"In general, a few drops of good old Dawn dish soap in warm, not hot, water will do the trick to keep most gold and silver jewelry clean. Let your pieces soak for about five minutes in the solution and rinse in lukewarm water. Then place them on an untreated microfiber cloth to buff dry," says Levitt.
We recommend mild dishwashing soap (like Dawn). It is important to avoid dishwasher detergent, which is too harsh and could damage your diamond. Follow these simple steps: In a small glass or cup (a shot glass works well) combine warm water and one drop of dish soap.
The Right Way to Clean Gold
Mix warm water with a few drops of Dawn Dish Soap. (You can use other types of soap, but just make sure there are no phosphates in the ingredients!) Let your gold jewelry soak for a few minutes. Remove from the liquid and gently brush your jewelry with a soft toothbrush.
Mix 1 teaspoon dishwashing liquid and 1 cup warm water. Add 1/2 teaspoon of ammonia based household cleaner (like a glass cleaner such as Windex) Soak your jewelry in the solution for about 5 minutes & then gently scrub with a soft-toothbrush. Air dry or carefully towel-dry with paper towel or regular cloth.
Ultrasonic cleaners for diamonds
Ultrasonic cleaners are often used in jewellers to professionally clean diamonds, therefore is a popular choice for cleaning diamond engagement rings that have become dull over time. Take your ring into your local jewellers and let the ultrasonic cleaner work its magic.
Do: Dish Detergent and Warm Water. Although it may seem simple, the best homemade cleaner for diamond jewelry is a solution of dawn dish detergent and warm water. This solution is perfect for normal use which is expected for newer jewelry.
"In general, a few drops of good old Dawn dish soap in warm, not hot, water will do the trick to keep most gold and silver jewelry clean. Let your pieces soak for about five minutes in the solution and rinse in lukewarm water. Then place them on an untreated microfiber cloth to buff dry," says Levitt.
Absolutely! Fill a small bowl with hydrogen peroxide—just enough to fully cover the piece you wish to clean. The solution will kill all the bacteria that may be on the surface. Leave the jewelry in the peroxide for about 15–20 minutes.
Windex won't hurt your ring, but it isn't a great cleaner either. So stick to mild soap and water, and six-month cleanings and check-ups at your jeweler. A gemologist can also appraise your ring so that you can insure it.
Combine 1 part dish soap, 1 part glass cleaner, and 2 parts warm water in a small bowl. No need for exact measurements. Place jewelry in the cleaning solution. Let it soak a few minutes, or hours, depending on the need.
Ultrasonic cleaners are used to remove heavy dirt and grime, but could cause damage depending on the stone, treatment or setting. It's best to have your jeweler clean your jewelry using these machines to avoid any damage.
Santimer recommends mixing one drop of Dawn dish soap with warm water in a bowl then allowing your jewelry to sit in the mixture for several minutes to cut through oils and grime. For solid gold jewelry and hard gemstones, follow up with a gentle scrub using a soft-bristle toothbrush.
The best jewelry cleaner forsilver might surprise you: liquid dish soap. Mix a few drops with warm water and gently rub the silver to remove the tarnish. Then rinse with cold water and buff with a soft cloth. If your piece is heavily tarnished, try mixing three parts baking soda to one part water to make a paste.
Mix together about one cup of warm water with just a few drops of dish soap. Soak gold jewelry for up to five minutes. Put small jewelry pieces into a strainer before placing in the solution. Swish the items around to dislodge dirt.
Mix 1 tablespoon of mild soap or dish detergent with 1 cup of hot water (no need to boil, just hot water from the tap). Let your gold jewelry sit in the medium-hot to hot water with the detergent for 3-5 minutes to loosen up any dirt or buildup.
Soap – Steer clear of any soap with unknown ingredients. Basic blue Dawn dish soap is fine, but remove your gold jewelry before showering to avoid accumulating a film from other body washes. Chlorine – Chlorine, especially at high temperatures like in a hot tub, can permanently damage or discolor your gold jewelry.
Dust your silver every so often using a soft cloth—it will help keep the tarnish away. And whenever you start to see it slightly tarnish (which will vary depending on the piece and how pure the silver is—less sterling tarnishes more quickly), simply give it a light cleaning using a gentle dish soap (like Dawn).
Use a Lubricant
Yes Windex! The surfactants help to reduce the surface tension between the ring and the skin, making the ring easier to maneuver off of the finger.
Diamonds are loved because of their shiny structure. The truth is, they shine even with dirt on them. Yet, they still become duller with daily grime. Jewelers use ultrasonic cleaners with high-frequency sound waves and chemicals to professionally remove dirt off of diamonds.
Never use toothpaste, baking soda, or a commercial metal cleaner on gold. If you use these abrasives, you may scratch the gold. Never use bleach. Bleach reacts with gold and will eat away at gold alloys.
The best way to clean a diamond ring is with plain soap and water, no matter the type of metal. Simply, fill a bowl with equal parts warm water and gentle dishwashing soap and soak your ring for 20 to 40 minutes. Use a soft brush to remove buildup from any hairspray, lotion, makeup, perfume, etc.