Cleaning your jewellery in gin or vodka works really well. If you don't have any to hand, then any white spirit with a high alcohol content will also work. Just pour a small glass of alcohol and submerge your jewellery. Leave for 20 minutes, swirling the liquid every 5-10 minutes.
Vodka/Gin
To do this method pour out a small glass full of alcohol and pop the ring into it. Leave for 20 minutes swirling every 5-10 minutes to agitate the liquid then rinse and dry.
2) Vodka: This may be an old wives tale, but it never fails. Drop your ring into a shot glass filled with a clear hard alcohol like vodka or gin. Allow the ring to soak for several hours. The ethanol content is a natural solvent that dissolves dirt molecules attached to the diamond.
To clean your jewelry using isopropyl rubbing alcohol, fill a small bowl with it—just enough to fully cover the piece you wish you clean. Leave the jewelry to soak in the bowl for a few minutes. Alcohol dries completely clear on metal surfaces so there is no need to rinse it off with water.
For a quick cleaning solution for gold and diamond jewelry, try a little isopropyl alcohol. You can fill a small container with some alcohol and drop your jewelry directly into the solution. Let it soak briefly and then remove the item. The nice thing about alcohol is that it will dry clear.
Just pour a small glass of alcohol and submerge your jewellery. Leave for 20 minutes, swirling the liquid every 5-10 minutes. Rinse in water and air dry on a towel.
The Proper Way to Clean Jewelry With Alcohol
The level of alcohol should be such that, when you put your jewelry in, it will be completely submerged. Place the jewelry in the alcohol. Then, soak it overnight so that the debris or grime on the tarnished jewelry will loosen.
What isn't safe to clean with alcohol? Jewelry made from acrylic, plastic or inferior metals such and copper should not be cleaned with alcohol. If you use rubbing alcohol on any of these materials it can cause a variety of issues. Some of these issues could be fading, cracking, and corrosion.
Plus, disinfecting agents contain such substances as bleach, rubbing alcohol and chlorine which damage gemstones, diamonds and precious metals. Of course, direct contact with a hand sanitiser won't ruin your ring in an instance but it will speed up the wear and tarnishing.
From rubbing alcohol to vodka, keep it away from your jewelry. Alcohol can dry out the natural oils in gemstones like opals and emeralds, which again, can cause them to crack.
You can use vodka as a soaking solution for your silver. This method won't remove heavy tarnish, but it does a good job of bringing lightly tarnished silver back to life. Just pop your vodka in a cup and soak your silver for about 5 minutes. Then dip a cloth into the mixture, remove your jewellery and wipe it.
Clean kitchen appliances and surfaces
It can also shine your chrome faucets and cabinet hardware. You can also add a few drops of essential oil for a pleasant scent. “The alcohol in vodka cuts through grease and oil,” says Leslie Reichert, author and green living expert. “Vodka is a great cleaner for stainless steel.”
If the cloudiness of your diamond is caused by external factors, such as a greasy film or dirt, it's possible to fix it and regain its original sparkle. The way to do so is by simply cleaning the ring using warm water, soap, and ammonia-based cleaners. If you can't do it yourself, take it to a professional cleaner.
Jewelers use ultrasonic cleaners with high frequency sound waves and chemicals, which create bubbles that latch on to the dirt on the diamond. The high frequency sound waves pull the dirt away from the stone and bring them up to the surface.
Mixtures that contain at least 70% alcohol are best if they can be sourced, and these mixtures can neutralize viruses and other bacteria on a surface if left wet for at least 30 seconds.
Diamonds are exceptionally delicate, and thus, they require the utmost care. Harsh chemicals like acetone, chlorine, bleach and other abrasive substances like baking powder and toothpaste will damage your diamond beyond repair.
The best mixture of cleaning solution for diamonds is ammonia or mild dish detergent with water. The ratio of this solution should be a quarter cup of ammonia to one cup of lukewarm water. After mixing the solution, simply let the piece of diamond jewelry soak in the solution for 20-30 minutes.
1 Using Boiling Water
But it's also harsh on your jewelry. The intense temp of boiling water is no friend to soft crystals and it can actually weaken some metals, causing them to bend or lose shape. Steam is perfectly fine for most jewelry, but placing pieces in boiling water is a no-go.
Don't Clean Diamond Earrings with Alcohol
Rubbing alcohol is commonly used as a cleaning agent for certain items around the house but it can actually dull gemstones, so it should be avoided as a method for cleaning diamond jewelry.
If you'd like to disinfect your jewelry, you can use regular household isopropyl alcohol or hydrogen peroxide, as long as the jewelry is solid gold or platinum and is only set with diamond, ruby, or sapphire. Take care with any other kind of stones and use a gentler form of cleaning.
To do this, the first step is to wash your hands thoroughly with soap and warm water. Next, submerge the earrings in a solution of rubbing alcohol or hydrogen peroxide for 5 minutes. After removing them from the solution, allow them to air dry on a clean paper towel.
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.
Whether it be alcohol or non-alcohol based hand sanitizer, both can cause irreversible damage to your ring. Repeated use of alcohol based hand sanitizer can diminish the brilliance of your stones and metal shine, and loosen your engagement ring prongs.
The cleaning process is simple; soak the pieces you need to sterilize in warm water with antibacterial soap. Leave then in the water for a couple of minutes. Then remove them, rinse and dry.