Now, more than ever, it’s important to make sure your jewelry is clean and free from bacteria, viruses, and other germs. Even though right now you may not be sporting as much jewelry as you usually do, chances are you’re still wearing your favorite rings, whether that’s your engagement ring, wedding band, or another type of ring. And it’s also likely that you’re washing your hands a lot. Because of this, you may start to notice that your gemstones don’t have the same sparkle that they used to. Over time, soap can buildup on your jewelry, causing your gemstones to appear dull. The good news is that you can safely clean your jewelry right at home.

To help restore the brilliance of your gemstones, we recommend letting your jewelry sit in a solution of warm water and mild dish soap for at least 10 minutes. Then, use a soft toothbrush to gently scrub your piece. And finally, rinse your jewelry off and dry with a soft towel. Remember to close your sink’s drain or put a stopper over it when rinsing off your jewelry. You don’t want to accidentally drop the piece and have it disappear before your eyes.

We know that many of you have been using hand sanitizer a lot recently and may be wondering whether or not that will affect the appearance and durability of your rings. The answer is that it depends on the type of hand sanitizer you’re using. Those made with alcohol (which is the type of sanitizer you should be using if you’re looking to protect yourself against germs) should not harm your rings. However, we recommend avoiding non-alcoholic hand sanitizer while wearing your rings, as this type of hand sanitizer typically contains ingredients that can weaken your metal and remove the rhodium plating on your white gold and sterling silver jewelry. And if you have a pearl or another porous gemstone set in your ring, we also recommend taking your ring off before applying any type of hand sanitizer.

Also, make sure to take your rings off when cleaning around the house. Certain chemicals, like chlorine and bleach can damage your ring’s metal.

If you have any questions regarding cleaning your jewelry at home, contact us at info@kloiberjewelers.com.