Everyone has a favorite piece of jewelry.
You know the one: you wear those earrings at least once a week, you're sure that necklace goes with every outfit in your wardrobe, that bracelet is definitely a statement piece, and that ring is how they'll identify your body if the need ever arises.
So, with how often you wear your favorite jewelry... when was the last time you cleaned it?
Cleaning your favorite jewelry doesn't have to cost you money, and it shouldn't take more than 10min of actual work. Cleaning your jewelry also keeps it sparkling longer, which means your favorite piece will remain a favorite.
This post will cover how to clean every piece of your jewelry at home, without breaking the bank or taking all day.
This post will cover how to clean every piece of your jewelry at home, without breaking the bank or taking all day.
Gold
Not all that glitters is gold, but using these tips will make your jewelry break the mold! (10 points if you caught that song reference.) Here's how to clean your gold jewelry.
Not all that glitters is gold, but using these tips will make your jewelry break the mold! (10 points if you caught that song reference.) Here's how to clean your gold jewelry.
Step 1: Mix dishwashing soap with warm water.
Step 2: Soak your gold jewelry in the soap mixture for 3hrs. Go do something else.
Step 3: Using a soft cloth, wipe your jewelry down.
Step 4: Rinse your gold jewelry with warm water.
Step 5: Dry your jewelry with a soft cloth.
Step 2: Soak your gold jewelry in the soap mixture for 3hrs. Go do something else.
Step 3: Using a soft cloth, wipe your jewelry down.
Step 4: Rinse your gold jewelry with warm water.
Step 5: Dry your jewelry with a soft cloth.
Total cost: $0
Total hands-on time: >5min per piece of jewelry
Total hands-on time: >5min per piece of jewelry
Silver
Use these silver cleaning tips to make Gramma's plates jealous. Your jewelry will shine in no time!
Use these silver cleaning tips to make Gramma's plates jealous. Your jewelry will shine in no time!
Step 1: Mix 1/2 cup white vinegar with 2tbsp baking soda. (Yes, chemistry is fun.)
Step 2: Soak your silver jewelry in the solution for 2-3hrs. Go do something else.
Step 3: Rinse your silver jewelry (warm water is always preferable, but don't stress over water temperature too much).
Step 4: Dry your jewelry.
Step 2: Soak your silver jewelry in the solution for 2-3hrs. Go do something else.
Step 3: Rinse your silver jewelry (warm water is always preferable, but don't stress over water temperature too much).
Step 4: Dry your jewelry.
Total cost: $0
Total hands-on time: >5min per piece of jewelry
Total hands-on time: >5min per piece of jewelry
Brass
Being a less-common jewelry metal doesn't make brass invincible.
Brass jewelry tarnishes, but scrubbing it too hard can leave dents. Here's how to avoid that and get your brass jewelry bright again.
Being a less-common jewelry metal doesn't make brass invincible.
Brass jewelry tarnishes, but scrubbing it too hard can leave dents. Here's how to avoid that and get your brass jewelry bright again.
Step 1: Squirt some ketchup onto a soft cloth. (I know this is odd, but stay with me.)
Step 2: Rub the ketchup onto your brass jewelry, focusing especially on the tarnished areas. The acidity of the ketchup eats away at the tarnish.
Step 3: Dry your jewelry with a soft cloth.
Step 4: Wipe the brass jewelry clean with a damp soft cloth.
Step 5: Dry your jewelry with a soft cloth.
Step 2: Rub the ketchup onto your brass jewelry, focusing especially on the tarnished areas. The acidity of the ketchup eats away at the tarnish.
Step 3: Dry your jewelry with a soft cloth.
Step 4: Wipe the brass jewelry clean with a damp soft cloth.
Step 5: Dry your jewelry with a soft cloth.
Total cost: $0
Total hands-on time: 5min per piece of jewelry
Total hands-on time: 5min per piece of jewelry
Bronze
Bronze jewelry has 2 layers of cleaning: the "dirt" layer and the "patina" layer. Whether you choose to clean both layers is up to you.
Bronze jewelry has 2 layers of cleaning: the "dirt" layer and the "patina" layer. Whether you choose to clean both layers is up to you.
Step 1: Apply gentle hand soap to your bronze jewelry.
Step 2: Using warm water and a soft cloth, wash the piece until the soap is off.
Step 3: Dry your bronze jewelry with a soft cloth.
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Step 4: To remove the patina, mix 2tbsp baking soda with enough lemon juice to make a paste (add the juice a little at a time until you have a paste).
Step 5: Using a soft cloth, rub the paste onto your jewelry until the patina is gone.
Step 6: Leave the paste on your brass jewelry for half an hour.
Step 7: Rinse your jewelry, then dry with a soft cloth.
Step 2: Using warm water and a soft cloth, wash the piece until the soap is off.
Step 3: Dry your bronze jewelry with a soft cloth.
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Step 4: To remove the patina, mix 2tbsp baking soda with enough lemon juice to make a paste (add the juice a little at a time until you have a paste).
Step 5: Using a soft cloth, rub the paste onto your jewelry until the patina is gone.
Step 6: Leave the paste on your brass jewelry for half an hour.
Step 7: Rinse your jewelry, then dry with a soft cloth.
Total cost: $0
Total hands-on time: 30sec-5min per piece of jewelry
Total hands-on time: 30sec-5min per piece of jewelry
Copper
Ah, copper.
The cute redheaded stepchild of jewelry, loved and hated in equal measure by different folks. Here's how to clean your copper jewelry, do the nay-sayers will have nothing but love for your favorite piece.
Ah, copper.
The cute redheaded stepchild of jewelry, loved and hated in equal measure by different folks. Here's how to clean your copper jewelry, do the nay-sayers will have nothing but love for your favorite piece.
Step 1: Fill a shallow dish with enough lemon juice to cover your copper jewelry.
Step 2: Place your jewelry in the juice and leave it for 5min.
Step 3: Rinse your copper jewelry in warm water, then dry with a soft cloth.
Step 2: Place your jewelry in the juice and leave it for 5min.
Step 3: Rinse your copper jewelry in warm water, then dry with a soft cloth.
----------Bonus: How to successfully stop copper from turning you green
Step 4: Paint one 1 layer of clear nail polish on the entire piece of copper jewelry (this has an added benefit of making your jewelry shiny). Wait for this layer to dry.
Step 5: Paint an additional layer of clear nail polish everywhere that your jewelry makes contact with skin (such as the inside of your ring). Wait for this layer to dry.
Step 6: Paint a final layer of clear nail polish on the skin-touching surface of your copper jewelry, and wait for it to dry.
Step 5: Paint an additional layer of clear nail polish everywhere that your jewelry makes contact with skin (such as the inside of your ring). Wait for this layer to dry.
Step 6: Paint a final layer of clear nail polish on the skin-touching surface of your copper jewelry, and wait for it to dry.
Total cost: $0
Total hands-on time: 2min-5min per piece of jewelry
Total hands-on time: 2min-5min per piece of jewelry
Regular Maintenance
Your earrings are going into you.
Think about that for a minute. Your bellybutton rings, eyebrow studs, chin spikes...they're all entering your body.
Here's how to ensure they don't make you sick.
Your earrings are going into you.
Think about that for a minute. Your bellybutton rings, eyebrow studs, chin spikes...they're all entering your body.
Here's how to ensure they don't make you sick.
Step 1: Take the cap off your rubbing alcohol and fill it with rubbing alcohol.
Step 2: Dip the piercing piece of jewelry into the alcohol briefly (10sec or less).
Step 3: Pour the alcohol down the sink and put the lid back on.
----------Note: you can clean several pieces in the same lid of rubbing alcohol, just don't pour it back into the bottle.
Step 2: Dip the piercing piece of jewelry into the alcohol briefly (10sec or less).
Step 3: Pour the alcohol down the sink and put the lid back on.
----------Note: you can clean several pieces in the same lid of rubbing alcohol, just don't pour it back into the bottle.
Total cost: $0
Total hands-on time: >30sec per piece of jewelry
Total hands-on time: >30sec per piece of jewelry
Self
Clean your piercings regularly using a cotton ball and rubbing alcohol.
Clean your piercings regularly using a cotton ball and rubbing alcohol.
There's your catch-all guide to at-home jewelry cleaning. See you next week!
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