Cleaning jewellery

**angel85** · 17-12-2009, 03:45 PM

Hi,
Clean jewellery properly is extremely important to making it survive decades. While just throwing it into a jar of commercial jewellery cleaning solution is the easiest answer, this isn’t always the safest and most effective method.The most important thing to consider in cleaning jewellery is the type of metal that the particular piece is made from. As every metal has different properties, each should be cleaned with solutions that will not damage the metal. Any one have any tips for specialist cleaning??? Tricks of the trade etc???

**Lisa Quinn** · 17-12-2009, 05:42 PM

I'm afraid I can't help you Angel, for cleaning old jewellery I use a hot soapy water and the ultrasonic. You can use cola which apparently cleans things brilliantly.

Sorry that I couldn't give you any really technical advice.

What is that you need to clean up?

**Fi Wilson** · 17-12-2009, 07:58 PM

I've got an ultrasonic cleaner but I've not used it since it's first outing when my pieces didn't seem to be any cleaner. Lisa, how hot does the hot soapy water need to be as I was advised to use warm water. Maybe that's were I was going wrong! Also bought some natural eco-friendly cleaning solution with it but I've only use a bit of Fairy with it so far.

Fi

**Lisa Quinn** · 17-12-2009, 08:40 PM

Originally Posted by indigoblue

I've got an ultrasonic cleaner but I've not used it since it's first outing when my pieces didn't seem to be any cleaner. Lisa, how hot does the hot soapy water need to be as I was advised to use warm water. Maybe that's were I was going wrong! Also bought some natural eco-friendly cleaning solution with it but I've only use a bit of Fairy with it so far.

Fi

To be perfectly honest my ultrasonic was a cheapy £30 one and is rubbish, so I just give stuff a scrub with hot soapy water and a toothbrush and then put it in the ultrasonic, but when I have used other ultrasonics at college they are quite hot which makes sense really, as rouge etc is greasy and they do really lift all the stubborn dirt off. A good ultrasonic is just one of the items on my wishlist.

**mizgeorge** · 17-12-2009, 08:44 PM

Chuck a little bit of ammonia in with some very hot water and a bit of cleaning solution (which leaves less of a film than Fairy) and it will do the job much better.

I'd love a big one, but it's yet another thing that needs plugging in, and more space, and something has to give

**Lisa Quinn** · 17-12-2009, 08:53 PM

Originally Posted by mizgeorge

I'd love a big one, but it's yet another thing that needs plugging in, and more space, and something has to give

Yet more evidence of our mutual tool lust George.

**Lou_85** · 17-12-2009, 09:33 PM

Hi,

Any tips on cleaning tarnished 925 snake chains? I've tried silver dip and tumble polishing etc...

If there is no hope for a tarnished snake chain can I put in my cooksons scrap pot?

Thanks

**Emerald** · 17-12-2009, 10:06 PM

Ho Lou welcome to the forum a silver cloth should get that nice and shiney, i am suprised the other things dident work though

**reeves** · 17-12-2009, 11:06 PM

We use polishing motors in the trade,you use different mop's and compounds i.e rouge,finish off with hot,warm ultrasonic which also has cleaning solution in it.

**AlexandraBuckle** · 18-12-2009, 09:43 AM

I have been cleaning my sterling jewellery with hot water, soda crystals and tin foil.

I'm no chemist so don't ask me how its works, but I line a container with tin foil, put the jewellery on top of the tin foil, sprinkle some soda crystals on top and then add hot water. It will fizz and bubble - it will help if you agitate it a bit, and then the tarnish will transfer from the silver to the tin foil.

I then rinse everything VERY thoroughly and dry it all, and wipe over with a silver cloth (in the hope that it will prevent it from tarninshing again too quick!)

It seems to work well.