Marina Korolkova Cleaned earrings with stones
Gold jewelry loses its attractiveness. I first noticed this on my earrings, which I wore without taking them off. The stone became dull and cloudy. I didn’t know how to clean gold earrings with a stone, so I started trying different methods. I'll tell you my impressions.
With sudden temperature changes, gold is damaged and stones become dull, jewelry manufacturers assure.
Reasons for contamination of jewelry
Several factors influence the formation of plaque, darkening, and loss of shine of gold jewelry:
- Organic compounds are released from the human body through sweat and form a plaque that collects dust particles and contaminants.
- Due to the influence of cosmetics, perfumes, household chemicals, and pharmaceutical products, a patina (patina) appears on gold. If the compounds contain iodine or mercury, the result is stains that only a specialist can remove.
- Chemical effects on precious metal include the influence of alkalis and metals contained in tap water.
- The dark mark on the leather left by new products is a consequence of coating the gold with a substance for pre-sale preparation. It can be easily removed with a napkin.
- Low-quality gold with an altered alloy is susceptible to oxidation. Only a jeweler can clean such products.
The need to clean stones
This is due to the fact that during the operation of a talisman, amulet, talisman made of crystal, part of the negative energy does not disappear completely, but remains in it. As a result of prolonged use, a large amount of negativity accumulates inside the mineral. This can lead to the talisman losing its protective functions, the owner’s mood deteriorates, his health deteriorates, fatigue, drowsiness and other problems appear.
But bad energy can accumulate not only during long-term use. A conflict situation, quarrel, scandal in which you become a participant leads to a surge of negative vibrations that the crystal can “remember” in its energy structure.
Decorating with such a negative crystal may not harm you. In most cases, it simply stops being liked. You take it out of the box less and less, and then you stop wearing it completely. If a lot of negative information accumulates, the stone may become cloudy, lose transparency, and cracks and other defects may appear on it.
Those stones that have recently appeared in your collection also need to be subjected to a mandatory cleaning procedure, and it doesn’t matter how:
- inherited from my beloved grandmother;
- was purchased from an online store or jewelry boutique;
- given by a loved one;
- was accidentally found on the street, on the beach, and so on.
Before the product reaches you, it has passed through the hands of many people. The crystal structure has absorbed information that is foreign to you, not always of a positive nature. Only found unprocessed stones are absolutely free from energy, completely pure.
Gemstones are the most susceptible to energy pollution. Among them, the most dangerous, in case of untimely or incorrectly performed cleaning, is onyx. But citrine is easy enough to take care of regularly. If the mineral was inherited from deceased relatives, or it is intended to be used to treat diseases, then it must be subjected to a complete purification procedure.
How to clean gold at home
When gold jewelry is worn constantly, it needs to be cleaned monthly. Small stains can be removed with soapy water. To do this, use mild detergents or delicate shampoo.
You can clean gold with stones yourself as follows:
- accessories are soaked in a previously prepared solution or the composition is applied to the surface, cleaned with a soft-bristled brush;
- products are rinsed under cool water;
- dried;
- polish with suede or a flannel-like cloth.
Gold jewelry with stones should be cleaned using methods that do not use abrasive or acidic agents.
Salt or baking soda, if used, must first be dissolved. You cannot keep a product with a glued stone in water; it can be cleaned with cotton swabs.
- Peridots cannot be cleaned with acid.
- For diamonds, a special paste, ammonia or soap composition is suitable.
- Pearls, corals, turquoise, like all soft minerals, do not tolerate hot water or alcohol-containing compounds (including ammonia).
- Ammonia does not pose a threat to cubic zirconia, zircons, and citrines.
- For sapphires, topazes, rubies, emeralds, hot water is excluded.
- Alcohol solutions are recommended for emeralds, sapphires, and diamonds.
- Rubies, garnets, opals, lapis lazuli, and amethysts can be cleaned with a brush and soapy water.
- Large stones can be cleaned with the burnt end of a charred match, passing it over the surface of the gem.
The choice of method for cleaning jewelry yourself depends on the texture, color of the product, and the attachment of the stone insert.
White gold items require delicate cleaning so as not to damage the rhodium layer. To do this, place the jewelry in the cleaning composition for 30 minutes. A longer period of time will negatively affect the attractive appearance of the accessories.
At home, use 100 ml of water and ammonia for the solution, add 1 tbsp shampoo. spoon. For minor stains, replace ammonia with delicate soap.
Read more about how to clean amber.
Watch the video on how to clean decorations at home:
Cleaning the chain
The chain consists of small, easily torn links in which dirt accumulates. You can clean your gold accessory and avoid tears by soaking it. The product is immersed in the solution for half an hour and dried naturally.
Cleaning earrings
Earrings usually consist of small parts and are decorated with stones. Therefore, you can clean your jewelry in two stages. The fasteners are processed first. The inserts are then carefully arranged. The method depends on the type of stone and how it is fixed.
Cleaning rings
Rings get dirty more often; dust, grease deposits, and dirt accumulate in their corrugated patterned parts.
- When it is necessary to add shine to the jewelry, it is polished with suede.
- If the stone is glued, you can clean it with a cotton swab dipped in a weakly concentrated soap solution.
- Difficult-to-clean areas with patterns are wiped by moistening a swab with glycerin.
- Gold rings with topaz are cleaned with ammonia (7-8 drops) mixed with liquid soap (40 ml). The accessory is kept in the composition for about an hour.
- Jewelry with cubic zirconia can be cleaned with any paste-like product available at home, without abrasives.
Gold cleaning compounds
There are many recipes for cleaning compositions for gold jewelry that are easy to make yourself. Some achieve quick results, while others require a longer time for the gold to shine.
Hydrogen peroxide and ammonia
For the solution, select a non-metallic container, pour 200 g of water at room temperature. Add:
- 40 ml of 3 percent hydrogen peroxide;
- 1 teaspoon of ammonia;
- 2 teaspoons of delicate detergent or liquid soap.
The decoration is left in the composition for a quarter of an hour. You can clean hard-to-reach openwork parts with soap or toothpaste.
In addition to the topic, see the express cleaning method:
Medical alcohol
The accessory with the stone is dipped in alcohol, then wiped with a soft cloth previously soaked in soap and water. To dry, the product is placed on the base so that residual moisture drains or evaporates, but is not absorbed.
Citric acid solution
A gold product is immersed in a weakly concentrated aqueous solution of citric acid for no more than 7 minutes. The method is not used for jewelry with chrysolites.
Sugar syrup
50–75 g of sugar is dissolved in 200 g of hot water. Place gold jewelry in the cooled syrup for 12 hours. The method is suitable for cleaning lightly soiled accessories with mechanically attached stones.
There is a quick option where the jewelry is dipped in slightly sweetened water and polished.
Unusual cleaning methods
There are other options for using improvised means to clean gold accessories:
- Before polishing, the gold is rubbed with lipstick.
- Gold jewelry can be soaked in Coca-Cola for 0.5 hours.
- A solution is poured into a bowl, wrapped inside with foil, in the proportion: 20 g of soda per 200 g of water. Products are soaked for 24 hours.
- Moisten cotton swabs or disks with table vinegar and wipe accessories with them.
- Toothpaste is a common way to clean gold with stones. This method does not require immersing accessories in water.
- A composition of chalk (3 pieces) and ammonia (5 tablespoons) is applied to gold jewelry with stones for a few minutes.
- Products are soaked in contact lens liquid in the evening and left until morning.
- Gold is rubbed with a fresh cut of half an onion.
In specialized stores, along with instructions for use, they sell products for cleaning gold with stones.
In liquid media, the products are kept for the specified time. Accessories are moistened with sprays before polishing. The paste is applied to the surface, the most contaminated areas are rubbed.
Indicators of stone purity
In some cases, a single cleansing procedure is not enough and must be repeated several times. Among the main indicators of the purity of the amulet:
- smooth, silky, as if a newly polished surface of the stone;
- you are pleased to touch the gem, you feel cool and fresh;
- brightness, saturation of the color shade of the mineral;
- the gem seems to glow from within, emitting a radiance;
- taking the stone in your hands, you feel your mood lifting, you begin to feel confident in your abilities, and a feeling of comfort returns to you;
- power and strength emanate from the talisman.
Do not forget that jewelry, amulets, and amulets cannot be given to anyone, even just to take a closer look or try on. If you are afraid that your refusal will offend the person, then try not to give it to them, but simply put it on the table. Let your interlocutor take it from the table, and then, after trying it on, put it back. Then clean again.
What not to use for cleaning
The use of unsuitable means and methods for cleaning gold products results in the formation of scratches and stains. To preserve the noble metal, do not use:
- boiling;
- abrasives;
- hard brushes, sharp objects;
- laundry soap, washing powder.
It is not difficult to clean gold jewelry with stones yourself. Following the cleaning rules will help keep the metal looking attractive longer.
How do you clean gold jewelry with stones? Tell us about your experience in the comments, share the article on social networks.
Why do silver earrings darken?
Silver has its own characteristics and can turn black. Many silver jewelry, including earrings, contain copper molecules, which tend to oxidize, as well as amino acids containing sulfur. It is sulfur that causes blackness on silver. Silver easily reacts with sulfur and sulfur compounds, forming black silver sulfides. This plaque is the very darkening of silver
Problems in the body, endocrine system, and increased sweating can also contribute to the blackening of silver earrings.