Keeping your jewellery clean and sparkling not only helps it to look beautiful, but it also helps to prolong its life. It’s really simple to do and you only need to do it once a year for your whole collection, or once every 6 months for pieces you wear more often. So, let’s get into it and help you to get your jewellery sparkling!
Washing
The first step in cleaning your jewellery is the washing stage! Mix together a small amount of mild soap with warm water. Take a soft bristled toothbrush and dip it into the mixture, then gently brush your jewellery. Avoiding dipping into the mixture, especially things like dainty gold bracelets or jewellery that contain soft gemstones, like pearl rings or necklaces.
Rinse and Dry
Once you’ve removed any build up or grime, rinse really well under cold water. Shake off excess water and then leave to dry completely. Make sure that everything is hung up, as the last thing you want is for your jewellery to be sat in water or any kind of damp surface, which will happen if you just place it onto a towel. Using a jewellery hanger is ideal, as you can hang everything over it so it can dry completely.
Storing Your Jewellery
Once it’s clean, you need to make sure you’re storing your jewellery properly so it stays clean! You need to store it in an environment where it isn’t possible for dust to build, so either in a material lined jewellery box or a glass display stand is ideal. There is so much inspiration available online, so you can create a clean environment for your jewellery and also keep it looking great. You also need to make sure that your jewellery doesn’t overlap or it’s not stored too closely together, as this can cause it to damage over time.
Professional Cleaning
If you have jewellery that is particularly delicate, then it’s important you have it professionally cleaned. This will help to prolong its life as if you don’t get it cleaned properly, it can damage the jewellery over time and reduce its lifespan. So, it’s worth paying that bit extra to have your jewellery professionally cleaned to help it last longer, so you can pass it down from generation to generation for them to love and appreciate it just as much as you do. Whether it’s sentimental pieces like letter rings, or more delicate pieces like pearls, it’s worth doing.
You can have this done at most jewellers, although if possible, you should aim to have it done at the same place you purchased the jewellery, as they will know the pieces better than anyone else. If you purchase vintage jewellery or something special like an engagement ring or diamond piece, often annual cleaning is included as something complimentary with your purchase. So, make sure to check and ask when you make the purchase as this will make things cheaper and easier in the future! This is a super simple way to add extra years to your jewellery to keep it in your family for decades to come.