Just because your gold, silver or gemstone jewelry may have changed color doesn't mean that you can't get them looking just as good as new. There are special products you can purchase to clean your baubles, but why spend money when you can use things you already have around the house to do the same job?
Here are a few ways you can restore the shine to your jewelry without spending a dime:
1. Gold and Gemstones
All you need is some white vinegar to get your gold and gemstones to sparkle again. Place the dirty jewelry in a cup of vinegar for up to 15 minutes, then use a soft-bristled toothbrush to scrub away dirt.
If you don't have vinegar on hand, use antacid instead. Add two tablets into a glass of warm water, then drop your sparkly accessories into the solution and let it sit until it stops fizzing (between 2-10 minutes). Remove the jewelry, rinse with water, and pat dry with a soft cloth.
Don't use antacid to clean opals, pearls, or silver, the solution is too harsh for them.
Beer, except dark ale, can also bring the shine back to gold. Pour a little bit of the drink onto a soft cloth and gently rub it over the jewelry, then use a towel to dry.
2. Diamonds
Ammonia is your friend when it comes to cleaning diamonds. Mix 1 cup of warm water and 1/4 cup of ammonia, then soak your diamond jewelry in the solution for about 15 minutes. Next, use a soft-bristled toothbrush to clean away dirt that's lodged in the crevices.
3. Pearls
Delicate gemstones like pearls actually get polished with frequent wear, but if you wanted to give them an extra cleansing the process is very simple. They only need soapy water to get back to their original condition. Mix two cups of warm water with a few drops of a mild soap or detergent, and quickly dip your string of pearls into it. Wipe each pearl with a soft cloth then lay flat to dry.
4. Rubies and Sapphires
If you aren't a fan of drinking club soda, now you'll have another use for it. Soak your rubies, sapphires, and even diamonds, in a glass full of the fizzy drink and let them soak overnight before rinsing with water.
5. Silver
If you've got some aluminum foil in your kitchen cupboard then you've got fifty percent of the items you need to get your silver baubles shining again. Crumple up a generous piece of foil, place your jewelry on it, then sprinkle some baking soda on top. Next, pour a little bit of boiling water over baking soda-covered jewelry. Move the pieces around to make sure all sides are coated. Once you notice that the tarnish has transferred from the jewelry to the foil, remove, rinse with water, and pat dry.
6. Turquoise and Opal
Turquoise and opal are probably the easiest gems to clean. They don't even need soap or other substances, just water. Dip a soft-bristled toothbrush into warm water and brush off any dirt from the jewelry. Wipe with a soft towel, then let it air-dry for a few hours before wearing or stashing it away.
7. Metal
Metal can easily rust, so keep your pieces looking new by washing them with window cleaner and an old brush. However, if your metal jewelry contains stones like opal, turquoise, or pearl, don't use the window cleaner.
Will you be using these tips to clean your jewelry?
