4 Ways to Clean Diamond Earrings

2024 Author: Jason Gerald | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-16 10:50

Diamond earrings will become dull and dirty after many wears because they absorb oil from your skin and hair, causing the metal to wear out and the gemstone to lose its luster. Fortunately, there are many household products that can be used to restore the shine of your diamond earrings. For stubborn dirt, consider taking your earrings to a professional jewelry cleaner.

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Method 1 of 4: Setting Up the Right Equipment

Step 1. Purchase a jewelry cleaning kit

Inside this kit, you'll find a solution that works for cleaning earrings. This solution is specially made for cleaning earrings, so you don't have to worry that this product will damage your jewelry.

Look for specialty cleaning solutions at jewelry stores, national craft fairs, shopping centers, pharmacies, or convenience stores. Look at the instructions on the back of the bottle to make sure the solution is safe for diamond jewelry.
Pour a small amount of the solution into a bowl. Soak the earrings in the solution overnight. Rinse the earrings with warm water, then dry and polish with a lint-free cloth. It's best to follow the instructions on the back of the bottle, don't follow the instructions above if they are different.

Step 2. Get the right brush and cloth

You should use a soft bristle brush. This is very important. If you use a brush that is too coarse, your jewelry may be damaged. You will also need a cloth that can gently clean the earrings.

All you need is a toothbrush, but opt for a soft-bristled brush. Make sure you don't use a wire brush or a coarse-bristled brush, as both can damage the setting (the part that holds the diamond together).
A children's toothbrush is a great choice because the bristles are very soft. You can also purchase brushes specifically designed for cleaning jewelry online or in stores.
However, don't be tempted by tips that say you should use a toothbrush to clean jewelry. Toothbrushes can be too abrasive. There are better household products for you to use.
Use a microfiber hand towel to dry the earrings. These towels are softer and will help you clean your earrings carefully.
You also need to make sure to use a soft-bristled brush on the gold setting. If your diamond is set in a fragile setting or the earrings are very old, you may not need to brush them at all.

Step 3. Choose a flat surface

It's best not to clean diamond earrings near the sink as you don't want them to end up in the drain and the chances are high. If you don't believe me, just ask any plumber: This happens a lot!

Instead, choose a table or other flat surface that is not located near the sink. You need enough space to put bowls and towels.
You'll also need a bowl or cup to hold your earrings in. You may need to wear rubber gloves, depending on the toxicity of the solution you choose.

Method 2 of 4: Cleaning Diamond Earrings at Home

Step 1. Use dish soap

If you don't have a jewelry cleaning kit, you can make your own solution using a variety of different household cleaning products. You can use regular dish soap to remove dirt and grease from diamond earrings.

Mix 1 cup of warm water with 1 teaspoon of mild dish soap. Stir the water with your fingers until it bubbles. Make sure the dish soap does not contain perfume or bleach, as both can damage the earrings. Soak the earrings for 3-4 minutes, so that dirt and oil can be released.
Then take a soft toothbrush and dip it in the soap solution. Gently brush the diamond. Soak the earrings for another 1-2 minutes. Then lift the earrings and put them on a paper napkin. Take a bowl of clean water and rinse the earrings. Do not rinse the earrings under the tap or you will drop them in the drain.

Step 2. Try a glass cleaning solution like Windex

There are many household products you can use to clean diamond earrings. Windex can too. Or, you can soak the earrings in a mild liquid detergent. Choose a detergent that contains sodium lauryl ether sulfate.

Spray Windex onto the toothbrush. Then, brush the diamond gently.
Do it carefully, and use a small soft brush. After that, rinse the earrings with water and wipe them dry using a soft cloth.

Step 3. Use ammonia

Ammonia sounds too harsh, but using ammonia to clean diamond earrings is the most common method.

Mix one part ammonia with six parts hot water. However, do not use hot water if there are other gemstones in the setting as this may damage them. Place the earrings in the solution for 20 minutes. Wear gloves when working with this solution.
Next, put the earrings in another bowl of warm water. Add a teaspoon of dish soap to the bowl. Scrub the earrings with a soft-bristled toothbrush or jewelry brush. Rinse the earrings in warm water.

Step 4. Soak the earrings in sparkling water

Diamonds – and other gemstones – will appear more brilliant if you soak them in sparkling water overnight.

Simply fill the glass with sparkling water, then add diamonds or other gemstones (such as rubies or sapphires) to the glass. Leave it overnight.
Another technique you can apply to make your diamonds shinier is to use denture cleaning tablets. Put the tablet in a cup of water, then put the diamond earring in the cup for a few minutes. After that, rinse the jewelry.
Remove any visible lumps of dirt or lint. Use a toothpick carefully to remove any lumps of dirt between the metal legs that hold the diamond in place. Gently remove the fabric fibers that are stuck in the setting using tweezers.

Step 5. Try using soap and water as a simple solution to get rid of a little oil or dirt

If you don't have any other supplies, you can try using a product that you already have: Soap and water.

Mix 1 part mild dish soap with 3 parts warm water in a small bowl. Dip a soft-bristled toothbrush, soft cloth, or cotton swab in the soap solution.
Carefully brush off the gemstones and binding metal. Alternatively, you can soak your diamond earrings in this soap solution for up to 30 minutes.
Remove the earrings after soaking and rinse with warm water. Dry and polish the earrings with a lint-free cloth.

Step 6. Try vodka

Soak the earrings in vodka if you can't find anything else.

Fill shot glass with vodka. Put the earrings in the glass and let them soak for a minute or two. Remove the earrings and rinse with warm water.
Dry and polish the earrings with a lint-free cloth.

Method 3 of 4: Protecting Your Diamond Earrings

Step 1. Don't wear diamond earrings all the time

It's easier to clean your diamond earrings if you don't get them very dirty. So it's a good idea to take your earrings off when doing activities that can make them dirty, such as going to the beach, exercising, gardening, and even washing dishes.

Keep your diamond earrings away from chlorine bleach as this can damage the earrings.
Natural oils can leave a layer on diamond jewelry and need to be removed to restore the brilliance of the earrings to the way they were. Contact with skin, lotions, powders and soaps can cause such a film to form.
Put on your earrings last, after you've styled your hair and sprayed perfume or applied lotion. All of these products can damage the earrings, so reduce your exposure.

Step 2. Store the earrings properly

Diamond earrings will wear less if you store them properly. This means you shouldn't just throw it in a drawer. Diamonds are almost impossible to scratch – but other diamonds can.

Therefore, do not store diamond jewelry close to each other because diamonds can scratch each other.
Do not touch the earrings too often. Hands contain body oils that can dull diamonds.

Step 3. Insure your earrings

Sometimes residential or rental property insurance will cover lost or stolen jewelry. Check your policy. If jewelry isn't covered, it's a good idea to change your policy to cover earrings.

Whether insuring the earrings is worth doing will depend on the price of the earrings, of course, or whether they have great sentimental value.
Do your homework, and compare different companies before choosing an insurance plan. Remember to check the deductible or at your own risk (a number of costs the policyholder must bear in the event of a loss).

Step 4. Have your earrings checked

A certified jeweler will spot flaws in your earrings that you can't see. So there's nothing wrong with asking a jeweler to check the earrings if you want the diamond to keep its shine.

You need to make sure that the legs holding the diamond don't loosen, or you could lose the diamond.
It's a good idea to have your diamonds checked by a certified jeweler once or twice a year.

Step 5. Consider cleaning your earrings at a professional jewelry cleaner

Ask your local jeweler if they offer ultrasonic or ionic cleaning for diamond jewelry. Usually the fee for this service is not expensive.
Look for a jeweler who offers sulfuric acid cleaning if your diamond earrings are so dirty that you can't clean them any other way. Boiled sulfuric acid is still relatively inexpensive, but costs slightly more than ultrasonic cleaning. Sulfuric acid can damage jewelry if not done properly.

Method 4 of 4: Cleaning the Gold or Silver Frame

Step 1. Remove any silver or gold stains

To remove stains from silver, you can also use household products.

Take cup of baking soda and mix it with 2 tablespoons of water until it forms a thick paste. Take a wet sponge, and rub the paste on the silver, then rinse and dry.
You can also use baking soda to polish the gold by lightly coating the gold with baking soda. Then pour vinegar over it, and rinse.
You can make gold shine more if you drop some beer on a towel and then rub it on your jewelry.
Believe it or not, you can also use a sauce to make your silver shine even more. Soak the jewelry in the sauce for only a few minutes.

Step 2. Use baking soda

The baking soda will remove any stains that have accumulated on silver-framed earrings or polished gold-framed earrings.

For silver earrings, mix cup of baking soda with 2 tablespoons of water in a small bowl. Dip a damp sponge in the baking soda mixture.
Carefully rub the baking soda mixture over the frame of each earring. Dry and polish the earrings with a lint-free cloth. For gold earrings, sprinkle the frame with a light layer of baking soda. Slowly pour some vinegar over the frame. Rinse with water.
Dry and polish the earrings with a lint-free cloth.

Tips

Note that some solutions should not be used for earrings or jewelry containing gemstones other than diamonds. Vodka, for example, will damage gemstones that are not crystals.
Be careful every time you clean jewelry. Do not soak the earrings for too long or rub too vigorously.
Don't do the cleaning over the sink with the drain hole exposed, or you'll be forced to call a plumber to get your valuables out of the trap!
Don't dry with a towel or cloth or anything. Just let the jewelry dry by itself!
It is best to take some toothpaste, pour a small amount over an old toothbrush or you can buy a brush specifically used to clean your diamond earrings, and simply rub it gently all over the earring and rinse with water, then let the jewelry dry on its own.