The handwashing and sanitizing seems to be never-ending these days. Next to staying at home and social distancing, washing and sanitizing hands is the most important things that we can do to protect our selves and others against the spread of COVID-19.
But before we wash our hands we must remove all of our rings, watches and bracelets since particles of virus can hide in and under your jewelry and you need your hands and wrists naked to get them properly washed.
“We use our hands and fingers for most day-to-day things, which could mean that the particles are sitting on top or trapped underneath rings, especially if we do not wash the jewelry regularly,” says Dr. Aragona Giuseppe, GP and medical advisor at Prescription Doctor to Vogue UK.
Don’t forget to clean the jewels too
To avoid recontamination, we need to clean the jewels before putting them back on again. But how do you go about that? Not all stones like to be cleaned - especially not the Georgian ones, the foiled stones, enamel decoration, pearls, opals, turquoise, corals and so many more (google is your friend!).
With foiled stones, the water can get under the stone and discolor the foiling making your bright diamond look cloudy and heavily included and with porous stones, they become dull.
Avoid the fragile and old in the first place
My best advice is to leave all the fragile stones like the ones above and very old pieces in the safe box during the pandemic. You can take them out, admire them, hold them, stare at them (I do this anyway - and I bet you do it too!) and then put them back. These jewels can’t be cleaned properly without risk of damage.
But put on the tough gemstones
Instead take out your diamonds, rubies and sapphires and most semi-precious stones like amethyst, aquamarine and topaz set in precious metals like gold, platinum and silver and put them on. These can stand the vigorous hand washing and are all relatively alcohol safe (more about the alcohol later). Avoid wearing the rhodium-plated jewelry (most white gold has rhodium-plating), since too much rubbing and frequent washing will cause the rhodium to wear off.
Play with the ultrasonic cleanser
The easiest way to clean jewelry and really get into all corners is with an ultrasonic cleansing machine. You can buy ultrasonic cleaners for home use and special detergent solutions to add to the water (try Amazon). I have one my self and I love using it since it leaves pieces hysterically clean and sparkly. No toothbrush can ever compete with this machine.
Be careful with the UC
If you use an ultrasonic cleanser you should be aware that stones might come loose if the prongs are not completely ultrasonic safe. Ultrasonic safe is not always the same as safe to wear. The ultrasonic waves has a way of just loosening prongs that would have held tight for another decade if they had not seen an Ultrasonic cleanser. That said, most will be fine. I will talk more about this soon….
Disclaimer: Always look up your gemstone type and see if it is ultrasonic proof. Fragile stones and foilings like the ones mentioned above should not go in the ultrasonic cleanser.
Please comment below if you have any questions!
Hugs, Line
Frequently asked questions
How do I clean gold jewelry at home?
Warm water, a drop of mild dish soap and a soft brush, then a thorough rinse and a careful dry with a soft cloth. That handles everyday dirt on solid gold safely, and it is still the method I trust most.
Can I use hand sanitizer while wearing my rings?
Take them off first. Repeated sanitizer dulls the surface of many stones over time, and washing your hands with rings on leaves soap and residue trapped underneath. Wash hands bare, clean the rings separately, then put them back on.
Does alcohol damage jewelry?
It does not harm gold itself, but it can dull porous stones like pearls, opals and turquoise, and it can weaken old glued or foiled settings. Keep sanitizer and alcohol away from stone-set antique pieces.
Is an ultrasonic cleaner safe for antique jewelry?
Only for solid metal pieces with no stones at all. Stones in antique jewelry, especially foiled, porous or included ones, should never go into an ultrasonic bath - the vibration can crack them or loosen century-old settings.
How often should I clean my jewelry?
Rings and bracelets that are worn daily benefit from a gentle wash every few weeks. Pieces worn occasionally just need a wipe with a soft cloth before they go back in the box.
