Some of you may remember the commercials for baby shampoo that advertised, “No more tears”. The key word for the product was “gentle”.  The same can be said for jewelry cleaner. There are many commercial cleaners on the market, but, just like shampoos, not all have the same ingredients and could bring tears to your eyes if you use it on some of your jewelry. What is gentle? How gentle do you need to be? Should you use water on pieces that aren’t “gold”?

Let’s begin with fashion jewelry that isn’t “gold” – meaning it may be gold colored or plated, but it isn’t what is referred to as karat-gold. Much of this is plated with a thin layer of gold (or something yellow or silver-colored). The amount of coating varies; all of it will eventually dull and/or “rub off”.

There are cleaning cloths – a soft, chamois-type material that will wipe off the residue from body oils or perfumes. This is best – or you might dampen the cloth for a stubborn mark. Water and a gentle cleaner may not immediately remove the plating, but repeated or prolonged use will eventually affect the finish. If there are “stones” in the piece, water and the cleaner may be the only way to clean them. Be careful and use only a very soft brush to reach them.  I use a baby’s tooth brush.  That’s as gentle as they get!!

Fashion jewelry isn’t made to last a lifetime – only as long as the fashion. Today, that might be way past the time you continue to wear it!! Oh well, it’s your favorite piece. No tears!  …Dii