Whether you wear your jewelry every day or only for special occasions, most pieces eventually need a good cleaning. Lotions and body oils build up, tarnish happens with time, and sometimes even the most precious jewels begin to look a bit dull.
Don't rush out and buy an expensive jewelry cleaner. These amazing jewelry cleaning hacks use products you may already have in your home. They save you money while bringing back the shine to your bling.
Use a DIY bling wash This homemade jewelry wash uses the power of essential oil products to clean jewelry safely. When stored in a glass jar, this jewelry cleaner can be used over and over. Simply mix together 1 tablespoon Thieves cleaner, 1 teaspoon Thieves dish soap, 1 tablespoon of witch hazel and about 1/4 cup of distilled water. Drop in jewelry and leave for at least one hour. A small brush or old toothbrush can help you get into the nooks and crannies. Carefully rinse and allow to dry.
Spend only 20 minutes with a quick cleaner If you don't have a lot of time, this quick cleaner takes only five minutes to prepare and works in as little as 15 minutes. Line a bowl with aluminum foil. Add 1 cup of hot water, 1 tablespoon baking soda, 1 tablespoon salt and 1 tablespoon dish soap. Let jewelry take a 10- to 15-minute bath in the solution, then rinse and dry.
Mix just two ingredients for some serious shine All it takes is two simple household cleaners to quickly clean a ring. Get a small bowl and add a few drops of dish soap. Pour in a bit of glass cleaner. The combination of the two will break down any gunk, oils and dirt on the ring. All it takes is a few minutes of soaking and maybe a quick brush with an old toothbrush to have your ring looking exactly like new. You'll be amazed how easily this simple tip works!
Avoid having to clean jewelry in the first placeThe best way is to take preventive care when it comes to your jewelry. Always remove jewelry prior to cleaning yourself, whether that's taking a bath or washing your hands. You'll also want to remove rings when you are applying any lotion.
Be gentle with costume jewelry Not all costume jewelry is cheap. Some is sentimental, whereas other pieces are actually worth quite a bit of money. For most people it can be a guessing game as to what a costume piece is made of. That is why a gentle cleaning is essential. A soft polishing cloth, an old toothbrush and a gentle solution can help you quickly restore old jewelry. Add three drops of lemon essential oil to 1/3 cup of water. Let the piece rest in the solution for at least five minutes and up to overnight. Scrub, rinse and buff to a brilliant shine.
Give your pearls a gentle bath
Pearls are delicate and require special care to prevent damage. This simple method for cleaning pearls keeps them safe and removes grime. Place your pearls inside a knee high nylon stocking. Knot the stocking so that they stay in place. Fill a sink with warm water and add a bit of mild shampoo, such as a baby shampoo. Place the pearls in the warm water and gently massage the pantyhose against the pearls. Rinse with fresh water, remove from bag, and gently pat to dry.
Try Alka-SeltzerYou don't need to rely on fancy cleaners. Rinse your dull jewelry in a glass of fizzy Alka-Seltzer. Once you take it out, it will be shining like a star.
How to clean tarnished jewelry
If you haven't worn your silver jewelry in a while it will definitely tarnish. Reduce the amount of cleaning you have to do by taking steps to prevent silver from tarnishing in the first place. All you need to do is throw a few pieces of chalk in your jewelry box. It will absorb excess moisture and keep your silver nice and shiny.
