The combination of frigid weather and a brand new year always gets us itching for a project, ideally something that’s both easy and rewarding - like pulling out all your jewelry and getting it clean and sparkling. Most people tend to be pretty lax when it comes to keeping their jewelry clean (us included!), but it’s something you can do with very few materials and very little brain power - just put on a movie and go to town, and by the time the credits roll, your Precious will look as good as the day you became so instantly bedeviled by its dark magic that you committed murder to possess it, leading to your 500-year exile in the depths of the Misty Mountains and setting in motion events that would ultimately steer the fate of Middle Earth. What?
Most jewelry can be cleaned the same way, but there are a few key differences that can make your task easier and keep your pieces intact. Hannah Keefe’s incredible creations, for example, are made of brass and sterling silver that, unlike in most commercial jewelry, is used in its untreated form. This makes the pieces free of harsh chemical additions, but more susceptible to tarnishing with wear in reaction to heat, oils and liquids. To spruce up her pieces, Hannah recommends heating a small amount of apple cider vinegar, adding a couple dashes of salt, and submerging your piece, agitating for a few minutes before removing and washing with soap and water.
For the rest of your jewels, we asked our friend Kyla Ostler of The Pearl Scout for her expert tips; as a gemologist who specializes in sourcing and selling vintage, antique and estate jewelry, she’s cleaned more than your average number of pieces, and was happy to pass along her knowledge.
“Most jewelry can be cleaned at home with warm, soapy water using your kitchen dish soap - Dawn works especially well. Using a small ceramic bowl and a squirt of soap, let your jewelry sit for a few minutes then very gently use an old, soft toothbrush to scrub at any buildup. Pay attention to the backside of your rings, as this is where a lot of body oil, lotion and cookie dough (🤢) can accumulate. This is a really safe and gentle option for most fine gold and silver jewelry that includes diamonds, sapphires or hard stones like agate, onyx, lapis, jade, etc.”
“For more delicate pieces with softer gems like turquoise, pearl and opal, just wiping with a soft cloth and rinsing in lukewarm water should do it. No scrubbing or hot water for these guys! Anything that you know is antique, are unsure of the metal's purity, or you know is a plated or costume piece, don't soak it at all, as you don't want any of the finish or plating to come off - just use a soft damp cloth and gently wipe the piece. That goes for strands of pearls too; don't soak them, because you don't want the thread they're strung on to deteriorate. Lay these pieces on a dry washcloth or paper towel and let them air dry.”
“A general use polishing cloth is also a great option for jewelry of any kind - chains can really benefit from these. Sunshine cloths are sold at a lot of jewelry stores and don't require any water (you can find them on Amazon, but if you don't want to support plutocracy you can easily find them elsewhere by Googling). When I have time, I polish first with my cloth, then I put my pieces in the soapy solution for an extra super duper clean (but don't attempt to polish wet pieces, that won't work!).”
Thanks Kyla! You can also use your polishing cloth or soft toothbrush to add extra shine to your Hannah K pieces. And if you find yourself delighted by your freshly-sparkling jewelry and want to take things a step further to maintain their longevity, Kyla recommends having pieces you wear daily checked out at least once a year by a jeweler to make sure prongs and clasps are intact and secure.
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