How to care for your jewelry

2024 Author: James Gerald | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 14:00

Did you know that pure gold without impurities is so soft that it can be scratched with a fingernail? That is why it is always alloyed with copper or silver in jewelry. This helps to cope with mechanical damage, but does not save from the effects of other harmful environmental factors. One way or another, but over time, jewelry fades, loses its shine, and in some cases stains appear on their surface. What is the reason for this? And how to return the presentation to your favorite trinkets?

Preventive measures

Observing a few simple rules, you can put off that unpleasant moment for a long time when you cannot do without professional cleaning advice.

For example, it is recommended that you remove jewelry while cleaning. Firstly, you will protect them from interaction with aggressive compounds: cleaning agents containing chlorine, ammonia, alkali, and various acids. Secondly, you do not have to spend hours looking for rings in the sink drain or catching earrings, chains and other nice little things from buckets, basins and … toilets.

You should do the same if you want to take a bath or do any cosmetic procedures. Mercury and sulfur salts are used in the production of ointments, lotions and creams. The former contribute to the appearance of white spots on gold jewelry, while the latter form dark-colored sulfur compounds with silver.

By the way, do not stop yourself in a subconscious desire to hide values further, deeper, darker. Ultraviolet light does not benefit amethysts, topaz, pearls, turquoise and rubies - the intensity of their color is lost. And in general, a closed box, tucked away from heating appliances, windows and other places where strong temperature drops are possible, is considered an ideal place for storing jewelry.

And if you still did not save it?

Even if you follow all of the above rules, the regular "walk" of jewelry in any case does not affect them in the best way. Constant interaction with human skin will lead to the accumulation of a greasy layer, which in turn will only consolidate the dust, and the metal will darken.

How to clean? You can purchase professional products from foreign or domestic manufacturers. Special sprays and foams not only clean the jewelry, but also cover it with an invisible protective film. The compositions are developed taking into account the various characteristics of the surfaces to be cleaned and are even suitable for jewelry with inserts of soft stones: amber, pearls, malachite, corals.

Special sprays and foams not only clean the jewelry, but also cover it with an invisible protective film.

If the purchase options don't suit you, you can try home remedies.

For gold - a toothbrush, soapy water and ammonia (one teaspoon for half a glass). The only caveat: this method is not recommended for jewelry with turquoise, corals, pearls or amber. Dirt under the stones can be removed using a cotton swab dipped in glycerin.

Some housewives also advise using onion juice to restore shine. It is recommended to grate, leave for two hours, rinse and dry.

The best remedies for cleaning silver - soda or tooth powder, flannel. It's simple: we wipe, wash, dry - after all, often the most uncomplicated recipes just give the best result. Although there are more complicated ways. Boil a liter of water and throw into it in turn: a tablespoon of salt, a clean shell of two chicken eggs, and then - for only fifteen seconds - rings, bracelets, earrings and chains. Then take out everything, wash and dry. If you did everything according to the instructions, then your jewelry will shine like new!

Platinum it is best to wash with clean water and wipe with a dry cloth. Yes, yes, we did not seize ourselves and did not forget to add some miraculous remedies to this list. The fact is that "white gold" is the most wear-resistant metal, which practically does not tarnish or oxidize. For regular maintenance, regular water will be enough. True, jewelry made of this metal requires periodic polishing, but it is better to entrust this procedure to a specialist.

Turquoise jewelry best cleaned with fat tail. They say that vegetable oils are contraindicated for jewelry with turquoise inserts, but animal fats have a beneficial effect on it.

Jewelry made of this metal requires periodic polishing, but it is better to entrust this procedure to a specialist.

For cleaning pearls use linen cloth and sodium chloride. This simple method will help remove greasy deposits: sprinkle the decorations on a piece of flax with one spoonful of salt, roll up, rinse in water until the NaCl dissolves, then dry. You can also use potato starch for cleaning, which will remove excess moisture and rid the product of dirt.

But our great-great-grandmothers used a very bloodthirsty, but at the same time reliable and effective way to clean pearls. Russian housewives fed the pearls to the chicken, inside it it “cleansed itself”, after which the belly of the pestle was ripped open … and the broth was prepared in clean beads.

Of course, doing everything yourself and not being afraid to experiment is great. But still, with regard to the care of precious stones and metals, the recommendations agree on one thing - use the knowledge of professionals. Still, we are not talking about cheap jewelry, and it is not worth saving on the care of valuable and sometimes rare jewelry. Experienced jewelers are familiar with all the peculiarities of the interaction of gold, silver, platinum and stones with various cleaning agents. They will find the right pastes and sprays for your jewelry that will not harm you. And you look carefully, remember and then you will be able to repeat the "sacrament" on your own and without the risk of spoiling your favorite things.