Whether you’re looking to show it off or sell it, jewelry looks considerably better when it’s clean. With age and wear, your gold and silver accessories accumulate dirt and their shine can become dulled by contact with your soaps and lotions. The following will show you how to quickly restore their sparkle. 

Gold

Clean gold bracelets, necklaces, and earrings easily by giving them a bath in warm, soapy water and letting them soak for five minutes. Afterward, relocate them to a cloth. Any dirt that was caked on is now soft and will easily wipe away with a rag or soft-bristled toothbrush. When you’re done cleaning them up by hand, place them into a strainer and rinse them off under running water. Buff each piece dry with a soft cloth. 

For older pieces that need a little more care, place them into a bowl and cover them with white vinegar. Soak them for about 15 minutes, swishing the water around in the bowl every few minutes to agitate it. Scrub the pieces with a soft-bristled toothbrush as you take them out of the solution to remove any lingering dirt and grime before rinsing them off with water. 

Silver

Silver tarnishes over time, leaving darkened spots. This is the result of a chemical reaction as copper, a common component of silver jewelry, and sulfur from the air, react to each other.

The quickest and easiest way to eliminate these imperfections is by reversing the reaction. Line a bowl with aluminum and drop your silver pieces in, spreading them out so every piece is touching the foil. Boil enough water to cover them and pour them over the top of the jewelry. For every cup of water, add a tablespoon of baking soda. Soak the silver for ten minutes before removing it and allowing the piece to air dry. 

Gemstones

While a simple soapy water bath will usually do the trick for cleaning up gemstones set in gold and silver, dirty gemstones may need a little more help. Swap out the water for seltzer water instead and allow them to soak for five minutes. The carbonation is useful for removing debris trapped in the facets. Take a soft-bristled toothbrush to each piece and rinse them. Restore their shine by buffing each piece with a soft cloth. 

Thinking about selling or pawning some of your jewelry pieces? Moore Pawn & Furniture in Lincoln, NE, offers competitive prices for your gold, silver, and diamonds. They take the time to fairly assess the worth of each piece and will offer up to $50,000 in cash loans, depending on the value. Learn more about their services online or call them today at (402) 477-5116 with questions.