Cleaning your Jewelry!

Posted by Port City Jewelers on May 10th 2015

Cleaning & Maintaining You Jewelry

Home Cleanings:

Keeping your jewelry cleaned is the easiest method of maintaining your fine jewelry at home.  Regular cleanings can help remove dirt and oils from every day wear.  Lotions and perfumes that are used daily can reside on top of your gemstones and diamonds leaving a film on top of your valued jewelry.  Here is a little secret of the trade to keep your diamonds and gemstones cleaned at home. 

First do not buy jewelry cleaner.  Why would anyone pay that much for water and a little soap?  At www.portcityjewelers.com we use Mr. Clean All Purpose Cleaner (yes Mr. Clean) mixed with water.  The ratio is 3/4 parts water and 1/4 part Mr. Clean. We really like the green version.  Most all jewelers in the trade will use this solution in their ultrasonic cleaning machines to help cut down the abrasives used when finishing and polishing a ring.    All you need to do at home is place your fine jewelry in a bowl with the solution for about 2-3 minutes and let them soak.  Then when you remove them just use an old toothbrush (not your current one...gross) and softly brush around the gemstones and diamonds.  Then rinse thoroughly and dry.  You will be amazed!

What gemstones are safe for this method you ask?  

  • Diamonds
  • NSCD Diamonds
  • Moissanite by Charles & Colvard
  • CZ's
  • Sapphires 
  • Rubies
  • Topaz

Un-Safe Gemstones:

  • Pearls (never submerge pearls in any liquids)
  • Opals
  • Emeralds 
  • other semi-precious gemstones not mentioned in the "safe list".

Please take your gemstones mentioned above to a professional jeweler to have them cleaned properly.  

Professional Cleanings:

It is recommended that you have your fine jewelry inspected and cleaned every 6 months at your local jeweler.  When you stop in you will get a complimentary cleaning and a thorough inspection of your prongs.  Your jeweler will also check for any loose stones and may even recommend prong work to help maintain your ring so you will not loose any gemstones or diamonds in the future.  And who knows maybe there will be something you cannot live without while your waiting!  

We hope you have enjoyed this article and if you did please subscribe to our newsletter on our site!  Have a great day!


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