You don’t have to spend a whole lot of money on expensive cleaning products. You can clean your gemstones and gold with white vinegar. Simply fill a bowl or jar with vinegar and drop your jewelry in the bowl. Allow the jewelry to sit for about 15 minutes. Agitate the container frequently.
When you remove the jewelry, scrub with a toothbrush if they still don’t appear as shiny as you’d like. Use a brush with soft bristles to avoid scratching.
- Ammonia
This is a great choice for cleaning jewelry with diamonds. Ammonia helps to make diamonds sparkle. Make a solution of a quarter cup ammonia and one cup of water and place the solution in a bowl. Soak your diamond jewelry in the solution for about 15 minutes. Remove the pieces and use a toothbrush with soft bristles to scrub the left over grime. Pay special attention to cracks and crevices. Grime often settles in spaces in jewelry especially underneath the stone.
- Dish washing soap
You can clean turquoise and pearls using just plain old soap and water. Use dishwashing liquid because it is mild. You can also use a mild detergent.
Pour two cups of water into a bowl and add a few drops of dish washing liquid. Dip the jewelry pieces in the solution and use a dry cotton cloth to wipe them down. Lay them on the cloth thereafter to allow them to dry.
Real pearls actually improve with wear. The polishing process involves wearing down the surface of the pearl. They are therefore a great choice for jewelry accessories.
You don’t have to use soap in the water for cleaning turquoise. Simply using a toothbrush with soft bristles and some warm water is enough to clean these pieces. Use a soft cotton cloth to wipe them down and allow them to air dry thereafter.
- Aluminum foil
Aluminum foil can be used to bring back the shine to your tarnished silver jewelry and just about any other silverware you may have in your home. Place your silver jewelry on the aluminum foil and sprinkle a layer of baking powder on them. Pour boiling water over the pieces. The tarnish on your silver jewelry will transfer to the foil beneath. You may have to flip the jewelry and ensure that all surfaces come in contact with the foil to get rid of all the tarnish. Use water to rinse the jewelry and allow the pieces to air dry.
- Antacid
This can be used to clean any jewelry. Fill a glass with warm water and drop two tablets in the water. Let your jewelry sit in the solution for a few minutes, remove the pieces and rinse them off.
- Beer
Yes, you can use beer to make your gold jewelry shine as bright as new. This however, should only be used on jewelry without gemstones. Don’t use a dark ale, either. Pour beer onto a soft cotton cloth and use it to gently rub the jewelry pieces. Use a second cloth to wipe the pieces dry.
Regular cleaning of your jewelry maintains its luster. You can save money and avoid the hustle of taking your jewelry to a jeweler by doing the cleaning yourself with products that are readily available.
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