Ideally, rings are simply cleaned while washing your hands. Chains and especially 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 and a little soap. Then hold it firmly 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 multi-use cloth. It is always best to dry the jewelry off rather than letting the water simply evaporate. This helps avoid water spots and residue.
A fine, soft makeup brush is essential. A hard brush like a toothbrush should not be used.
Avoid moving the jewelry around in the bowl as much as possible, as silver or gold could get scratched against the sides. 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, this may wear off over time. In this case, even a soft brush could further remove the already damaged coating. Therefore, clean such jewelry with extra care.
Find out more in our blog:
Cleaning jewelry with ultrasound – why a fine brush is better