Fig 1. Cleaning gold earrings at home
Every woman is a princess and should shine. But if the jewelry in your favorite treasure box has faded, and the stones have lost their royal luster – this is not a cause for grief, but a reason to roll up your sleeves. After all, princesses can do everything – to teach the dragon to bring slippers, to convince the knight not to throw socks around the apartment. And every princess must know how to clean gold earrings.
It is said that gold does not tarnish or darken if it is the right high grade gold. But in general, this is not entirely fair. First, because gold is an alloy. The precious metal itself does not change properties under the influence of oxygen and other factors, but the components of the ligature can. This happens especially quickly with jewelry (and here the speakers are right) of relatively low grade – for example, 375. Another point is if the piece is a favorite and is worn often. Constant contact with the skin leaves its mark. But all this is correctable. How to clean gold earrings at home? We turn the problem into a task, and successfully solve it royally easy.
If the earrings are without stones
The first thing you need to do before cleaning gold earrings at home is to divide the jewelry into two groups. In one side put aside products without inserts, in the other – those that have at least one stone: diamond, fianite, topaz and others.
How to clean carnation earrings and other gold jewelry without inserts from dirt, we have already told in the article “How to clean gold at home”. And now we will talk about what to do with diamond jewelry, earrings with fianites, pearls and other precious minerals. Take notes, dear princesses.
If earrings with stones
Jewelry with stones are capricious and they need to be cleaned especially carefully. Especially careful attitude requires fragile gems: turquoise, tourmaline, opal, pearls, coral, amber and others. But diamonds, phianites and sapphires can be treated less delicately – they are stronger.
Before cleaning, be sure to inspect each earring, assess the condition of the stones (whether there are cracks, scuffs and other defects, whether the gems are securely fixed, etc.) and the degree of contamination.
Soap solution
Fig 2. Soap solution
This method is good for any stones, especially soft and fragile. Prepare a solution of 0.5 liters of water and a mild, neutral detergent. Well suited, for example, baby shampoo, sulfate-free shower gel. Do not use laundry soap – it has a high concentration of alkali, and alkali for stones is destructive.
Next, soak the earrings in the solution for half an hour, then take out and lightly wipe with a cloth or soft brush. After that, dry on a cotton cloth and polish with a piece of velvet or flannel. Do not dry jewelry in the sun – this can also have a detrimental effect on the condition of the inserts.
And one more remark. Even such a delicate method is not suitable for turquoise, opal, coral, amber. These minerals can be cleaned only dry method: polishing with chamois or soft cloth. It is better to entrust it to a professional.
Ammonia and gasoline
Fig 3. Methanol
Another method involves the use of ammonia and gasoline. Suitable to clean earrings with hard stones: zircon, topaz, garnet, aquamarine, amethyst, rauchtopaz, ruby or spinel. To prepare the solution, you will need 0.2 liters of water, a drop of liquid soap or other mild detergent, and 10 milliliters (2 teaspoons or 200 drops) of ammonia. The concentration of alcohol can be less if the dirt is not very strong.
Make the solution and stir well. Dip the earrings in the liquid and leave for half an hour. Then take out, wipe the most contaminated areas with gasoline (use a soft cloth or cotton bud) and rinse well with warm water. Refuse treatment with gasoline if you are not sure of the strength of the gem. Important condition: the temperature of the solution and water for rinsing – no higher than 25 degrees. Stones (any, except diamonds) poorly tolerate heating.
Medical and ammonia alcohol
Fig 4. Medical alcohol
Diamonds and sapphires can be cleaned with rubbing alcohol or ammonia. Medical alcohol will help if the jewelry needs to be “brought to life” immediately. For example, you are going to the theater, open the jewelry box and … Well, you know. To correct the situation in an emergency, soak a cotton swab or disk in alcohol (you can use perfume or cologne, if alcohol is not at hand) and wipe the jewelry. It will shine like new again.
It will take longer with ammonia. Before using it, you need to dilute it halfway with water, and then leave the jewelry in the solution for a quarter of an hour. After that, rinse the earrings with warm water, dry and polish.
Contact lens cleaner
Fig 5. Solution for contact lenses
The method of cleaning “jewelry” with inserts by means for soft contact lenses has proved to be excellent. The solution contains components that gently and gently soften contaminants and remove them. Fill any container with lens solution and leave the earrings in it overnight. Then follow the standard scheme: rinse, dry, polish. This method is suitable for all precious and semi-precious stones.
Sugar syrup
Fig 6. Sugar syrup
This is a rather delicate method that will not harm most gemstones and will restore their luxurious luster. Sugar can be used in any way – at least cane sugar. Or beet sugar. Pour 2 tablespoons of sand into a cup, add 220-250 milliliters of warm water and stir very well. Then immerse the earrings in the solution and leave for 7-8 hours. Then rinse, dry and polish.
Lipstick
Fig 7. Lipstick
Cleaning white and colored diamonds … with lipstick gives a good result. Lipstick contains titanium dioxide, an active ingredient that breaks down impurities. Thickly smear the product with lipstick (take the one that is not too bad), and then polish with a flannel.
List of contraindications: how not to clean gold earrings with stones
In order not to wonder after cleaning the eternal “who is to blame and how to fix it?”, keep a list of what you can not do with stones.
If you have even the slightest doubt that your favorite earrings with precious inlays will survive the cleaning, do not take the risk, dear princesses, and do not try to save the royal treasury. A miser pays twice, and in most cases it is impossible to restore a spoiled gem. It is better to go to a jewelry workshop and entrust your treasures to professionals.