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Source: Good Housekeeping

Do DIY jewellery cleaning tips really work? yes. You’ll be amazed at how much better your jewellery looks after you give it a good clean.

With Christmas party season approaching, now’s the perfect time to polish up your jewelry so it really sparkles.

Did you know that rings, necklaces and earrings can gather up dust, oil from the skin and all sorts of muck making them look dull and dirty?

And less-than-brilliant bling can really spoil your party look. So here, we reveal some easy tips to make your prized possessions shine…

DO use a soft touch on diamonds. They may be the hardest mineral on earth, but keep in mind that diamonds are rare, natural stones. Handle them with care. Don’t scrub them aggressively when cleaning or use excessive force when handling them.

DO treat your diamonds and gems to a regular soak. Weekly cleaning with mild soap, warm water and a gentle scrub with an old toothbrush is the best (and cheapest) way to ensure your diamonds looks their best. Always clean diamonds in a bowl, not over a sink. A loose stone could disappear down the drain. But this treatment is not advised for pearls as it may leave them looking dull!

DO use a Dazzle Stik.
 These nifty little pens are just incredible. It might sound like just another gimmicky thing. Just dip the brush end into water, screw the top so the blue micro-cleaning gel comes out, then brush your jewelry, and rinse and pat dry. Ta-dah!

Silver DIY clean
 Don’t use this method on silver jewelry set with gems or diamonds as they could get damaged – only use it on the metallic part of silver jewelry. Line a ceramic bowl with tin foil, with the shiny side up. Fill the bowl with water, add a teaspoon of baking powder, a teaspoon of salt and a dash of white vinegar. Then place your silver in the mixture for five minutes and voila, your jewelry will have its shine back.

DON’T over-handle your diamonds. Diamonds attract the oil that’s naturally produced by your skin. This in turn gathers a layer of dust particles that makes a diamond look dull. When handling or putting on your earrings, jewellers recommend you wear cotton gloves! Same, if you’re polishing your ring’s band – but you can just hold on to the diamond with a lint-free cloth instead of your fingers.

DON’T let diamonds rub together. They are the hardest mineral on earth, but one diamond can easily scratch and damage another. Always, ALWAYS store diamonds in an appropriate jewelry box, carefully separated so they don’t touch each other.

DON’T expose diamonds or gems to sudden temperature changes. This is especially important if your gemstone or diamond has inclusions. They may not respond well to sudden contact with hot water, and any existing natural fissures might cause the stone to break open. When cleaning, use lukewarm water first and then slowly graduate to warm water.

DON’T use chlorine and other abrasive or corrosive solutions. This is particularly good advice if your diamond is set in jewelry. Metals are easily eroded by chemicals. For this reason it’s a good idea to remove jewelry before getting into a chlorinated pool.



Article Source: http://news.thediamondstore.co.uk/2015/11/10/diy-jewellery-cleaning-tips/