Toothpaste is a classic home spun remedy that many people swear by to clean their fine jewelry and diamonds. The reasoning must be that you clean your pearly whites with them, right? And, with the economy in recession, a little savings on jewelry cleaner doesn’t hurt. Well, in some cases, it might not physically damage your jewels, but it might not show them off their best, and toothpaste is one such example of folklore gone awry. It can leave a sticky residue and get into crevices too. So, if you want to still bling a little when you go out for that very special occasion and you still want to save some bucks, learn what really works and what doesn’t to make those baubles shine.
Simple Solutions Work the Best
For cleaning gold and silver jewelry the simpler the solution, the better. Avoid anything with soap as it can leave a residue that over time makes your jewelry drab. Instead, opt for simple ammonia and water solutions or even just rubbing alcohol. Some people even use hydrogen peroxide to help them shine up their baubles, as long as they are gold. It can tarnish silver.
The trick is to be gentle with your fine jewelry. You don’t need to let the items soak overnight to make them shine their best. A few minutes is enough, and if you want to scrub them with a toothbrush to remove dirt or grit from previous poor attempts at cleaning, you can. Rinse them with tap water, but then blow dry them on low so that the tap water doesn’t have time to leave a residue either.
Be Extra Careful With Gold Plate
Every time you clean or rub against a gold-plated piece of jewelry, some of the gold rubs off. So, you have to be extra careful with these items so that you don’t scrub off the gold on the surface layer. So, keep your jewelry clean, but don’t over do it and it will last much longer. And, if you have time, drop by any jewelry store that offers free ultrasonic cleaning to keep them maintained longer.
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