Ideally, rings are simply cleaned while you wash your hands. Necklaces and, in particular, earrings, however, require regular, targeted cleaning.
A fine, soft makeup brush is often faster and more thorough than an ultrasonic bath. Briefly soak the jewelry in a bowl of lukewarm water with a little soap. Then, hold it securely with your fingers under the water and clean it carefully with the brush. Once everything is clean, rinse the jewelry with clear water and dry it carefully with a clean cloth. Paper towels are best as they are very absorbent and cleaner than a cloth that has been used multiple times. It is always best to dry the jewelry rather than letting the water simply evaporate. This helps avoid water spots and residue.
A fine, soft makeup brush is important. A hard brush like a toothbrush should not be used.
Try not to move the jewelry around in the bowl, as silver or gold could get scratched against it. Therefore, always hold the jewelry firmly with your hands while under water.
For older jewelry that has been worn for a very long time and has a coating, the coating may wear off over time. In this case, even a soft brush could further wear away the already damaged coating. Therefore, clean such jewelry with extra care.
Find out more on our blog:
Cleaning jewelry with ultrasound – why a fine brush is better