This post coincides with Day 9 of my Instagram Challenge. Follow along as I post 31 days worth of tips for a more healthy, natural life.
You made it through the holidays, but is your sparkle off with the start of the year? Jazz up your jewelry today. I realized today how grimy my rings are…not a good look. Rather than spend the time and effort to take them to a formal jeweler, there are a handful of ways to clean your rocks and metals and bring back that extra glimmer we all need in the darkest days of winter.
Follow along for recipes and cleaning tips.
Please note, I do not use these recipes for plated, coated, or costume jewelry. I only use these for genuine, sterling silver, gold, or real stones. I do not recommend using this on costume pieces as it may wear the plating off your pieces.
There are a ton of options to use for cleaners, but I like a handful of basics.
Start with a simple clean. Use a soft-bristled brush and a bit of baking soda and vinegar. I like to wet my brush, apply soda to the brush, and scrub the jewelry gently, letting the soda clump into the crevices. Then I drop it into a small cup of vinegar and let the kids giggle hysterically at the “jewelry explosion” the chemical reaction creates. For really nasty pieces, you can use some Thieves cleaner, then scrub them again. Rinse well and pat dry.
Next option is the jewel polish.
Finally, there’s the “soap and salt in aluminum foil” recipe…which I’ve used mostly out of curiosity. I don’t think this is a good option for regular use, but I will acknowledge that the chemical reactions do a good job of getting tarnish off jewelry. I won’t include the recipe here, but it’s not hard to find on places like Pinterest. Use caution with it though!
What’s your favorite way to clean your jewelry? Let me know in the comments!
