Removing gilding from silver
Sometimes gilded plating is applied to silver items. After a certain period of wearing, you may want to change the appearance of the jewelry and make it completely silver. A similar need may also arise due to damage to the gilding. There are several guidelines for converting jewelry:
- The first method is based on the action of a strong oxidizing agent - "aqua regia", which has a very pungent odor. This composition is obtained by mixing high concentration nitric and hydrochloric acids. The proportions of the mixture are 1: 3.
- Another way is to use an electrolytic bath.
The top layer of the decoration is a varnish coating that can be removed with sulfuric acid, acetone, or alcohol.
Despite the effectiveness of both types of procedures, they are not recommended to be done at home without special skills in handling chemical compounds. There is a high risk of harm to health and property.
The easiest way to clean your jewelry with your own hands
There are special pastes designed for processing such products, as well as liquids with which any metal is cleaned, including gold and silver. But besides this, there are other tools at hand.
If there is no dusting on the metal jewelry, it is not made in the style of gold plated, etc., then it can be cleaned with baking soda. To do this, a little water is poured into it to make a paste. Then the gruel is applied to the product, left for a while and washed off. During the rinsing process, small particles of baking soda clean the surface.
Metallic decorative elements can be processed dry toothpaste or chalk in the same way as you brush your teeth, then rinse with water and wipe with a soft cloth
Just pay attention to whether stones are inserted into the metal, because some of them need to be cleaned in a special way.
Surgical steel is sometimes used to make jewelry. It does not rust and does not cause allergic reactions, but if you pour it with vinegar, the surface may turn black.
How to properly clean jewelry so that it shines like new: tips and tricks
Sometimes we get very used to some jewelry, we value them and want to extend their service life longer. This can be really achieved, you just need to follow a few rules:
- do not leave in the bathroom, remove before going to the shower or sauna;
- do not allow contact with perfume, nail polish remover and other corrosive substances;
- do not handle with dirty hands and remove before applying makeup or cream.
Store your jewelry in a not too cold place, protected from the sun and dust, as bright light has a detrimental effect on its structure. Do not allow high humidity, and if necessary, clean it, and then it can serve for more than a dozen years.
Material updated 02.08.2017
Simple jewelry and precious metal jewelry need proper care. Any stones lose their attractive appearance from prolonged use. Luckily, you can clean your jewelry to keep it shiny like new. There are proven and effective ways to do this.
Darkening of jewelry is the result of the negative effects of moisture and high temperature. If jewelry is improperly stored, it oxidizes, stones darken and lose their luster, paint or pollination cracks. To prevent cleaning from harming your favorite products, you first need to determine the material of manufacture. Some do not like water, others tolerate short-term water procedures well. As a material for the manufacture of jewelry used:
- copper;
- plastic;
- stainless steel treated with a special coating;
- semi-precious and artificial stones.
Today on sale there is a huge selection of care products for metal products, but the most effective and safe can be easily prepared at home:
- A solution of chalk and tooth powder will help to restore the previous appearance of darkened jewelry. To prepare it, you need to dilute 2 tablespoons of grated chalk in 100 ml of water. After 2-3 minutes, take out the jewelry and clean with a soft brush. Rinse off the remains with water and rub with a woolen cloth.
- The toothpaste applied to the jewelry works great on darkened areas.
- Silver is cleaned at home with a slurry of baking soda and water. The composition is applied to the surface, dries up for a few minutes, and then is cleaned with a toothbrush. At the end, the decoration must be rinsed and wiped dry.
Salmon helps to cope with darkened silver. Wipe the product with a dampened cloth and then polish with a dry cloth to a shine.
Shake the container from time to time to better drain the dirt. After the specified time has elapsed, the jewelry must be rinsed under running water. Only gentle cleaning is used for this type of product.
In no case should you use substances with abrasive elements, as the spraying can be abraded.
Products made of yellow metal are placed in a warm solution of soap, wiped well with a napkin and wiped off.
You can try cleaning the jewelry with a soft cloth dampened with wine vinegar. Then rinse and dry.
A spoonful of ammonia added to the mixture will bring back the shine to glassware, and contaminated cultured pearls are excellent for cleaning in a soapy solution.
Vinegar with fine salt will cleanse darkened copper jewelry. Another unusual, but effective recipe: grate garlic and then stir with a pinch of salt. Apply for 5 minutes, rinse with water, dry with a dry cloth.
If you are not sure about the naturalness of the stones, it is better not to wet them. Alternatively, you can take a soft cloth and polish the garment.
Storage of jewelry
In order for the product to please its owner for a long time, the jewelry must be properly looked after. Here are some important tips for storing jewelry correctly:
- Before showering, you must remove all jewelry from yourself. Also, you should not leave it in the bathroom, because the high level of humidity affects the condition of the products.
- Contact of jewelry with perfumed products is not allowed.
- Removing jewelry is mandatory before applying oily creams and makeup.
- For permanent storage, you should choose a corner protected from the sun and dust.
- Before removing the jewelry for a long time, it is recommended to clean the product.
Compliance with simple rules and regular care will help preserve the beauty of your favorite jewelry for a long time.
How to clean silver with blackening
Items made of blackened silver are distinguished by an abundance of decorative elements: recesses, grooves, ornaments.
Such items need regular care to remove dust, dirt, plaque.
To properly wash blackened silver at home:
- Pour 1 cup of warm water into a deep cup, add 2 tbsp. l. liquid soap.
- Add a pinch of salt.
- Mix thoroughly until the ingredients are completely dissolved.
- Immerse the silver in the solution and let it sit for 30 minutes.
- Clean the metal gently with a soft cloth.
If you need to freshen up dishes, candlesticks, rings, or any other flat product, use the quick cleaning method with a school eraser. Point the metal to a shine, being careful not to touch the blackened areas. Then, rinse with warm water, wipe dry with a soft cloth.
Old blackened silver heirlooms are more resistant to cleaning and polishing than new pieces of jewelry.Modern production technology involves the application of a thin film by a chemical method, which creates the effect of darkening individual areas. With active exposure, the coating wears off quickly, white spots appear.
Cleaning silver with stones
Before you clean the silver with stones, you need to determine which stone is installed in the ring or pendant:
- Dense minerals such as sapphire, emerald and aquamarine do not limit the choice of cleaning agent, but ammonia is recommended.
- If the decoration contains moonstone, turquoise, malachite or opal, then brushes, soda and other abrasive pastes are not used for cleaning. These stones are not very dense, so rubbing with abrasives will cause scratches. It is best to use soapy water for cleaning.
- To prevent pomegranate, topaz or ruby from changing their color, jewelry is washed only in cold water or a solution without heating. For things with such stones, an ammonia or soap solution is suitable. The minerals themselves are wiped with a cotton swab dipped in alcohol.
- Mother of pearl, amber and pearls need to be treated with care. They do not tolerate the effects of alcohol, alkaline and acidic solutions, as well as chlorinated tap water. That is why a cloth soaked in filtered boiled water is used for cleaning. If the stone is not glued, then a little soap can be added to the water.
- You can use potato starch to clean pearl jewelry.
How and what can be washed?
To keep your sink looking new and tidy, you should wash it daily. Steel is in constant contact with water, grease and other kitchen contaminants. This effect contributes to the darkening of the material and the appearance of a white coating on the surface of the shell. Daily cleaning is done with cleaning agents that can be replaced with regular dishwashing detergent and a soft sponge. It is necessary to process the device for washing household utensils and other items after each use procedure. To do this, apply detergent to the surface of the sink and wipe thoroughly with a washcloth. Then rinse the walls with clean water and wipe dry.
From dark spots
Such stains appear due to metal oxidation. If it was not possible to wash the stainless steel sink in the usual way, cleaning can be carried out in this way:
- Mix equal proportions of 6% vinegar, table salt, starch and dry bleach.
- Apply some substance to the sponge and the resulting stains.
- Carefully treat darkening and rinse with running water.
To prevent the dark spot from brightening excessively and not standing out after such a procedure, clean vinegar should be applied to the surface of the sink before cleaning, wait 20-30 minutes. and only then apply the funds. Light darkening will be removed by baking soda, with which problem areas are treated. Wait 20 minutes. and wash off with warm water.
How to get rid of stubborn dirt?
In the presence of a large amount of dirt and grease, it is necessary to clean the stainless steel sink urgently and thoroughly. The procedure should be carried out with an old toothbrush, dish gel, soda, salt and citric acid. Application:
- Close the sink with a plug and fill it fully with hot water.
- Pour all the ingredients into it and leave to cool completely.
- Without draining the water, use a toothbrush to remove plaque from the sink and its corrugated edges.
- After complete cleaning, drain the water and wipe dry.
To clean the fixture, each component can be used individually. Salt works well with greasy dirt. Baking soda is effective against any plaque and unpleasant odor. Vinegar or citric acid solution is used as a polish that will not leave soap streaks or other imperfections on the sink. In the fight against the remnants of old fat behind the sink, a vinegar and salt agent, which must be applied to the dirt, will help to cope, and then wait 30 minutes.and rinse with water.
How to remove the smell?
If the kitchen has unpleasant odors exuded by the sewer pipe, you can use store products such as "Mole", "Mister Muscle" for pipes, or other sold analogues. If there were no such drugs in the house, you can use a folk remedy that is no less effective. To do this, pour 150 g of baking soda into the sewer hole and pour it with a glass of 6% vinegar. The reaction will follow at the moment of hissing and abundant release of the formed foam. Such a product will unclog food blockages and absorb unpleasant odors.
Care advice
In order for jewelry to be beautiful and used for many years, it must be properly stored and looked after.
Having figured out how to clean the jewelry, it is important to follow several recommendations for care
- Store in a dry, moisture-free place.
- It is better to take off jewelry during cosmetic procedures.
- Avoid contact with cosmetics: perfumes, hair sprays, deodorants. The chemical composition of the products can give rise to a reaction, causing the product to darken.
Jewelry is easily vulnerable jewelry. For a long service life, you should follow the simple rules of storage and care:
- Accessories are afraid of water, household chemicals. Before chores, you need to remove them.
- It is recommended to remove and put items in the box before going to the sauna, showering, or taking a bath.
- Wearing products should be the last thing: avoid contact with perfumes, hair sprays, deodorants, creams.
- A separate box or cloth bag is required for storage. Each object is allocated its own place so that there is no contact with others. The moisture in the storage should be kept to a minimum. You cannot leave things in the bathroom.
- It is recommended to dry the products thoroughly after processing, polish if necessary.
It is important to remember that saving is easier than repairing or buying again. A line of industrial products for jewelry or available recipes allow you to keep accessories properly at home
Important recommendations
Start cleaning jewelry made of silver with gilding by degreasing. To do this, wipe the surface with ethyl, medical, denatured alcohol or water and vinegar (2 tablespoons per glass of water). This will remove greasy deposits, dust and other surface contamination.
If a gold-plated chain or bracelet has a non-precious metal clasp, it may rust on contact with water. Therefore, try not to immerse the part of the jewelry with a fastener in an aqueous solution for a long time, and wipe it dry after cleaning.
The final stage of cleaning silver with gilding is polishing. Run a piece of flannel or chamois leather over the surface to make it shine.
When all procedures are complete, allow your jewelry or cutlery to “rest” for a few days. During this time, a protective layer forms on the surface, and dirt will less adhere to it.
What can not be cleaned
Since the gilding layer on the silver item is thin and delicate, do not use the following cleaning agents:
- aggressive acids;
- hard brushes, sponges, fabrics;
- dry powders (chalk, tooth powder).
How to keep gold plating
Cleaning gold plated silver is half the battle! In order for it to delight you for a long time with its initial brilliance, follow a few simple rules:
- Sweat on the silver product can lead to oxidation, that is, the appearance of a dark coating. Therefore, be sure to remove jewelry from yourself when playing sports and other physical activities.
- Protect jewelry from creams, perfumes, cosmetics, household chemicals. All of them lead to damage to the top layer and the appearance of stains.
- Remove gold-plated jewelry before visiting the pool, sauna, swimming in the sea, showering and other water procedures in order to avoid the appearance of rust.
- Store gold plated silver in special jewelry boxes away from heating appliances, sunlight and dampness.
- Do not store silver in cardboard boxes. Certain types of board give off sulfur, which can oxidize the metal.
- Store silver with gilding and gold separately, as jewelry can also oxidize from such a neighborhood.
- After each use, wash gilded cutlery thoroughly with a soft sponge and wipe it with chamois or flannel until it shines.
Take good care of gilded silver, and it will delight you with its appearance for a long time!
How to clean rhodium plated silver
Rhodium-plated silver earrings or rings, with proper care, do not corrode, they retain their appearance longer and do not darken. To clean them at home, do not use ammonia, alkaline, or acidic products.
The most effective and safest method:
- Prepare a soap solution from any foaming composition (liquid soap, dish detergent, shampoo).
- If significant contamination is noticeable in the relief, fasteners, hard-to-reach places, leave the silver composition for 10-15 minutes. Rinse under running water.
- Blot with a soft microfiber or flannel cloth.
- To make the silver shine, apply a few drops of glycerin to a cotton swab, process the metal. Polish with velvet.
Soap and glycerin degrease the surface well, remove plaque and dirt, and restore shine. In addition, the method is safe for products with stones.
Download from YouTube how to clean medical alloy jewelry. How to clean jewelry from darkening
It is difficult to imagine a woman who has not worn jewelry at least once. In the process of use, jewelry loses its attractiveness and original appearance. There are many ways to clean jewelry, each of which has certain tricks and tricks.
Classification of jewelry
Despite the fact that all jewelry made of non-precious metals belong to costume jewelry, they are classified into groups depending on their purpose. You can find 3 types of jewelry on sale:
- Classic. Analogue of jewelry made of precious metals. Jewelry is made from simple metals, and then coated with a gold or silver dusting. Some elements are adorned with artificial stones - cut glass, zirconium or fake pearls.
- Vanguard. It is made according to an individual sketch by hand. In the process of creating jewelry, the master can use: polymer clay, leather or plastic. Semi-precious stones, rhinestones, beads add sophistication to avant-garde jewelry.
- Ethnic. It represents jewelry in the style of folk motives. The product consists of stones, animal fangs, feathers or wood.
How to determine what alloy the jewelry is made of?
Before you start cleaning your jewelry, determine what it is made of. The main criterion will be the appearance of the jewelry. If jewelry:
- resembles a silver jewelry, which means that it is made of cupronickel;
- has a pronounced yellow tint - it is brass;
- similar to silver, but with a bluish or greenish tint - this is nickel silver;
- painted brown with a yellowish or reddish tint, which means it is made of bronze;
- it is distinguished by a special brilliance inherent in gold or silver - this is a pewter.
Darkening reasons
You may have noticed that any jewelry made with base metals will darken over time. This process is explained by the property of metals to enter into oxidative reactions with other substances. Since jewelry comes into contact with skin, air and water during wear, these reactions occur more quickly. In particular:
- when metal interacts with water, skin and air - the product loses color due to oxidation;
- during contact with other products, the coating may be scratched;
- when in contact with household chemicals, the surface of the jewelry rapidly loses its shine and color.
To protect jewelry from possible oxidative processes and defects:
- remove all jewelry before water treatments;
- protect products from contact with any detergents;
- store jewelry in a jewelry box or soft box;
- Purchase a separate fabric pouch for particularly valuable jewelry.
Do not despair if your favorite earrings or rings have darkened. They can still be restored to purity and shine.
Soda
Baking soda is not just a food product. The substance is actively used among the people as an antiseptic and cleaning agent. Baking soda does a good job of cleaning silver-coated jewelry, helping to remove plaque and whiten the surface.
Progress:
- Mix a handful of baking soda with a tablespoon of water to make a gruel.
- Apply the mixture to the darkened areas of the garment.
- Leave the agent to work for 20 minutes.
- Remove the remaining gruel with a brush or rinse with running water.
- Wipe the surface with a soft dry cloth.
If the procedure does not give the desired result, repeat the cleaning after a while.
Toothpaste
If you need to clean gold-coated jewelry, use toothpaste.
Procedure:
- Prepare a paste and a soft waste brush in advance.
- Apply the substance to the brush and clean the product in areas of darkening.
- Rinse off the remaining paste with running water.
- Wipe the surface with a clean dry cloth.
Please note that there should be no additional impurities or powders in the toothpaste, otherwise the coating will wear off
chalk
Chalk does a good job of cleaning jewelry. To bring the jewelry back to its previous hue.
- Chop up the chalk.
- 2 tbsp. mix tablespoons of the resulting powder with 100 ml of water.
Cleaning rules
A gilded item is different from silver or gold, so the methods that are used for them are categorically inappropriate. Gold plating is very easy to spoil. The first stage of cleaning is the removal of surface dirt - dust, stains, grease. To do this, it is enough to treat the surface with alcohol or turpentine.
Gold plating is soft, therefore it is not recommended to apply strong mechanical action, as there is a risk of surface damage. Suede fabric is excellent for care, it gives products shine and removes stains. To clean a gilded watch, it is sometimes enough to treat it with suede. If you need to clean the gilded silverware, remove the grease from it first.
Before processing, do the following:
- Take a clean dry cloth and wipe the gilding with it. Flannel, suede and wool are perfect for this.
- Then remove the surface dirt.
How to clean gold plated jewelry. How and what to clean gilding to shine
Gilded jewelry and cutlery are in no way inferior in appearance to products made of pure gold. However, during use, it often happens that spoons and forks, earrings, bracelets, pendants and chains lose their luster and fade noticeably. But there are ways to clean the gilding and return it to its original appearance at home.
What to do before cleaning
Gilded cutlery and jewelry should be cleaned regularly. To start the product, it is worth preparing:
- First, you must clean the surface of dust and other contaminants with a soft cloth (cotton pad) dipped in turpentine or alcohol.
- Useful for gilded silver and table vinegar. You will need 2 tablespoons per liter of water. If you leave the products in the solution for 15-20 minutes, it will help cleanse them of darkening and greenery.
Or you can do without soaking and simply wipe the dirt with a sponge soaked in a more concentrated solution (2 tablespoons per glass of water). In both cases, after the procedure, it is necessary to wipe the products dry with a suede cloth.
It is important to remember that when cleaning gold-plated objects, it is absolutely impossible to use such products as: hard sponges and brushes, dry powders, aggressive acids. Otherwise, scratches will form on the gilding or the coating may peel off altogether.
Removing darkening from gilding
There are many different methods for cleaning gilded jewelry and cutlery at home, which are not inferior to each other in efficiency, but different in composition. Therefore, you can not be puzzled by the purchase of components, but use what is at hand.
Method one: wine alcohol
This option is suitable not only for returning the original shine to things and removing darkening, but also for preventing their appearance. To do this, you just need to wipe the surface with a soft cloth dipped in wine alcohol. Then polish with dry suede to a shine.
Method two: beer
Beer removes even the most difficult browning from the surface of spoons, forks, jewelry and, in addition, thanks to its gentle properties that do not bring harm to gilding, it is suitable for regular use. Dark beer works best, but any other beer can be used.
To clean, you just need to lower the product into a drink and leave for half an hour, then rinse with running water and dry well.
Method three: egg white
Egg white will help restore shine to things. To do this, simply wipe the surface with a soft cloth moistened with this natural product.
For too tarnished gilding, you can add a little "Whiteness" to the whipped egg white, no more than 1 hour
l., but then you have to be careful and clean with rubber gloves
Method four: soap solution
The easiest way to clean at home is with a soapy solution. Dilute 1 tsp in warm water. grated soap or dishwashing detergent, and lower the product into the resulting solution. After 20-30 minutes, clean its surface with a soft, cut-bristled toothbrush.
Method five: with ammonia
You can also clean the gilded product by placing it for 15-20 minutes in a dish with soapy water and ammonia (1 liter of warm water + 1 tsp. Of any grated or liquid soap + 5-6 drops of ammonia). Thanks to this method, gilding gets rid of the greenish tint. But do not overexpose the products in the solution, otherwise the gilding may peel off.
Rules for the care of gilded items
In order to avoid darkening or abrasion of the gilding layer, you need to carefully look after jewelry and other products.
- Gilded jewelry should be removed before showering, starting household chores, and before applying cosmetics (creams, perfumes, scrubs).
- It is not recommended to take such items with you on vacation at sea. Salt water has a detrimental effect on gilding, and therefore, if parting with your favorite jewelry seems impossible, then it must be removed before bathing.
- Store gilded jewelry, spoons and other cutlery, best of all in a closed box or special box, as far as possible from sunlight and heating appliances. This will protect both the gilding itself and some types of gemstones from the harmful effects of ultraviolet radiation, and will help preserve their original appearance as long as possible.
Cleaning of products should be carried out regularly, without waiting for darkening or plaque to form on the gilding.
How and what to clean the darkened jewelry
The product may turn black due to the oxidation process to which the metal is exposed. It is necessary to clean the jewelry - this is an event that will help to keep the accessory in proper condition.
For example, not being able to take the product to the master for cleaning, you can clean the jewelry at home.
Jewelry is a great alternative to expensive jewelry, and it looks just as elegant. True, it quickly loses its beauty - it fades, becomes covered with rusty specks, but experienced hostesses have long since learned to give their favorite earrings and pendants a new "life".
Correct care
High-quality bijouterie sometimes costs its owner not much cheaper than jewelry, so you need to take care of it properly.
- Take off your favorite jewelry when showering or applying cream.
- Try not to spray perfume on jewelry, protect it from contact with nail polish remover.
- Do not leave them in the bathroom, where there is high humidity, on a windowsill or table, where the sun's rays penetrate.
- Do not forget to clean the jewelry of any dirt before storing it. Examine the jewelry carefully, check if it has dried well: even a small amount of moisture can cause rust.
A little effort and even less financial costs - and your jewelry is again pleasing to the eye!
How to properly clean jewelry for gold or silver?
Jewelry decorated in silver or gold is popular among women of all ages. Caring for these items does not imply any difficulties. If you do not rub the surface and use one of the following approaches, then the appearance of the jewelry will be preserved for a long time:
- If the traditional soaking in a soapy solution did not give the desired result, then a few drops of ammonia should be added to the water and soap. You do not need to rub intensively, the darkening should go away without problems.
- In addition, imitation gold can be processed with a soft sponge dipped in white wine vinegar. You do not need to soak the product, just rub it to the desired shine, rinse it in clean water and leave it to dry naturally.
- The more often the preventive treatment of jewelry decorated with precious metals is carried out, the less often they will have to be subjected to intensive cleaning. You need to get into the habit of caring for jewelry, even if it is temporarily not used.
High-quality care of sparkling accessories is the key to their long-term service. If the manipulations did not give the desired result, then you need to get rid of the object or isolate it from other jewelry, otherwise oxidative processes will spread to neighboring products.
Toothpaste
The toothpaste perfectly restores metal jewelry (with a gold coating):
Just spread the paste on a toothbrush that you have not been brushing your teeth with for a long time, you use for cleaning toilets and cleaning.
Important! The softer the bristle of the brush, the better.
Brush over metal beads and pebbles. Rinse off the paste with running water.
Well, wipe the beads and the ring with a dry cloth .. Jewelery that has begun to darken imitating gold products should never be cleaned with abrasives
They will erase all the pseudo-gilding (dusting) - you just have to throw out the cute trinkets
Jewelry imitating gold items that have begun to darken should never be cleaned with abrasives. They will erase all the pseudo-gilding (dusting) - you just have to throw out the cute trinkets.
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Materials (edit)
Based on the characteristics of the materials used in the manufacture of jewelry, several means are distinguished with which you can clean the products from darkening.
- Metal accessories without spraying or additives can be cleaned using regular baking soda. After adding a pinch of soda to a small vessel, pour a few drops of water there and mix until a slurry is formed. The composition is applied to the darkened areas and after a while is carefully removed.During the time spent on the jewelry, the particles of the mixture exfoliate the dirt from the product. Another way to clean metal jewelry is to use tooth powder. It is rubbed over the surface and then washed off with water. After that, the jewelry is wiped off with a soft cloth. An alternative cleaning solution is a similar use of chalk.
- Plastic products are the easiest to clean - you just need to put them in a container and fill them with water and detergent. For a while, the jewelry is left in the solution, then the container is shaken and the accessories are washed under warm water.
- To clean the glass, you can use powder or soap to make a solution. In order for the surface to acquire a gloss, it is treated with ammonia.
- A soapy solution is also used to remove darkening from rhinestones. But it is not recommended to apply it to rhodium-plated products - it is preferable to use weakly concentrated ammonia.
- To restore the shine of copper jewelry, special compositions are prepared from generally available ingredients: Small edible salt is mixed with nine percent vinegar essence so that the mixture has the consistency of a paste. By rubbing the jewelry with this tool and rinsing it with water, you can return the bracelet, earrings or pendant to its original appearance. A garlic mixture provides a similar result. The cloves are squeezed and a little salt is added to them. The composition is left on the decoration for 5 minutes and then washed off.
- Gold plating is a very popular coating for metal jewelry. Such products are especially fragile and unstable to various mechanical and chemical influences. Sometimes, as a result of oxidation, a patina forms on them - a foreign film that covers the surface. The gilding on such jewelry must be kept in perfect condition at all times.
The easiest way to care is to place the accessory in warm water with soap and a couple of teaspoons of ammonia. Baby soap is preferred because it is fragrance-free. The jewelry should be lightly rubbed with a soft sponge or rag; it is not recommended to keep them in water for more than a minute, otherwise a humid environment may have the opposite effect on the state of decorative items.
Each time after use, the jewelry should be wiped with a special soft microfiber cloth. Flannel material will also work. By doing this, you will get rid of darkening and dirt for a longer period of time.
Wine vinegar is a good way to clean gold jewelry. A swab soaked in this liquid is used to wipe gold-plated earrings and other jewelry, and then rinse under running cold water. After rinsing off the vinegar, do not wipe the product, but let it dry on its own. You can use a cold jet of air from a hair dryer to speed up the drying process.
It is advisable to periodically clean the darkened chain, rings or bracelet with gilding with a mild toothpaste.
Commonly available products such as egg yolk or good quality beer can be used to safely clean gold-plated surfaces. It is enough just to leave the product in a glass of beer for half an hour, then rinse and dry.
Do not try to restore the original look of gold-plated accessories using concentrated or caustic compounds. It is strictly forbidden to use acetic acid, soda and even powder for teeth.
The cleaning of some stones that require special care deserves special attention:
- Turquoise and artificial pearls are very fragile materials that cannot tolerate any impact of foreign substances, even water. The best way to keep them in good condition is to polish with a dry soft cloth.
- Aquamarines and mother-of-pearl stones are washed in clean cool water, then wiped with a cloth or dried with a hair dryer.
How to clean silver with stones
You can clean silver rings with stones in a jewelry salon or at home. You should focus on the density of the stones. Aquamarine, emerald and sapphire can be cleaned with washing powder, laundry soap will help remove grease and dirt from malachite, moonstone, opal and turquoise. Silver earrings with ruby or garnet stones must not be immersed in hot water
It is important to very carefully and carefully clean jewelry with inserts: do not damage the insert itself and do not loosen the fasteners. Products with amber, coral or pearls should be washed with lukewarm water and soap.
Aggressive cleaning agents can destroy the structure of the stone.