Jewelry cleaning maching recommendations?
- Thread starter balihai88
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I was using this jewelry cleaner called Conoisseurs (in a red jar) for quite some time and was relatively pleased with the results. Thanks to this thread, I tried the Windex treatment. Holy COW. There is such an insane difference in the sparkle of my diamonds now, it's absolutely astounding. I was a little apprehensive so I put only 1 part detergent to 1 part water in my ultrasonic machine (basically to dilute the glass cleaner). After rinsing them in lukewarm water, I blotted them dry gently with a paper towel. The sparkle is too beautiful for words. I tried taking pictures but the sparkle just isn't captured well enough by my camera, it's frustrating!
I think I'll try that - thanks! We have very hard water in our area, so it leaves residue. I use distilled water in my ultrasonic (with no additive), but do rinse my jewelry afterward with the hard tap water. I wipe the water off with a clean towel afterward. My solitaire diamond sparkles like crazy after doing this, but now I'm going to try Windex to see if that makes it even more sparkly. I'd had a jeweler tell me years ago that they use common household cleaners to clean jewelry - any non-abrasive spray like 409 or Windex. I just never got around to trying it. Windex seems safer for the stone than 409, though it probably doesn't make much difference.
^I was wondering today if using tap water after soaking it negates the cleaning... I was thinking of using only purified/bottled water to rinse my jewelry after cleaning. I didn't today and everything came out really sparkly, but next time I'm going to try purified water to see if it makes even more of a difference.
I also use Gemcare. It's gentle and works very well. My jeweler told me that if I dip my rings in alcohol after cleaning, they will come out free of spots. That's denatured alcohol, not the "other" kind
Sitting here thinking about dunking my diamonds in a martini....
will these chemicals harm the stones? not just diamonds but gemstones? or plated gold and sterling sivler? and when u place them in do the tumble around in the jewelry machine cleaner?
^From what I've read, you should be careful with gemstones. It's easier to clean "harder" stones like diamonds and rubies. Definitely don't clean pearls with chemicals or even in an ultra sonic cleaner.
In the ultra sonic cleaner, they don't tumble around. The machine creates a vibration that sends ripples throughout the jewelry (releasing dirt). If you look closely, you'll see the jewelry vibrate a little, but they don't tumble by any means. The thing you have to be careful of is making sure none of the jewelry is touching another piece of jewelry, which could potentially cause damage. Also, no pave diamonds in the ultra sonic machine, it might make them fall out (!!!).
I think sterling silver might need a special cleaner (according to Sharper Image at least).
Just cleaned my diamond and ruby jewelry in my ultra sonic machine with diluted Windex. Goodness, the sparkle is amazing. I'm so addicted to cleaning my jewelry now.
Does anyone know if it's BAD to clean my jewelry every single day? I can't imagine not doing it, I just love how they sparkle when they're so clean... I google'd the topic quite a bit, and I found one jewelry forum where everyone seems to have said it's totally fine. Anyone from TPF have any personal experience? My mom says not to use Windex and she also says not to clean my diamonds every day because it will cause them to lose their luster... I love my mom, but sometimes her info can be a bit off.
In the ultra sonic cleaner, they don't tumble around. The machine creates a vibration that sends ripples throughout the jewelry (releasing dirt). If you look closely, you'll see the jewelry vibrate a little, but they don't tumble by any means. The thing you have to be careful of is making sure none of the jewelry is touching another piece of jewelry, which could potentially cause damage. Also, no pave diamonds in the ultra sonic machine, it might make them fall out (!!!).
I think sterling silver might need a special cleaner (according to Sharper Image at least).
Just cleaned my diamond and ruby jewelry in my ultra sonic machine with diluted Windex. Goodness, the sparkle is amazing. I'm so addicted to cleaning my jewelry now.
Does anyone know if it's BAD to clean my jewelry every single day? I can't imagine not doing it, I just love how they sparkle when they're so clean... I google'd the topic quite a bit, and I found one jewelry forum where everyone seems to have said it's totally fine. Anyone from TPF have any personal experience? My mom says not to use Windex and she also says not to clean my diamonds every day because it will cause them to lose their luster... I love my mom, but sometimes her info can be a bit off.
Your mom is just being overly cautious. It is not a problem to clean your diamonds with Windex every day. My jeweler uses an acid bath to clean mine. I think it's a wee bit stronger than plain old Windex. KWIM?
Outside of the usuals (opals, pearls, emeralds) I would worry about cleaning treated gemstones. A majority of Topaz stones are treated. And I know there are some that have coatings to make them different colors. I do not know what the standard is for cleaning those and not losing the coating. I also don't know what the effect of heating a color treated stone would have on it. Filled diamonds are another mystery category too.
I would think that plated jewelry is going to wear off. (I have seen it wear off just by wearing it.) So I think a mild soap is all I would use on it. But that's based on a guess.
Outside of the usuals (opals, pearls, emeralds) I would worry about cleaning treated gemstones. A majority of Topaz stones are treated. And I know there are some that have coatings to make them different colors. I do not know what the standard is for cleaning those and not losing the coating. I also don't know what the effect of heating a color treated stone would have on it. Filled diamonds are another mystery category too.
I would think that plated jewelry is going to wear off. (I have seen it wear off just by wearing it.) So I think a mild soap is all I would use on it. But that's based on a guess.
I usually clean my jewelry myself.I don't have a clean machine,but a jeweller have explain me a way to have the same result.I usually put all my jewelry in a pot,cover them with cold water and add some laundry detergent powder.I put the pot on fire until the water boils,so i clean all the jewelry with a old tooth brush and the hot water.When all the soap is gone,I put them in a cup and cover with alcohol.Ten minutes and they are ready,you only have to dry them in a cotton rag,and they sparkle like crazy.
The only thing is that pearls and emerald could not be cleaned in that way.
The only thing is that pearls and emerald could not be cleaned in that way.
Do you think it's okay for the white gold though? All of my rings are 14k white gold, and I read on one website that ammonia damages the white gold if you soak the rings for long periods of time. Anyone have any experience with this?
TIA!
