How To Clean Your Jewellery
With all the extra hand cleaning these days, we know our clients have questions about how to clean their jewellery, too. Hereâs our best advice.
At Diamond Design, we always encourage regular cleaning of your jewellery. This is even more important now during the COVID-19 pandemic.
At Diamond Design weâve always encouraged regular cleaning of your jewellery in order to keep your collection looking its best.
During the COVID-19 pandemic it is especially important to not only clean your jewellery but disinfect it as well, every time you wear it. This includes rings, bracelets, neckpieces and earrings (ie, anything your hands may come in contact with).
Unless your watch is 100% waterproof (and therefore washable), we recommend not wearing it at this time, as it is a prime location for germs to collect.
The following are answers to some common questions about jewellery cleaning and the Coronavirus.
Our best advice: donât be afraid to clean vigorously and often. Gold and platinum jewellery can undergo extensive cleaning, even withstanding the high temperatures used in steam cleaning â the method used by most jewellers to professionally clean fine jewellery.
The only gemstones that cannot hold up to this intense cleaning are some pieces containing coloured stones, opals, pearls, tourmalines or emeralds. You may wish to avoid wearing such pieces for the time being (although we fully support rocking your whole jewellery wardrobe in the safety of your own home â even when youâre in sweatpants!).
To clean your jewellery, you can use any kind of commercial jewellery cleaner or soap and hot water. Letâs jump in.
How to Clean Jewellery
The general advice for cleaning any kind of jewellery is to use hot water and mild dish soap. We recommend you use a small bowl in the sink and make sure the drain is covered to avoid losing items!
Soap your jewellery well, scrub all over, rinse, and then inspect underneath all stone settings and inside any engravings.
For dirt and stubborn grime like lotion, sunscreen, and soap buildup, use an old toothbrush to get into all the nooks and crannies.
Youâll likely have to repeat a few times to dissolve all grime and to be sure they are thoroughly clean.
If youâre like us, youâre probably using more hand moisturizer these days, along with washing your hands more. Allow time for the lotion to absorb before putting your jewellery back on. Make washing the rings you are wearing part of this process.
Our best advice: donât be afraid to clean vigorously and often.
After washing, be sure to allow your jewellery to dry completely, because trapped moisture is a common source of skin irritation.
We generally recommend you clean your jewellery every few weeks to keep your investment and heirloom pieces looking their best.
During this health epidemic, we recommend you do this even more often to ensure your jewellery remains clean. This type of cleaning will not kill bacteria or germs, but it will help remove them physically, the same way soap and water does when you wash your hands.
Common Questions
Should I take my rings, bracelets and watch off when washing my hands?
Yes! To make sure no germs remain trapped underneath your jewellery, it is important to remove your rings, bracelets and watches before washing your hands.
But be careful not to immediately put it all back on afterwards â youâll just contaminate your hands again! Thatâs why washing your jewellery should now be part of your regular hand washing routine.
How do I disinfect my jewellery?
If youâd like to disinfect your jewellery, you can use regular household isopropyl alcohol or hydrogen peroxide, as long as the jewellery is solid gold or platinum and is only set with diamonds, rubies, or sapphires. Take care with any other types of stones and use a gentler form of cleaning like outlined above.
Can I use hand sanitizer on jewellery?
Yes, products like hand sanitizers can be used while wearing jewellery. Since gold and platinum are fine metals, they are hard surfaces and can be treated as such.
But note that just rubbing hand sanitizer on your hands will not sanitize the jewellery itself â germs can stay hidden on the inside surfaces. This is why it is best to clean the jewellery itself separately.
Listen to the Experts
Finally, as with everything related to COVID-19, always listen to medical authorities for best practices. We all know that hand hygiene is one of our best defences, and we hope this encourages you to consider the hygiene of your jewellery as well!
Like many businesses during this time, our showroom is currently closed. We are still serving customers via phone and email. Please feel free to reach out any time at (709) 754-9497 or contact@diamonddesign.com, for ideas or to arrange for pickup, delivery, or gift certificates. Learn more about our services during this time here. In the meantime, please take care of yourselves and each other.
