Cleaning Jewellery
For those that wear jewellery regularly, keeping their jewellery clean, shine and looking good requires regular effort. Here are some general guidelines that may help:
I. Remove your jewellery before bathing:
Remove all jewellery before showering or cleaning. Soap can cause a film to form, making it appear dull and dirty. By preventing the formation of this film you immediately reduce the occasions of servicing.
II. Use jewellery polishing cloths for best results:
Polish silver or gold jewellery with a jewellery polishing cloth for best results. You can use the professional cloths which is the best. Use of tissue or paper towels can cause scratches because of fibers in these products.
III. Clean your Jewellery with care:
Cleaning your jewellery regularly can keep it looking good, but be careful. You can either purchase commercial cleaners from a jeweller or make a cleaning a solution yourself. Rubbing alcohol can work wonders, but bleach can literally destroy jewelry so avoid it at all costs.
IV. Use warm water to clean jewellery:
Using warm water is the best, when cleaning your own jewellery. How water can cause reaction with the cleaning fluids resulting in discoloration and Sterling Silver is especially susceptible to this problem. Should this occur, this problem can be remedied by buffing and the application of a tarnish remover.
V. Avoid cleaning damaged jewellery:
Never clean any jewellery that is damaged, cracked or broken, since the additional handling is likely to worsen the problem. If you find that a piece of jewellery is damaged, it should be set aside for repair as soon as possible.
VI. Inspect Your Jewellery Regularly:
Just like anything else, an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. When having your jewellery professionally cleaned, it's a good idea to have each item checked and inspected for any possible problems. Addressing signs of damage, or loose gemstones will prevent any further damage or loss and keep all of your pieces in excellent shape for years.