How To Clean Your Jewellery: The Eco-Friendly Way

How To Clean Jewellery

Whether it’s the jewellery you wear every day or a treasured piece that only comes out on special occasions, all of our most loved jewellery can tarnish.

A question that we get asked a lot is how to clean your jewellery so we have put together a guide to our favourite eco-friendly methods. Before I get into it, some of you may be asking, what is tarnished jewellery?

Tarnishing is the oxidisation on metal, making it appear slightly blackened and dull in colour. It starts to happen over time when items are left exposed to oxygen; something that can’t really be avoided. It also occurs on jewellery when it comes in contact with things like make-up, lotions, sweat, body oils, chlorine and other outside substances.

But rest assured, this doesn’t mean your jewellery is ruined, it just needs a little clean.

We always suggest avoiding harsh cleaning products with nasty chemicals as most will actually damage and weaken your jewellery. The cleaning tips below are the most effective, non-toxic jewellery cleaning methods to make your jewellery sparkle again.

Solid Gold and Silver Jewellery

This jewellery cleaning method can be used on any solid gold and silver pieces, from high polish to matt finish to safely brighten up your jewellery and remove any darkened areas that may have appeared.

What You Need

Aluminium foil
1tsp baking soda
Ceramic or glass dish
Boiling water
A soft toothbrush
A soft, lint-free cloth

Step One

Line your dish with aluminium foil and place your tarnished jewellery carefully inside, then sprinkle in the baking soda and cover with boiling water.

Let it bubble and fizz for up to 15 minutes (please note the smell is normal, this is the sulphur being removed from your jewellery).

Silver Twisted Rings and Silver Pendant Necklace

Step Two

Remove from the dish, rinse well with water and allow the pieces to air dry on a clean soft cloth.

If further cleaning is needed, use a soft toothbrush and mild eco-friendly soap, free from ammonia.

Gold Plated Jewellery

This is my favourite jewellery cleaning hack to keep your gold plated jewellery collection shining for years to come.

If you find your gold plated jewellery is starting to fade in colour, this may be because the gold plate needs re-plating. We offer a re-polish & re-plating service to restore your ANUKA pieces.

Re-plating services

What You Need

Warm water
Mild/non-abrasive soap
A soft toothbrush
A soft lint-free cleaning cloth

How to clean gold vermeil plated jewellery

Method

Dip your toothbrush into warm, soapy water and gently clean your jewellery. Once you think it is nice and clean, dry and polish the piece with your cloth.

Sapphire and Diamond Solid Gold Band. Bespoke jewellery designer based in Tarporley, Cheshire, bespoke engagement rings, wedding bands and jewellery remodelling

Jewellery With Stones

When it comes to cleaning jewellery with hard stones, so any pieces with diamonds, sapphires or rubies, the baking soda jewellery cleaning method is the best option. This can be seen above.

I would then recommend following this up with by cleaning around the settings with a soft toothbrush and then rinsing with cold water.

Pearl Jewellery

Pearls are very delicate and easily damaged so require a lot of care when cleaning.

As pearls are often set with glue, you should avoid getting them wet as this puts a strain on them, the cleaning your jewellery with baking powder method should NOT be used here.

Pearls require regular maintenance, so simply wipe the pearls with a soft cloth every time you take them off to remove any body oil and other debris that might be on the surface.