We offer cleaning and polishing for any type of jewelry whether it is silver, gold, platinum, costume or beaded. We can clean it for you and make it look like new again. Often we can polish your pieces while you wait.
We sell jewelry cleaning solution and polishing rags in our shop in Belmont. A polish every once in a while will make your bling sparkle and shine to light up the room!
Jewelry Cleaning Tips & Tricks
Be sure to test any jewelry, especially with stones, before cleaning jewelry based on these recommendations. Or visit Karenna Maraj Jewelry Collection in Belmont, MA for a professional opinion.
How to clean silver necklaces and silver jewelry?
There are many jewelry cleaning tricks that can be easily done at home by anyone with just a few simple materials. To clean a silver necklace specifically, you can use a liquid jewelry cleaner and a polishing rag. The liquid cleaner works well on necklaces because it gets into all of the small crevices. Dip the necklace or chain into the liquid and leave submerged for 1-2 minutes. Take out and rinse off under water. Even if the solution label doesn’t say to rinse, it is still a good idea to wash. Use a polishing cloth across the whole surface to bring the silver to a shine.
How to clean jewelry with baking soda?
Another way to clean silver jewelry is with baking soda and aluminum foil. You can use an aluminum pan or a glass dish lined with aluminum foil. Lay your silver jewelry on the foil, spread out without touching. Sprinkle 1 tablespoon of baking soda over all of the jewelry. Pour 1 cup of boiling water over the pieces and let soak for 30 seconds. (You can also add ½ cup of white vinegar to the mixture to help speed up the process.) Use a pair of tongs to remove the jewelry. Rinse under water and wipe with a soft cloth. You can use a polishing cloth to buff any spots.
Keep silver out of the sun and moisture, if possible. These both will speed up tarnish. You can place each item in its own anti-tarnish or zip lock bag and then store it in your jewelry box. These bags protect against moisture and keep your jewelry tangle free. To avoid scratching do not over-store jewelry in one box. Try keeping your bracelets and necklaces in a closed flat box.
To get a professional high shine restored to your pieces with a professional jewelry cleaning, bring it to Karenna Maraj Jewelry conveniently located in Belmont, MA. We will be able to remove some of the scratches with a buffing wheel and then bring back the luster with polishing compounds. It will look like new!
How to clean gold necklaces?
24k gold or pure gold is the least reactive element, so it will not tarnish. But because most gold jewelry is an alloy it contains copper and silver to make it stronger- those metals do oxidize. The higher the karat of gold the less likely it will be to tarnish.
Even gold jewelry cleaning can be done easily and conveniently. The easiest way to clean gold necklaces is to use a jewelry solution. Dip the necklace in for about 1 minute and then then rinse in water and dry. Do again if necessary.
A home remedy to remove tarnish is to mix a few drops of mild dish detergent with some club soda or seltzer water and let soak for 10-15 minutes. You can also use a soft bristle toothbrush to rub the chain. Rinse under water. Use a soft cloth to dry.
How to clean pearl necklaces?
Over time contact with the skin’s oils can cause the layers of the pearls to deteriorate. The best way to clean pearl necklaces is to use a soft damp cloth to wipe down the pearl after each wear to remove perspiration and skin oils. Never use anything abrasive on the pearls, like a toothbrush or a plastic sponge or jewelry cleaning solution. Also, try not to wet the cord between each pearl because that will weaken the silk.
After about 6 wears it is good to clean the pearls with warm water and a little mild soap. Dampen the soft rag with a little of the water & mild soap mixture and wipe the pearls down. You can use a Q-tip dripped in a little jewelry cleaner to clean the clasp. Then dry off.
Pearls should not be stored with any other pieces of jewelry, since they are prone to scratches. Do not store pearls in air tight bags, cotton or wool because it will dry out the pearl and deteriorate the surface. Instead store in silk or suede.
How to clean earrings?
For jewelry cleaning tips that apply to earrings, the first step is to determine what type of earrings you want to clean. You can always test a small spot for a bad reaction before diving in.
Pearls are soft and porous so they should be treated gently. The best way to clean pearl earrings is with a soft, damp cloth. If the pearls seem to be stained, you can try using lukewarm water with mild dish soap and dipping the cloth in the solution and then rubbing it on the pearl.
Each type of gemstone will have different reactions to chemicals and heat. If you are unsure what type of stone you have it is best to wash your gems with lukewarm water, mild dish soap and a soft baby toothbrush. Make sure to dry well with a soft cloth.
How to clean diamond jewelry & diamond earrings?
A favorite way to clean diamond jewelry so they sparkle again is to mix 1 cup of warm water with several drops of dish soap and a teaspoon of ammonia. Soak the diamond earrings for a couple of minutes in the solution. Take them out, one at a time, and use a soft baby toothbrush wet with solution to scrub all over. Rinse them off in clean water. Repeat if necessary. You can also clean diamond earrings with a window cleaning solution. Who’d have thought jewelry cleaning and window cleaning were so closely related?
Customer Testimonial:
I was hanging out with Karenna on the beach one day when I realized I should ask her opinion on what to use to make my diamond earrings sparkle again. I’m not a jewelry cleaning expert so I figured I could use any help I could get. She recommended a little dish soap in warm water and a few drops of ammonia. I went home, found a jar that I could mix the solution in, and dropped my earrings in for a couple of minutes and then used an old toothbrush to scrub them clean. DAMN, they were so sparkly! Why stop there- next I did my engagement ring and wedding band. I was so excited I called my sister-in-law to pass on the recipe to her. My diamonds will never be dirty again! – Carolyn D. from Belmont, MA
How to clean new earrings or clean earring backs?
In the excitement of receiving new jewelry, it can be easy to forget to clean our earrings. The best way to clean new earrings or clean earring backs is to dampen a soft cloth with alcohol and wipe down the posts, pads and the earring back.
How to clean costume jewelry?
Costume jewelry can be tricky to clean compared to other jewelry cleaning work because the jewelry is usually plated with a very thin coating of metal and you don’t want to remove that coating. Do not use regular jewelry cleaning solution because it is too harsh. To best clean costume jewelry use a soft baby toothbrush or Q-tip dropped in lukewarm water with a few drops of baby shampoo. Rub gently, rinse and dry well.
Be sure not to soak the jewelry because it can loosen the glue that hold the stones in place. Also, be aware of what you put on your body alongside your jewelry. Try to use lotions or spray perfume before putting your jewelry because that will cut down on how much ends up onto the pieces. And always take off costume jewelry before working out. Sweat will speed up how quickly the metal coating wears off.
How to clean gold plated jewelry?
Similarly to costume jewelry cleaning, it’s best to be careful when cleaning plated jewelry of any kind. The best way to clean gold-plated jewelry is to use a little mild soap in lukewarm water and a soft bristle toothbrush. Soak the head of the toothbrush in the solution and then scrub the jewelry lightly. Repeat if necessary. Make sure to dry the jewelry well. Store in a zip lock bag away from moisture.
Customer Testimonial:
I went to Karenna Maraj to polish and clean a few pieces of costume jewelry. One chain I brought in had a lot of the gold worn off and you could see a layer of pink copper and silver colored metal underneath. Karenna explained to me that the top coat of gold was worn away from rubbing against my skin and that it was tricky to re-plate gold chains because it wouldn’t look even and that it would be hard to remove all of the gold between each link, causing the end result to potentially look patchy. She recommended I replace the chain and she was even able to provide me with a few inexpensive options. A large pendant that I had was also gold plated with signs of wear but Karenna told me that I could have this one re-plated because she could remove all of the gold plating easily, polish it and then add the layer of gold back. This would make the piece look like new and give it an even color. These few pieces of jewelry aren’t worth much, but they are sentimental to me because they were given to me by my kids. I was so happy to know that I can wear my beloved jewelry again! -Joan G. from Arlington, MA
Hopefully these tips and tricks help you to become more of a self-sufficient jewelry cleaning master! But for a second opinion, a professional jewelry cleaning, or even if you just want to be careful with some of your most cherished pieces, visit Karenna Maraj Jewelry Collection in Belmont, MA for all of your jewelry sales and services needs.