As we all know, the original shiny and glossy of the jewelry will lose its dazzling luster due to various reasons after they are worn for a period of time.
It is far and inconvenient to go to the jewelry store to clean them often, and we are also worried that the number of grams will decrease. So, how to clean our jewelry easily and quickly at home?
1. What Causes Jewelry to Lose Its Shine (Turning Black or Tarnish)?
Some people may ask, why does my jewelry turn black after wearing it for a period of time? In order to solve the blackening problem of jewelry, we must first understand why they turn black. In fact, the reason is very simple.
1.1) Why Does Gold Jewelry Turn Black?
Because we wear jewelry next to the body, it will definitely come into contact with the sweat produced by our body, and some substances in sweat, such as chloride, will have some chemical reactions with gold jewelry.
Elements such as sulphur and chlorine react with the other metals in the gold jewelry, causing it to corrode and turn black, thus blackening the skin underneath.
1.2) Why Does S925 Sterling Silver Jewelry Tarnish?
Sterling silver 925 jewelry turning black is likely due to a chemical reaction between the metal and something else. This could be caused by exposure to air, water, or other substances that contain sulfur or chlorine.
As we know, sterling silver is made of 92.5% silver and 7.5% other metal, usually copper, to make jewelry pieces harder since pure silver is too soft. The presence of copper and other metals makes it more prone to tarnishing or turing black or yellow.
Copper reacts with hydrogen sulfide which is found heavily in polluted air producing copper sulfide, that is a dark gray to black color; Likewise silver also reacts with hydrogen sulfide, but at a slower rate to produce silver sulfide, which is also black.
Black tarnishing of silver can also occur when it comes into contact with other substances such as skin care screams, perfume hair spray, chlorine and acidic skin pH. The amount of tarnishing that occurs is dependent on the skin care habits of the person wearing it and the air quality.
1.3) Does S999 Real Silver Turn Black?
All silver will eventually tarnish, S999 pure silver tarnishes much slower, while S925 sterling silver tarnishes quicker.
2. What Household Products Can be Used to Clean Jewelry?
You can use below items to clean the jewelry at home: soft toothbrush, warm/ hot water, and mild dishwashing liquid, vinegar, baking soda, toothpaste, aluminum foil, salt, wood ash or cigarette ash.
However, some of them are applicable for gold jewelry, and some of them are for silver jewelry, we should follow a procedure of cleaning a specific jewelry while using these cleaners.
3. What is The Easiest Way to Clean Jewelry at Home?
There is no "one size fits all answer" to this question, as it depends on the type of jewellery you are cleaning, the amount of wear and tears it has sustained, and how dirty it is.
Nevertheless, some general tips and tricks can help you clean your jewellery safely and effectively at home.
3.1) How Do You Clean Silver Jewelry Quickly and Make it Sparkle Like New?
You know that after a while, your sterling silver jewelry tends to get tarnish, and you want to clean it right at home what ingredients you may have on hand. Let's check some easy methods here to make your silver shining again.
#1 Method: Using Wood Ash or Cigarette Ash
Before you know how to clean the silver jewelry at home with the ash, you should know where to get the ash first, because not every one get a wood-burning stove at home, right?
Take unnecessary cardboard (for example from the packaging eggs), or just a piece of paper. And then burn the carboard on a metal tray (observe fire regulations).
You can also use cigarete ash or mosquito repellent incense ash instead if you find the above step is too complicated.
After you prepare the ash, just take an old toothbrush. Soak your toothbrush in clean water and put it in the ash. Clean the busy road to the ash mixed with water and formed a dark paster, which will clean silver.
At last, wash your toothbrush and silver jewelry in clean water to evaluate the results.
Anyway, after you finished the silver jewelry cleaning process, there will be ash anywhere, on your hands, on the table, on your clothes... Then you need to do another cleaning job.
So there should be other much easier and more enjoyable methods to clean these silver jewelry.
#2 Method: Using Toothpaste
This method is suitable for badly tarnished silver and 925 sterling silver. Just apply a pea-sized amount of toothpaste on the cotton bud or cotton cloth. And then gently rub the toothpaste onto the tarnished jewellery.
During the process, you may find that the cotton bud may turn dark and that means the tarnish is coming off the jewellery. Rinse or dip your jewellery and rub the toothpaste residue off with water. Last step, pat the jewellery dry completely.
#3 Method: Aluminum Foil + Salt/ Baking Soda + Hot water
Silver naturally oxidizes with time, and if you want to bring back the light color, a simple remedy would be to put your silver into a bowl with aluminum foil in it (using the shiny side), then pour salted hot water (or hot water mixed with baking soda) and let it sit for few minutes (sometimes only a few seconds will be OK).
It will get rid of the oxidation without scratching the metal or the stone! To make it shine even more, simply rub your silver with a cotton tissue.
Note:
- If you cannot find aluminum foil at home, you can use toothpaste + salt + dishwahing liquid instead.
- This method is NOT applicable for 925 sterling silver jewely, only applicable for S999 fine silver.
3.2) How Can I Make My Gold Jewelry Shiny at Home?
First, prepare a small bowl, add toothpaste, white vinegar, salt, baking soda (if you do not have baking soda at hand, you can use dishwashing liquid instead), and stir all of them evenly to make a cleaning agent.
Next, put your gold jewelry into the bowl, and soak the jewelry for about 10-20 minutes.
Finally, take out the gold jewelry and rinse it with clean water, then dry it. Your gold jewelry will be shiny again.
3.3) How Can I Clean My Diamond Ring at Home?
Prepare a bowl with some warm water, and add some dishwashing liquid into it. Then soak your diamond ring for 5-10 minutes.
After that, use a soft toothbrush to clean the remaining dust on the surface, and then rinse it with clean water. After drying, your diamond ring will immediately shine.
3.4) What is The Best Thing to Clean Platinum Jewelry with?
Platinum jewelry will oxidize and blacken like silver jewelry if it is not washed for a long time, so how do we clean our platinum jewelry at home?
First, cut some bar soap into pieces, put them into a bowl, and add some toothpaste and vinegar. Soak your platinum jewelry in the bowl for 4-5 minutes, and then take it out to rinse it with clean water. Dry it with tissue, it will be shiny like new again.
3.5) How to Clean Your Stainless Steel Jewelry
Today, stainless steel is an incredibly affordable and attractive metal for jewelry, due to its durability, scratch resistant and continuous luster.
Stainless steel jewelry is a brilliant alternative to jewelry made of other precious metals such as gold, silver or platinum.
The stainless steel jewelry is resistant to oxidation discoloration and rust so how do you clean stainless steel jewelry at home?
Usually we can use dishwashing liquid, or use lemon juice + baking soda, and then use this cleaner to rub the stainless steel jewelry by a soft cloth.
4. How to Store Your Metal Jewelry Simply to Avoid Tarnish?
Just place your metal jewelry in an airtight container, or ideally in a ziplock bag individually with the anti tarnish strip, store your jewelry in a place away from light and heat.
Do you have any other easy way to clean metal jewelry at home? Kindly share them with us in the comment below.
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