5 ways to clean jewelry without damaging your precious items

Cleaning jewelry is an essential part of maintaining your precious items, keeping their brilliance and ensuring longevity. However, not all jewelry should be cleaned the same way.

Whether it’s your engagement or wedding ring, necklaces or bracelets, our five expert-approved ways on how to clean your jewelry will not only protect your prized possessions, but work to prevent damage to sentimental items that cannot be replaced.

Similar to other cleaning tips, cleaning jewelry is easier than you might think and only requires a little expert knowledge and some patience, which we've detailed in our easy-to-follow guide.

5 different methods to safely clean jewelry  

When it comes to preserving jewelry, the cleaning procedures have to be chosen specifically based on the type of materials used.

1. Mild soap and warm water soak

Due to its non-abrasive nature, the mild soap and warm water soak method is appropriate for cleaning most jewelry, and is a good remedy for soft metals and alloys such as silver and gold.

‘Silver, which usually tarnishes easily through exposure to moisture and air, can regain its shine using the mild soap and warm water approach and it's great at removing surface tarnish from the metal surface without scratching it,’ says Daniel Brown, cleaning expert and CEO of Handy Cleaners. ‘This method is equally effective for gold jewelry. Oils and dirt tend to build up on gold, and this simple soaking method can help bring back its natural shine.

Head of solved at Homes & Gardens, Punteha van Terheyden, has a platinum engagement ring with a Brazilian morganite in a diamond halo, pictured above and swears by this method for her gemstone ring. She says, 'It's stunning but from the first day I put it on, I noticed it easily became 'cloudy' as a result of any dirt, lotion, soap on the underside or even limescale from washing my hands in a hard water area. I spent a lot of time researching safe ways to clean morganite since it's relevantly hard on the Mohs scale of hardness for gems, but softer than a sapphire or diamond. In the end, I settled on a dot of ordinary Dawn dish soap from Walmart, and a soft bristled toothbrush until I upgraded to a fine art brush to get into the tiny gaps underneath.

'My jeweler, who made my ring said it is fine to make a mix of hot water from the kettle, with dish soap, and soak my ring to first loosen the dirt. I leave it in for about 10 minutes, then use the soft brush to gently clean with soap all facets (sides) of my morganite and diamond ring. Then I rinse under the tap and shake to air dry and remove as much water as possible so it doesn't accumulate limescale immediately. It comes out absolutely sparkling. I've had my morganite ring for nearly a decade and it's intact and looks as good as new.'

However, soaking rhodium-plated pieces is not recommended since water will likely wear off the plating after some time. Soaking is also inappropriate for softer gemstones such as emeralds due to the gem's porous nature, which makes it prone to water absorption that may end up ruining the gemstone.

It is worth knowing that rhodium plating will wear off over time anyway and will likely need refinishing every few years.

Daniel Brown

Daniel is an U.S. based cleaning expert with years of experience in home maintenance and sanitation.

2. Jewelry cleaning solutions

Cleaning specialist Rocky Vuong suggests cleaning your jewelry at home at least once a week, or more frequently if necessary, for instance, after spills while cooking or cleaning.

Start by mixing the jewelry cleaner with warm water in a small bowl or cup, or alternatively a jewelry cleaner container, if you have one. Avoid using hot water as it may affect certain metals. Let your ring soak for 5 to 10 minutes.

Using a jewelry brush from Amazon or a soft-bristle toothbrush, gently scrub away the residue. Clean the top, sides, and underneath the center stone. If your ring has side stones, brush those as well, making sure to clean beneath the stones and inside the ring if there are any openings.

Finally, use a jewelry cleaning cloth or a soft microfiber cloth from Walmart to gently pat your ring dry.

Rocky Vuong

Rocky young is an entrepreneur and founder/owner of Neatbrite cleaning services in Dallas, Texas as well as Calibre Cleaning, one of Australia's largest house cleaning companies.

3. Ultrasonic cleaner

Ultrasonic cleaners such as the InvisiClean Ultrasonic Jewelry Cleaner from Amazon, rated highly by customers, remove any dirt residue from jewelry by properly agitating a liquid with high-frequency sound waves so that the areas where a brush would generally be ineffective are cleaned.

This procedure works for pieces made of gold, diamonds, and platinum as they can withstand slight vibrations and are insusceptible to changes or damage caused by the movement.

However, you must avoid cleaning any gemstones with inclusions, like emeralds or morganite, because the vibrations of the ultrasonic cleaner will often only worsen existing flaws or damage.

It’s also important to note that less resistant gems such as opals and turquoise embedded in soft bases are easily broken down or damaged since they are brittle, so they also shouldn't be cleaned using ultrasonic cleaners.

4. Ammonia and water solution

Diamonds, known for their unparalleled hardness and brilliance, can safely be cleaned with a solution made from one part ammonia to six parts water. This method is effective at restoring a diamond's sparkle by removing oils and residue.

However, this cleaning method should not be used for softer gemstones like emeralds, or those gems with porous structures, as ammonia can cause damage.

5. Professional cleaning

Anna-Mieke Anderson, the founder of MiaDonna jewelers advises having your rings professionally cleaned by a jeweler every three to six months. A jeweler will provide a thorough cleaning and can also check for any loose stones or necessary repairs. Some jewelers use ultrasonic and steam cleaners for this process.

For a more intensive clean that goes beyond what you can achieve, consider professional deep cleaning for your precious items. This may involve removing stones to clean beneath them and is typically required for intricate designs.

Professional deep cleaning is generally needed every three to five years, if at all. It often includes ring polishing, a paid service that restores the metal’s original shine and enhances the appearance of freshly cleaned stones, or refreshed rhodium plating. Check with your jeweler what their service entails.

Anna-Mieke Anderson

Anna-Mieke Anderson, the founder of MiaDonna, a worldwide jeweler exclusively selling lab-grown diamonds and gemstones. After almost 20 years running a fine jewelry company, she has excellent advice on how to keep your jewelry looking its brightest.

FAQs

What should you not clean jewelry with?

One substance you should never clean jewelry with is baking soda. Baking soda, including Arm & Hammer Baking Soda from Walmart, is incredibly abrasive which means it will likely scratch your gemstones and precious metals.

Before embarking on a cleaning routine, inspect your jewelry for loose stones or compromised settings. Addressing these issues beforehand can prevent further damage during cleaning. When handling intricate or antique pieces, professional advice is invaluable. Jewelers can offer specialized cleaning techniques that preserve the integrity of your pieces.

Storage and organizing jewelry also plays a critical role in jewelry care. Keep pieces separate to avoid scratching, and store them in a cool, dry place to minimize tarnishing and other forms of deterioration. By understanding the specific needs of each metal and gemstone, you ensure that your cherished pieces remain as radiant as the day you acquired them.