Homemade Jewelry Cleaner: How to Make Jewelry Cleaner

It is very important to keep jewelry clean and sparkling. Jewelry looks dull if it is not cleaned regularly. A good cleaner helps to keep the jewelry in a good condition; however, it is very important to choose your cleaner correctly. A strong cleaning solution can not only cause harm to your jewelry but also to your hands. Nowadays, various types of jewelry cleaning devices are available in the market, such as ultrasonic and jewelry steam cleaners. Ultrasonic jewelry cleaners are electronically operated, and help your jewelry retain its original shine. However, it is always safer to clean the jewelry at home, instead of using any electronic device. Sometimes, delicate jewelry like diamonds or precious stones may get fractured in the cleaning machine. Homemade jewelry cleaners are not only cheaper but also more effective than the commercial ones you get in the market. So, here are a few for you to try out.

Ammonia and Detergent Cleaner for Gold and Diamond Jewelry
You need,

• Water, 1 cup
• Detergent, 2 tbsp.
• Ammonia, tsp.

Procedure
Take a cup of water in a bowl, add the ammonia and detergent. Mix it properly and your jewelry cleaner is ready! Just be careful when you add ammonia because it has a pungent odor. You need to immerse your jewelry in the solution for about 10 minutes, clean the intricate filigree with a soft-bristled brush, rinse well, and pat dry with a soft cloth.

Caution: Do NOT use this solution to clean jewelry that is made of or has amber, coral, jade, lapis lazuli, malachite, opal, pearl turquoise, or any other soft or porous stone embedded in it.
Baking Soda and Detergent Cleaner for Metallic, Shell, and Pearl Jewelry
You need,

• Water, 1 cup
• Dish detergent, 1 tbsp.
• Salt, 1 tbsp.
• Baking soda, 1 tbsp.

Procedure
First, heat the water for two minutes. Cover the base of a glass bowl with aluminum foil and pour the water into it. Add baking soda, salt, and dish detergent. Mix well. Keep your gold-filled, brass, German nickel or silver, sterling silver, shell, freshwater pearl, or mother of pearl jewelry immersed in the solution for 5 to 10 minutes, rinse thoroughly in cold water and dry with a soft cloth.
Vinegar and Flour Paste for Silver, Copper, and Brass Jewelry
You need,

• White vinegar, 2 cups
• Flour, cup
• Salt, 2 tsp.

Procedure
Commingle the three ingredients well to form a smooth paste. Apply it uniformly on your jewelry pieces and leave it on for 15 - 20 minutes. After that, immerse your jewelry in warm water for a while and then use a soft-bristled brush to clean the crevices of the items. Rinse with cold water and then pat dry.
Other Viable Options

• Use 70% isopropyl alcohol to remove oil and grease from jewelry (esp. gold ones) and then wash them with cold water.
• Brushing your silver jewelry with a little non-gel white toothpaste on a soft-bristled toothbrush for 5 - 7 minutes gives good results. After that, rinse and pat dry.
• Soak silver trinkets in piping hot tea for about 10 minutes, scrub them softly with a soft-bristled brush with some toothpaste on it, and finally, rinse them with some warm water and pat dry with a soft towel.
• Immerse silver jewelry in gruel (the white starchy water left behind after boiling rice) for a while, use a soft bristled brush to clean the intricate filigree, rinse with hot water, and polish dry with a towel.

It is also good sense to always use mild detergents and chemicals to clean jewelry. Use plastic hand gloves while cleaning jewelry because some detergents might cause allergic reactions. Use a soft-bristled toothbrush to clean the jewelry. Avoid using any bleach or acid for such purposes. Dispose the jewelry cleaning solution after use because its effectiveness decreases after the first time itself. The mud and grease makes it rather cloudy and thus unusable. Make a fresh batch for the next time.

Try cleaning your jewelry with the options mentioned above. They will definitely bring a new luster to your precious bits and get the sparkle back!