Taking proper care of your jewellery is the best way to keep it looking brand new for years to come. With hand washing and sanitising becoming ever more important, it’s always recommended that you remove your jewellery when doing so in order to prevent any dulling of your precious metals — after all, there’s nothing better than a sparkling diamond!

However, without properly cleaning your jewellery on a regular basis, you’re allowing germs and bacteria to build up, something that could cause you health problems and stop your jewellery from looking its best. In this blog, we’ll share our expert knowledge to help you revitalise your jewellery this Spring. 

How To Clean Your Jewellery 

Whilst the Queen may rely on her gin to keep her diamonds sparkling, we suggest taking your jewellery to a professional cleaner for the best results (especially with antique rings). However, if you’re looking for some DIY tips, it’s possible to keep your jewellery clean with these spring cleaning hacks.  

A word of warning: Make sure you don’t use abrasive materials when cleaning your jewellery as they could easily scratch or damage your item. You should also use gentle pressure rather than forcefully cleaning, as this could also lead to further damage.

How to clean diamonds;

    - Get a small bowl of warm (not hot) water and mix with any mild liquid detergent.

    - Brush your jewellery gently with a small soft brush and be careful not to scratch the metal and diamond.

    - Rinse thoroughly under water and pat dry with a soft lint-free cloth.

    - Use a quick dip liquid jewellery cleaner to keep your diamond jewellery shiny.

How to clean silver or gold jewellery;

    - Light tarnishing can be easily removed by using warm soapy water and brushing gently with a soft old or a children's toothbrush. 

    - Rinse in cool water and dry carefully with a soft lint-free cloth.

    - For silver, keep your silver jewellery shiny by using a silver cloth. 

How Often To Clean Your Jewellery

Forgetting to clean your jewellery not only affects the way your jewellery looks, but as bacteria builds, it has the potential to negatively impact your health. How often you should clean your jewellery depends on a variety of different factors, from how often they’re worn and the type of metal or stone, to the exposure of the jewellery piece. 

For jewellery you wear on a daily basis, such as your engagement ring or favourite pair of earrings, you should give them a gentle clean every couple of weeks to remove any build up of germs and keep them sparkling for longer. We recommend opting for a more thorough clean once a month and take it to be professionally cleaned every six months. 

Spring Cleaning Hacks To Keep Your Jewellery Sparkling

How To Store Your Jewellery

There are many things you can do to keep your jewellery looking newer for longer and avoid having to get costly repairs — and storage is key. In between regular cleaning, store your jewellery in a clean, dust-free location away from direct sunlight, such as the box it came in or a jewellery box with a soft lining. 

If you’re storing your precious jewellery in a jewellery box, make sure you avoid mixing the new with the old. Leaving your brand-new diamond alongside a tarnished gold chain is a bad idea; any tarnishing on the chain may transfer while your diamond could scratch other metals. To prevent moisture, reduce the chances of tarnishing and keep your jewellery in top condition, you could consider wrapping individual pieces in cloth.

When To Remove Your Jewellery

Our top tip is to make sure you always put your jewellery on last when getting dressed. That includes putting on aftershave, perfume, hair products or make-up beforehand, as the ingredients in these products can damage and dull your precious metals. It’s also important to remove any jewellery when washing your hands or taking a bath or shower; we don’t recommend leaving your jewellery submerged in water and products like shower gel and shampoo could cause damage.

Swimming in chlorine or salt water can also be corrosive to your jewellery, so if you’re taking a dip, leave your jewellery on the side lines. 

Will you be giving your jewellery a clean this Spring? We’d love to hear! Why not let us know on Instagram or Facebook?

For more articles like this check out the Hatton Jewellers blog.