There are some gems that should never be cleaned with anything containing ammonia, chemicals or harsh solvents as the gem can become discolored, pitted or damaged. If in doubt, simply clean the jewelry piece by wiping it down well with a clean cloth.

Chlorine can damage gold, platinum and some types of gems. Don’t wear jewelry in hot tubs, swimming pools or wear when cleaning with bleach.

Homemade Jewelry Cleaner Recipe

1 cup warm water
1 TBS ammonia
small squirt of Ivory dish detergent

• Mix ingredients then soak jewelry, clean with a soft jewelry brush. Dry fully before storing pieces.

Important: Here’s a gem care chart to review before using an ammonia based jewelry cleaner.

Another option: Just a mild soap and water solution will safely clean many different types of jewelry in most cases. Please review the gem care chart before doing so.

For sterling silver jewelry, I’ve seen recommendations to use baking soda or toothpaste to clean–but I’ve been told it’s a bad idea since that cleaning method can cause fine scratches that only a professional will be able to remove. And with great difficulty at that. Only silver cleaning cloths and polishes should be used.

Have a jeweler inspect your rings and jewelry pieces annually to check for loose stones and tighten clasps where necessary.

If you’re looking for information on how to clean & repair vintage and costume jewelry, here’s a page bursting with info: Sparklz.com

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