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Bandus Jewelry CenterBracelets
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| Jewelry Cleaning TipsAlka-Seltzer
Drop
your dull-looking jewelry in a glass of fizzing Alka-Seltzer for a
couple of minutes. It will sparkle and shine when you pull it out.
Aluminum Foil
To
clean your jewelry, simply line a small bowl with aluminum foil. Fill
the bowl with hot water and mix in one tablespoon of bleach-free
powdered laundry detergent (not liquid), such as Tide. Put the jewelry
in the solution and let it soak for one minute. Rinse well and air-dry.
This procedure makes use of the chemical process known as ion exchange,
which can also be used to clean silverware.
Ammonia
Brighten
up your gold and silver trinkets by soaking them for 10 minutes in a
solution of 1/2 cup clear ammonia mixed in 1 cup warm water. Gently
wipe clean with a soft cloth and let dry. Note: Do not do this with
jewelry containing pearls, because it could dull or damage their
delicate surface.
Baking Soda
To remove built-up tarnish
from your silver, make a thick paste with 1/4 cup baking soda and 2
tablespoons water. Apply with a damp sponge and gently rub, rinse, and
buff dry. To polish gold jewelry, cover with a light coating of baking
soda, pour a bit of vinegar over it, and rinse clean. Note: Do not use
this technique with jewelry containing pearls or gem-stones, as it
could damage their finish and loosen the glue.
Beer
Get the
shine back in your solid gold (i.e., minus any gemstones) rings and
other jewelry by pouring a bit of beer (not dark ale!) onto a soft
cloth and rubbing it gently over the piece. Use a clean second cloth or
towel to dry.
Club Soda
Soak your diamonds, rubies,
sapphires, and emeralds in club soda to give them a bright sheen.
Simply place them in a glass full of club soda and let them soak
overnight.
Denture Tablets
Has your diamond ring lost its
sparkle? Drop a denture tablet into a glass containing a cup of water.
Follow that with your ring or diamond earrings. Let it sit for a few
minutes. Remove your jewelry and rinse to reveal the old sparkle and
shine.
Ketchup
Let ketchup do the work of shining tarnished
silver. If your ring, bracelet, or earring has a smooth surface, dunk
it in a small bowl of ketchup for a few minutes. If it has a tooled or
detailed surface, use an old toothbrush to work ketchup into the
crevices. To avoid damaging the silver, don't leave the ketchup on any
longer than necessary. Rinse your jewelry clean, dry it, and it's ready
to wear.
Toothpaste
Put a little toothpaste on an old
toothbrush and use it to make your diamond ring sparkle instead of your
teeth. Clean off the residue with a damp cloth.
Vinegar
Make
your silverware -- as well as your pure silver bracelets, rings, and
other jewelry -- shine like new by soaking them in a mixture of 1/2 cup
white vinegar and 2 tablespoons baking soda for two to three hours.
Rinse them under cold water and dry thoroughly with a soft cloth.
Vodka
In
a pinch, a few drops of vodka will clean any kind of glass or jewelry
with crystalline gemstones. So although people might look at you
askance, you could dip a napkin into your vodka on the rocks to wipe
away the grime on your eyeglasses or dunk your diamond ring for a few
minutes to get it sparkling again. But don't try this with contact
lenses! Also avoid getting alcohol on any gemstone that's not a
crystal. Only diamonds, emeralds, and the like will benefit from a
vodka bath.
Window Cleaner
Use window cleaner to spruce up
jewelry that is all metal or has crystalline gemstones, such as
diamonds or rubies. Spray on the cleaner, then use an old toothbrush
for cleaning. But don't do this if the piece has opaque stones such as
opal or turquoise or organic gems such as coral or pearl. The ammonia
and detergents in the cleaner can discolor these porous lovelies. |
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