Cleaning jewelry primarily consists of two parts: gemstones and metals. Each has its own preferences and best practices, so it's essential to choose based on specific needs. Below are common cleaning tools and their usage.
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Brushes Toothbrushes are convenient tools readily available. It's recommended to use dish soap for cleaning jewelry. For silver pieces, fine-grained toothpaste can be used; however, it may leave small scratches on the surface and is not advisable for items with coatings. Delicate jewels like pearls should not be cleaned with hard brushes. I typically use a soft brush or a Clarisonic facial brush for cleaning, as the ultra-soft bristles are ideal for delicate items, especially antique pieces with pearls.
Toothbrushes combined with toothpaste can be very effective as an enhanced soft brush. The type of toothpaste can affect the outcome; non-granular or clear types are suitable for cleaning most jewelry. Granular pastes may leave marks on metals similar to blossom powder and can damage softer gemstones and organic surfaces, but they work well on oxidized silver or antiques. Be cautious with particularly coarse toothpaste, as it cleans well but may create a matte finish on metals. Electric toothbrushes and facial brushes are also reliable options for jewelry cleaning.
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Silver Polishing Cloth This cloth contains fine abrasives, effectively re-polishing silver. It is convenient for cleaning larger areas but has limited effectiveness on heavy oxidation accumulated over time.
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Calcium Carbonate Powder This is a fine powder used for polishing surfaces and removing oxidation.
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Silver Polish Cream Due to its creamy consistency, it may not clean detailed areas effectively. However, it can preserve the antique feel when used on older items. It is ineffective on non-silver materials.
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Silver Cleaning Solution This solution restores silver oxidation through a chemical reaction. I often use Connoisseurs' products, which clean details thoroughly and leave chains spotless. It does not harm coatings and has excellent cleaning results. For gold-plated silver that develops bluish-brown spots over time, silver cleaning solutions work best. However, these solutions should not be used on antiqued silver, as they can turn the antiqued parts yellow and are difficult to remove. They can also damage pearl surfaces and should not come into contact with organic gemstones. If necessary, apply with a fine brush in a small area, avoiding pearls, and rinse immediately.
Different silver ratios may react differently to cleaning solutions; some silver items may turn slightly yellow after cleaning. Simply buffing with a polishing cloth or using calcium carbonate powder can address this.
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Polishing Stick These are typically used for manicures. While they may not address detailed areas, they are effective for fine scratches on surfaces. They can also help with long-term oxidation when paired with ultrasonic cleaners.
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Ultrasonic Cleaners These are convenient for jewelry cleaning, similar to those used for cleaning glasses. They provide excellent results when used with dish soap. For stable pieces, they can be combined with glass cleaner. However, for fashion jewelry, especially those made with imitation pearls and metal coatings, ultrasonic cleaning is not recommended as it may cause damage; the surface layer of imitation pearls may completely peel off. For gemstones with many fissures, ultrasonic cleaning may cause breakage. Coral should not be cleaned this way. Additionally, antiqued silver should not be cleaned with new silver items together, as they will get dirty.
