4 Simple Jewelry Cleaners You Can Make Yourself

Over time, your jewelry can lose its shine due to the buildup of lotions, oils, and dirt. While you can take your items to a jewelry store for a professional cleaning, there are also cleaners you can make yourself for use at home. Try these simple do-it-yourself jewelry cleaners that use everyday household products.

Dish Soap Soak

Mild dish soap is perfect for cleaning jewelry or your engagement ring. For this DIY cleaner, you will need mild dish soap, a bowl of warm water, a soft-bristled toothbrush, and a lint-free cloth.

1. Squirt a small amount of dish soap into a bowl of warm water.
2. Let the piece of jewelry sit in the soapy mixture for 15 to 30 minutes.
3. Use a soft-bristled toothbrush to lightly brush away dirt from the setting, stones, or anywhere else where grime has collected.
4. Rinse with warm water.
5. Dry the jewelry with a microfiber or lint-free cloth.

Baking Soda Cleaning Paste

Baking soda mixed with water to form a paste is another great mild cleaning option to clean dirty jewelry. For this, you will need baking soda, a small mixing bowl, water, a soft-bristled toothbrush, and a lint-free cloth.

1. Mix a small amount of baking soda and water in a bowl to create a paste.
2. Place a small amount of the baking soda paste on the jewelry and gently rub using your finger or a soft-bristled toothbrush.
3. Rinse away the baking soda paste with warm water.
4. Dry with a microfiber or lint-free cloth.

Ammonia Soak (Diamond Jewelry Only)

For a much stronger cleaner that is appropriate only for diamond jewelry, you can use ammonia. Even diluted ammonia can damage other gem stones. You will need ammonia, a small bowl, warm water, a soft-bristled toothbrush, and a lint-free cloth.

1. Mix 1 part ammonia to 5 parts warm water in a small bowl.
2. Let your diamond ring soak for 15 to 30 minutes.
3. Use a soft-bristled toothbrush to scrub away dirt.
4. Rinse with warm water.
5. Towel dry with a lint-free cloth.

Aluminum Foil Soak for Tarnished Silver Jewelry

To remove the tarnish from silver jewelry, this method uses a chemical process known as ion transfer to remove the tarnish and restore the shiny silver finish. You will need a baking pan, aluminum foil, salt, baking soda, mild dishwashing detergent, and hot water.

1. Line a baking pan with a sheet of aluminum foil, and place your silver jewelry onto the foil.
2. Sprinkle 1 tablespoon of salt, 1 tablespoon of baking soda, and 1 drop of mild dish detergent onto the baking pan and pour in enough hot water to cover the jewelry.
3. After the silver has soaked for 10 minutes, flip the jewelry pieces over and leave then soak for another 10 minutes.
4. Remove the silver jewelry from the dish and rinse with water before drying with a cloth.

Do not use a soft-bristled brush to further clean sterling silver jewelry; it is a soft metal that can scratch easily.