Jewelry Spring Cleaning Tips
Venture into the spring season with a clean slate! Spring-cleaning has become a ritual that many practice to spruce up their homes from top to bottom. While people take note of their clogged gutters and dusty floorboards, part of our homes that is often overlooked when it comes to cleaning is the contents of a jewelry box.
Although diamonds are considered indestructible, when they're set in a ring, necklace or other jewelry and exposed to everyday grime, they can be vulnerable to chipping, tarnishing and not shining as brightly as they originally did. We've put together some simple tips to help keep your diamond's Sure Sparkle™ factor alive.
1. Apply your makeup and lotions before putting on your diamond jewelry. Exposure to creams, oils, hair products and other substances can cause buildup that will dull your diamond's luster and sparkle.
2. Always remember to remove jewelry when doing rough housework or when working out. This can prevent the diamond from accidentally banging on a hard surface and chipping.
3. If your diamond has become tarnished, use a solution of warm water mixed with a few drops of ammonia to soak your diamond jewelry and gently scrub the stone with an old, soft-bristled toothbrush. Whatever you do, do not use toothpaste to clean your precious jewelry, which many people believe is the best cleaning option! Toothpaste can actually damage your diamonds, gemstones and gold.
4. Take caution with antiques: These settings are usually more fragile so instead of a toothbrush, use a lint-free cloth to gently buff away dirt and tarnish of an aged diamond.
5. Wear rubber gloves when cleaning around the house. Harsh chemicals such as chlorine bleach can damage and discolor the mounting of your diamond and even dissolve the metal!
6. When you're not wearing your diamond jewelry, keep it in a fabric lined jewelry case of a jewelry box with compartments. It's important to keep jewelry separate in order to keep the diamond from getting scratched by another piece of jewelry.
Finally, to ensure your diamond is in tip-top shape, make an appointment with your trusted jeweler at least once a year. A knowledgeable jeweler will be able to check your ring and other diamond jewelry for loose prongs and wear of mountings. If you follow these tips, your diamonds will shine just as brightly as the first day you wore them.
