Home remedy: Make your jewellery shine again
You should have precious gold or silver jewellery cleaned regularly by a jeweller. However, you can also do a few things for your jewellery yourself between visits to the professional. We'll tell you how to make your jewellery shine again with simple home remedies.
It is advisable to have chains, finger rings and earrings cleaned and polished by a professional every year. They use special techniques and tools, such as an ultrasonic device, to remove deposits and dirt from hard-to-reach areas. However, you can delay a visit to the jeweller by doing it yourself. We'll tell you which tips you can use to remove dirt and discolouration from your treasures yourself.
Shining bright: cleaning gold jewellery
Deposits on frequently worn gold jewellery are usually caused by soap residue, skin flakes, creams and body fat. However, gold can also tarnish, depending on how high the pure real gold content in the alloy is. The higher the percentage, the better the piece is protected. In such a case, you should take necklaces and the like directly to a jeweller - as well as fine and delicate pieces that may be set with stones.
Other than that: Gold jewellery is fairly easy to clean by hand. A little washing-up liquid and warm water are usually enough. If the encrustations are too strong, you can use a toothbrush with soft bristles. If you also want to get the pieces in top form, you can polish them with deerskin or a woollen cloth. This will make them shine like new again.
Since necklaces and earrings have small crevices and angles, you should soak them overnight in a mixture of water and washing-up liquid. Rubbing baking soda onto the damp chain links and then rinsing them off can also help. To refresh the colour, you can also line a pan with aluminium foil, fill it with hot water and add salt. Then place the pieces in the bath for a few minutes. Alternatively, you can also soak them in sodium-free, lukewarm mineral water. The carbon dioxide also penetrates narrow crevices and removes deposits.
Make silver jewellery sparkle again
When silver turns dark in colour, this is because the metal reacts with the air. This creates a patina that can only be reversed with a chemical reaction. Aluminium foil can help here. Cut the aluminium foil into small pieces and place in a bowl with a little salt. Then add the jewellery and pour hot, non-boiling water over it. The heat will accelerate the reaction and after about two minutes, the aluminium foil should have turned black, but your jewellery should be shiny again. However, do not leave it in any longer, otherwise it will be damaged.
Frequent wearing of silver rings can also help to prevent tarnishing, as the sulphide layer that has formed on the silver surface is rubbed off by everyday activities.
By the way: Costume jewellery cannot be refurbished unless it is gold or silver-plated. Then the home remedies described above will work again. Otherwise, the motto is: pieces of base jewellery tarnish more quickly and inevitably wear out through wear - without you being able to return them to their original form.
If you have any other tips in store, we'd love you to share them with us in the comments!
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