Are you looking for methods on how to remove tarnish from stainless steel jewelry? Then you really should this post. Nothing ties together your outfit better than clean sparkling jewelry. Unfortunately, your go-to necklace, ring, or wedding band will become dull and lose the sparkle after months of constant wearing.
And if you are like most of us, you might find yourself with a jewelry box full of dull jewelry that you can no longer stand.
Having been where you are now, struggling with dull, tarnished, and discolored stainless steel jewelry, we sought recovery options since we could tell that the pieces needed a little TLC instead of being forgotten. Here is a topic you might likely to read: how to clean tarnished jewelry fast.
In our search, we came across a number of suggestions on how to clean the tarnished stainless steel jewelry. Others worked, but others didn’t yield the best results. To help you out, this article outlines some of the most effective ways of removing tarnish from jewelry made of stainless steel.
How to Remove Tarnish from Stainless Steel Jewelry?
Stainless steel jewelry is becoming popular in the jewelry world because of its natural gleam, the affordability, and the fact that it looks great on just about everyone.
Unfortunately, most people stop wearing jewelry pieces after some months or years because they no longer ‘look as good as they did when they were new.’
First, it’s important to note that stainless steel jewelry, just like any other metal will look different/ tarnished after some time because of exposure to the air (oxygen) and other environmental elements that react with or dinge parts of the jewelry.
The good news, however, is that this damage is reversible. And the even greater news is that you can restore the original/ new sparkle of your jewelry using simple household items.
Below are some of the effective stainless steel jewelry cleaning solutions.
Method 1 – Baking soda + Water Paste
Baking soda is a multi-purpose ingredient that you must have in your home. Its uses are underestimated by many, which is why we are introducing one new use of baking soda.
In this cleaning method, you need a bowl large enough to hold your jewelry, two parts baking soda, and one-part water (or at least enough water to make a toothpaste-like paste), a small, soft, lint-free and clean kitchen towel, and finally a soft-bristled toothbrush.
- Mix the baking soda and the water in a bowl to make a paste. Note that you can adjust the water-baking soda proportions depending on the number and size of jewelry you wish to clean.
- Next up, dip your toothbrush into the paste bowl and then scrub your jewelry gently, making sure that you fix all the hidden spots and crevices.
- When done cleaning, plug your sink, then rinse the jewelry piece with warm water. Once it’s clean, place the jewelry piece on your clean kitchen towel and pat-dry the piece. Let it sit on the towel for a few minutes then store it. Simple, no?
Method 2 – Baking Soda, Hot Water, Detergent and Salt Cleaning mix
As mentioned in the previous cleaning method, cleaning jewelry doesn’t have to be a particularly lengthy or expensive process. Using simple household items, you can clean your pieces and save money and time in the process.
In addition to the ingredients above, you will also need a sizeable bowl and aluminum foil. Place a good size of aluminum foil on the bowl or small basin.
- On the foil, add equal parts salt, baking soda, mild cleaning detergent, and about a half a cup of the hot water. Next, drop in your jewelry pieces and allow them to sit for about 10 minutes. After 10 minutes, your jewelry pieces should look as good as new. But if you spot a little gunk on the pieces, you could clean it out using a soft-bristled toothbrush.
- When done cleaning in the mixture, rinse the pieces with warm water then allow them to dry on a soft, clean, and lint-free kitchen towel.
Method 3 – Using Soap and Water
This is the simplest method of cleaning stainless steel jewelry.
- To get started, get two small bowls then fill them with warm water. One of these bowls will be used for washing and the other for rinsing. So, ensure that the bowls are big enough to submerge your jewelry pieces completely.
- To the first bowl, add 2-3 drops of your mildest liquid soap. Ensure that the soap is designed to fight grease, especially if your jewelry pieces are very dirty.
- Using a soft, lint-free, and non-abrasive cleaning cloth dipped in the soapy water, start cleaning your jewelry pieces. The use of a soft cloth, preferably microfiber protects the jewelry piece from scratches, especially if you are cleaning a jewelry piece with gemstones. To clean the piece well, rub the cleaning cloth right along the piece while ensuring that you go along and not across its grain. Rubbing across those grain lines increases the risk of scratching.
- To clean out gunk from the detailed areas, get a soft toothbrush, and gently brush it, going along the grain and not across the grain. Ge gentle and don’t scrub on the gemstones.
- When satisfied, dip the piece in the second bowl then rinse. Bob it up and down to remove soap residue. Do a final rinse with clean water. Then dry it using a dry, clean cloth. If necessary, polish the jewelry piece using a polishing cloth.
How to Clean Gold Plated Stainless Steel Jewelry?
Haven’t you ended up buying the next-best alternative (and this applies to anything) because you couldn’t afford the real thing? We all have, and on top of this list is jewelry.
Gold plated jewelry is often the next best alternative. The catch, however, is that the plated jewelry piece might become tarnished too soon after purchase.
To avoid embarrassing moments, to boost the piece’s lifespan, and to protect the thin gold layer, here are recommendations on how to clean your gold plated stainless steel jewelry.
Using a cotton ball or a soft cloth, wipe off dirt and dust from the surface of the jewelry piece. You could also rub the jewelry’s surface gently with a soft piece of jewelry cloth. Doing this will restore your jewelry’s shine.
In case your jewelry needs more cleaning, soap and water will do the trick – follow the steps in stainless steel jewelry cleaning Method 3 above.
Regarding soap, stay clear of antibacterial soaps or jewelry cleaners because these tend to be harsh and they might corrode the gold layer on your jewelry too fast. When cleaning/ rubbing, always use a soft cloth to avoid scratching.
How to Remove Scratches from Stainless Steel jewelry?
Scratches are inevitable around stainless steel jewelry, and the worst bit is that they even the newest jewelry pieces look old and quite ugly. Fortunately, you can remove the scratches.
There are two ways of dealing with the scratches – polishing and sanding. You can tell whether to use either option depending on how deep the scratches are.
If your fingernails don’t get hung up in the piece, the polishing will do the trick. However, if your fingernail gets hung up in or gets stuck in the scratch, you’ll have to sand the piece. You need sanding materials to sand out the scratches and a buffer to smooth out the scratches from flat and circular areas.
- Whitening toothpaste
You might also want to try whitening toothpaste if your jewelry piece has scratches. Just add a small paste onto a soft-bristled toothbrush and then brush your stainless steel jewelry as you would your teeth, but now with a little more paste. Always start from a small area of the jewelry and then wipe off the paste with a soft wet towel to check if the scratches are going away. Keep brushing until the entire jewelry piece is free of scratches. After brushing, use a metal polish for the final finish.
Note that you could also use a plan toothbrush, preferably a baby’s toothbrush.
Conclusion
Your stainless steel jewelry will get tarnished, look old and ugly, and get scratches. However, these shouldn’t force you to stop wearing your favorite pieces since you can clean and polish the pieces, restoring their original shine with ease and affordably.
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Tiger is a fashion&jewelry lover. He is also a fashion jewelry manufacturer that help thousands of small business to grow and also do business with some big fashion jewelry brands. He is a truly metal expert and he will share some information you are looking for.