Jewellery should be cleaned regularly to ensure that it retains its shine. Tips for cleaning gold, pearls and silver.

 

 

Cleaning gold jewellery

Although gold does not tarnish to the same extent as silver, it develops a thin film over time due to body oils and environmental influences, which makes it look slightly dull. To make the gold shine again, it should be soaked occasionally in warm water with a splash of washing-up liquid. After soaking for a few minutes, gently rub the gold jewellery with a soft toothbrush. Rinse the detergent off briefly under warm water and place the gold on a paper towel to dry.

For stubborn discolouration, place the gold in a mixture of 1:1 cold water and ammonia and leave to soak for half an hour. Then rub the stain with a soft toothbrush and rinse under cold water.

 

Keeping pearl necklaces clean

The value of a pearl depends to a large extent on its colour and lustre, as well as the thickness of the mother-of-pearl layer. Pearls are very sensitive to chemicals and salts and should therefore be wiped with a soft, damp cloth after each wear. This removes perspiration, cosmetics and perfume, which can penetrate the surface of the pearls and damage them. Make-up, perfume and hairspray should always be applied before putting on the pearl necklace.

 

For occasional thorough cleaning, wipe the beads with a cloth moistened with warm water and a little mild soap and then rub dry with a paper towel. Beads must not be soaked and should not be hung up to dry. Scrape off stubborn stains with your fingernail. Fingernails have a hardness of 2.5 Moh or less; pearls between 2.5 and 4.5 Moh, so they are unlikely to be damaged by fingernails.

 

Polishing silver jewellery

Chemical silver polish is toxic and smells unpleasant. Instead of chemicals, use conventional household remedies: Place a piece of aluminium foil in a container and sprinkle with salt and baking powder. Fill the container with warm water and place the silver jewellery in it. The clouding will transfer to the aluminium foil and make the silver shine beautifully.