How to Take Care of Your Jewelry at Home

Do’s and Don’ts for cleaning your jewelry at home

Jewelry is more than a priceless object. It is invaluable for its significance, the story of how it came into your life, the memories attached to wearing them. And so, they must be cared for. Whether it’s the everyday ring your grandma once wore, the very first pair of earrings you bought yourself or a gift from your partner that you always adorn. With these easy-as-ever tips for cleaning your jewelry at home, you can keep every piece sparkling new, for years to come.

But first, why does your jewelry need cleaning?

All jewelry needs the occasional spruce up, to bring back its shine and repair any damage it has picked up from the elements, such as grime or dust. Even hand creams and sunscreens can tarnish the sheen of precious metals. But fret not! You don’t need a professional jeweller to help restore your pieces to their original glory. Just do it yourself, with these easy at-home tricks.

1. Check your jewelry

Take out all your jewelry that you wish to clean, including the regularly and occasionally worn ones. Comb your eyes over them to notice where they stand. Some might just need a simple rinse, others might require something a bit more thorough.

2. Clean without chemicals

When you clean your jewelry at home, you can choose to use clean and safe ingredients. For most pieces, including pure gold and silver, or plated, rose and white gold, you can wash them in warm soapy water. Make sure the soap you use is as gentle, colourless and fragrance free as possible. In order to clean out any grime and dirt stuck between the crevices, use a soft bristled toothbrush or cotton swabs. This is the ideal way to clean diamond jewelry too.

Important tips! Don’t keep soft gems like pearls and opals soaking in water for too long. And never place jewelry with precious stones in water that is too hot, as they might crack. Once you have finished washing the jewelry, pat them dry with tissues or napkins.

3. Cleaning precious metals

Of all the precious metals, platinum needs the least cleaning. For silver jewelry, many solutions are available in the market that simply require a soak to eliminate any tarnishes and bring back the sparkle. Be careful when using a chemical cleaning solution on jewelry with precious stones, as it may cause damage. Another popular way to clean precious jewelry across all metal varieties is a polishing cloth. This is a professional jewellers’ quality cloth that you can simply rub over the jewelry till you see its shine. Other mediums include polishing creams and sprays.

4. Store your jewelry

Once your jewelry is clean, store it properly so that it stays that way for as long as possible. Many times, we end up leaving our daily-wear pieces in the bathroom, but the humidity in the air speeds up tarnishing. It’s best to keep your jewelry in a box or pouch, away from flowing air and dust. To avoid scratching between pieces, keep your precious jewelry compartmentalised.

At Youlry, we believe in exquisite products and detailed care, so that your jewelry radiates in its purest and brightest form, always. We recommend reading the jewelry care instructions carefully so that you can keep your jewelry in prime condition.