Natural Jewelry Cleaners for Jewelry Care

Most commercially produced jewelry cleaners are safe for your jewelry provided the instructions are followed and care is taken to use the appropriate cleaner on the recommended type of jewelry and gemstones you are cleaning.   Some commercially produced jewelry cleaners can be very harsh on your precious and costume jewelry.  With that said, we hunted down some recipes that you can use to clean your own jewelry with and know that it is safe and your lovely pieces will not be damaged.  There are two different recipes below for different jewelry pieces.

Recipe One: This recipe is not for soft natural stones like pearls or opals, etc. Make your own jewelry cleaner by adding 1 tsp of baking soda to approx. 1 tsp vinegar and about 1/2 cup of water, stir until baking soda dissolves completely. You can soak your jewelry in this such as hard gemstones and metals. Let it soak for about five minutes. You can then use a soft brush or old soft toothbrush to scrub the jewelry lightly. Rinse in warm water and dry using a soft cloth. (Note: Do not use the baking soda directly on any jewelry as it will scratch your pieces.)

Recipe Two: If your rings are like mine, they are exposed to hairspray on a regular basis. This is a very safe and simple natural process to clean your jewelry pieces. Take 1 cup of hot water and add in 1/2 tsp of natural liquid soap.  Let your pieces soak and scrub them lightly with a soft brush after soaking, rinse and buff with a soft cloth.

Take care when cleaning your jewelry.  If you are not sure of what it is made of, clean your piece by hand with a bit of hot water and a cotton swab.  Do not submerse any pieces that are old, contain a backing of foil or that are hand strung like beads or pearls.

By using natural ingredients in your cleaning mixtures, you will lessen any chemical reactions that may occur, but always use the safest route when it comes to your precious pieces.

by Jasmine Yesak, Contributing Editor at ChasingTreasure.com, online retailer of quality jewelry boxes, jewelry organizers and watch boxes. Jasmine is a Jewelry Enthusiast and Organization Consultant, she writes about Jewelry Care and Jewelry Storage Tips.