Because Your Jewels Deserve Better

Jewelry holds a special place in our lives—whether it’s a family heirloom, a sentimental gift, or a piece you gifted yourself for a milestone achievement. Caring for your jewelry properly not only keeps it looking its best, but also ensures its longevity. At Alara Jewelry, we’re passionate about helping you preserve the beauty and value of your treasures. In this guide, we’ll cover things you need to know about jewelry care, including jewelry care tips, how to properly clean jewelry, and how to take care of gold-plated jewelry.

Why Jewelry Care Matters

Your jewelry is an investment—financially and emotionally. Over time, exposure to everyday elements like dirt, oils, moisture, and chemicals can dull its shine and compromise its durability. Many people are unaware that if they allow the “concoction” that is soaps, lotions, hair product, dead skin cells, hand sanitizer, soil, food, and other “goo” to accumulate on their jewelry pieces, that any stones contained within those pieces run greater risk of loss or loosening once the ring is cleaned, because that concoction has slowly but surely pushed the metal away from the stones.  With the right care techniques, you can maintain your jewelry’s brilliance and ensure it’s always ready to sparkle when you wear it.

General Jewelry Care Instructions

Store Your Jewelry Properly: Keep your pieces in a clean, dry place away from direct sunlight. Jewelry boxes with individual compartments or soft-lined pouches are ideal. Individual plastic baggies also do the trick. This prevents scratching and tangling. To prevent tarnish, throw a small anti-tarnish strip into any baggie containing silver pieces.

Avoid Exposure to Chemicals: Perfume, hairspray, cleaning products, and even chlorinated tap water can damage metals and gemstones. Always put your jewelry on after applying cosmetics, hair products, lotions; and remove it before swimming, hot-tubbing, dipping in a hot spring, or using household cleaners or solvents of any kind.

Take Off Jewelry During Activities: Activities like exercising, gardening, or cooking can expose your jewelry to unnecessary wear and tear. Basically, anything that involves heavy pushing (weight lifting, grass cutting, snow shoveling, for example), pulling, lifting (including body-weight activities like yoga), or gripping (ski poles or hockey stick) all have the ability to change the shape of your ring. Removing it prevents accidental damage.

Clean Jewelry Regularly: Dirt and oils can accumulate over time, dulling your jewelry’s sparkle and contributing to stone loosening and loss. Regular cleaning with appropriate products keeps it looking fresh and safe.

How to Properly Clean Jewelry

To ensure safe and effective cleaning, it’s crucial to consider the materials used in your jewelry. Let’s look at some popular types:

Cleaning Gold Jewelry

Gold is a durable and timeless metal that requires consistent but gentle care to maintain its brilliance.

• 

  Polishing: Use a non-abrasive polishing cloth to restore shine. For intricate designs, professional polishing may be needed periodically.

• Cleaning Tips: After polishing, use a mild cleaner according to its instructions. Do NOT use a toothbrush, however! Gold is easily scratched, unlike tooth enamel! Rinse thoroughly under lukewarm water and dry with a soft, lint-free cloth.

• Avoid: Bleach or any cleaners containing it (bleach actually dissolves gold!), harsh chemicals, abrasive cleaners, prolonged exposure to chlorinated tap water, or short exposure to pool- or jacuzzi-chlorinated water. (Saltwater technically does not affect gold other than perhaps a mild discoloration after extended exposure–which can be removed using a polishing cloth.) 

Gold-Plated Jewelry

Gold-plated jewelry demands special attention to maintain its delicate coating.

• Cleaning Tips: Use a mild foaming cleaner, like the one available at Alara Jewelry, which is gentle enough for both solid gold and plated pieces. Apply the cleaner to a soft cloth or brush, gently wipe the jewelry, then rinse with lukewarm water. Pat dry with a lint-free cloth.

• Avoid: Bleach or any cleaners containing it, harsh chemicals, chlorinated water, abrasive materials, excessive scrubbing, and prolonged soaking, as these can damage the plating or surface. Since plating is actually a very thin layer of gold, friction is your greatest concern. That means that wearing a gold-plated piece where it might touch/rub against another piece will contribute to the plating wearing off more quickly. This applies to wearing pieces on the body that touch each other, or pieces that clank against each other in your jewelry box.

Silver Jewelry

Silver can tarnish when exposed to air and moisture, but proper care can restore its shine.

• Cleaning Tips: Alara Jewelry’s magic metal polishing cloths are ideal for silver. Gently rub the cloth over the tarnished areas to bring back its brilliance. Beware of harsh cleaners that magically strip all signs of tarnish! If a piece is quite large and solid, these can be fine to use occasionally. However, most chains and other pieces of jewelry are fine enough that using one of these cleaners can make your piece “crispy.” There’s no other way to describe it. You can actually completely ruin a chain or smaller silver piece by using a harsh liquid silver cleaner.

• Avoid:  Bleach or any cleaners containing it, harsh chemicals and solvents, abrasive cleaners, prolonged or repeated (like showering) exposure to chlorinated tap water, or short exposure to pool- or jacuzzi-chlorinated water. Also, saltwater and salty air can discolor silver, and direct exposure to saltwater can corrode silver, so it’s best to not wear your silver jewelry to the beach.

Gemstone Jewelry

Gemstones require specific cleaning methods based on their type and durability.

• Faceted, Non-Porous Gemstones: Diamonds, rubies, and sapphires can handle more rigorous cleaning. Alara’s enzymatic liquid cleaner is perfect for these stones. Submerge the jewelry in the solution for the recommended time, rinse thoroughly, and dry with a soft cloth.

• Porous and Delicate Gemstones: Pearls, opals, and turquoise need a gentler approach. Use Alara’s mild foaming cleaner and a soft cloth to clean the surface. Avoid soaking these stones.

• Avoid: With the exception of rubies, sapphires, and diamonds (all of which can be cleaned ultrasonically and high pressure steamed), other gemstones require less or no exposure to steam cleaning and ultrasonic cleaning. Your jeweler can assist you when you have them professionally clean your jewelry.

How Do Professionals Clean Jewelry?

When your jewelry needs extra attention, professionals use specialized techniques to restore its original beauty. These include:

• Ultrasonic Cleaning: High-frequency sound waves dislodge dirt and grime. This method is best for durable gems and metals but is not suitable for delicate stones.

• Steam Cleaning: A blast of high-pressure steam removes buildup. This method is effective but should be avoided for porous or heat-sensitive materials.

• Polishing: Jewelers use professional polishing tools to remove scratches and restore shine to metals.

• 
  Inspection and Repair: During a professional cleaning, jewelers inspect for loose stones, worn prongs, or other issues that may compromise the piece’s integrity.

Jewelry Care Tips for Specific Scenarios

What Not to Do When Cleaning Jewelry

• Don’t use toothpaste or baking soda as a cleaner. While these are often suggested, their abrasiveness can damage metals and stones.

• Avoid boiling water or harsh chemical cleaners unless specifically recommended for your jewelry type.

• Don’t wear jewelry in hot tubs, pools, or during heavy cleaning. Chlorine and sweat can corrode metals.

What Makes Jewelry Shiny Again?

The key to restoring shine lies in removing dirt and polishing the surface:

• For metals, use Alara’s magic metal polishing cloths.

• For gemstones, an enzymatic liquid cleaner brings back brilliance.

• Regular maintenance prevents dullness and keeps jewelry looking new.

How to Take Care of Real Jewelry

• Gold and Platinum: Keep these metals clean and polished to maintain their luster.

• Diamonds: Regular cleaning enhances their sparkle, as dirt diminishes their ability to reflect light.

• Pearls: Wipe them gently after each wear to remove oils and store them in a soft pouch to avoid scratches.

Alara Jewelry’s At-Home Cleaning Products

At Alara Jewelry, we offer a curated selection of products designed to make at-home jewelry care simple and effective:

• Enzymatic Liquid Cleaner: Ideal for faceted, non-porous gemstones, this cleaner removes oils and dirt without damaging the stone.

• Foaming Cleaner: A versatile option safe for all gemstones, including pearls and delicate stones.

• Magic Metal Polishing Cloths: Perfect for tarnished silver and other metals, these cloths quickly restore shine.

Closing Thoughts

Taking the time to care for your jewelry not only preserves its beauty but also honors its sentimental value. With the right tools and techniques—and occasional help from professionals—you can ensure your pieces remain cherished for years to come.

At Alara Jewelry, we’re here to support you every step of the way. From expert advice to high-quality cleaning products, we’re committed to helping you keep your jewelry in top condition. Visit us in-store or online to learn more and explore our offerings.

Your jewelry deserves the best care—and we’re here to help you give it just that.