Does White Vinegar Clean Jewelry?

Jewelry can be costly; hence, you would want to keep them looking beautiful and sparkling as the day you got it. However, jewelry may tarnish over time, especially when you use it often or from sitting in a jewelry box. So you might ask yourself, “how can I keep my jewelry clean naturally’? or “does white vinegar clean jewelry?”

Yes! Fortunately, you can solve your jewelry tarnishing problems with a good amount of white vinegar. White vinegar contains acetic acid, which makes them a great cleaning agent. Its acidity can clean, deodorize, and disinfect. It helps break down greasy build-up and grime that tarnishes and oxidizes your jewelry.

In this blog post, we cover and discuss how white vinegar can keep your jewelry shining, shimmering, and splendid.

Is White Vinegar Safe to Clean Jewelry?

The materials your jewelry is made of will dictate whether vinegar is safe to clean. If your jewelry is made from silver and gold, you can safely use vinegar to make the material shine. Plus, it’s a bonus that vinegar is one of the cheapest cleaners you can use for your jewelry.

However, for your jewelry that contains gems and pearls, vinegar, unfortunately, may do more harm than good. Gems and pearls are sensitive and react to certain chemicals. So, we don’t recommend using vinegar to clean them. You can wash your gold jewelry with warm water and mild dishwashing liquid soap instead.

Does White Vinegar Damage Diamonds?

White vinegar contains mild acetic acid, so it will not damage your diamonds. And it does a fabulous job of keeping your diamonds clean and shiny. However, be careful when using vinegar to clean more porous stones.

To safely use white vinegar to clean jewelry with diamonds, mix two tablespoons of vinegar and half a cup of white vinegar. Allow the baking soda to dissolve, and soak your jewelry in the mixture. Rinse the jewelry with cold water and let it air dry, or use a clean cloth to dry them. 

Does White Vinegar Clean Cheap Jewelry?

Yes, white vinegar is safe to use to clean your cheap jewelry. It is slightly acidic and will not harm your precious pieces. It can make the materials or the chains of your jewelry shiny. To use this solution, you can apply vinegar to a sponge and clean the jewelry with a sponge. You can also use a toothbrush for jewelry containing gems. 

How to Clean Jewelry with Vinegar?

Cleaning your jewelry is an easy process that doesn’t require much time and effort. Follow these tips to make your jewelry glisten again.

Things you’ll need:

• 1 cup of vinegar
• Small bowl
• Toothbrush
• Clean, dry cloth

Instructions:

Step 1. Pour vinegar into a bowl.

Step 2. Soak your jewelry in the solution. Allow the magic to work for about 10 to 15 minutes, depending on the severity of the dirt. If you get sidetracked and forget about your jewelry cleaning task, don’t worry, as the vinegar won’t damage them.

Step 3. Remove the jewelry from the bowl and use the toothbrush to scrub the remaining dirt away. This will remove any grime or loosened dirt from the jewelry.

Step 4. Rinse off your jewelry with cold water. Use a clean cloth to dry your jewelry. Feel free to repeat the cleaning process should there be dirt that is still visible.

What Other Household Items Can Clean Your Jewelry?

If you don’t have vinegar on hand, don’t fret! There are other inexpensive cleaners that you can use to clean your jewelry. And we are not talking about jewelry cleaners but household items usually available in your home.

Here are some household items you can use to glisten your jewelry.

Ammonia

You can keep your gold and other trinkets shining by cleaning them with ammonia. Just soak your jewelry in a small bowl of ammonia mixed with warm water. Then dry your jewelry using a clean, dry cloth. Don’t use this solution when your jewelry has pearls because it may damage the material.

Baking Soda

Baking soda, too, is an excellent cleaner for jewelry. Combine baking soda and water to create a paste. Use a sponge or toothbrush to clean the jewelry with the paste. Rinse and dry to finish the cleaning process.

Club Soda

You can use club soda to brighten jewelry especially stones like emeralds, diamonds, sapphires, rubies, and the like. Soak the jewelry in a bowl of club soda overnight.

Denture Tablets

If your diamond has lost its sparkle, resolve your problem using denture tablets. Drop the tablet in a glass of warm water, and after that, put your jewelry into the mixture. Allow them to sit for a few minutes, then remove, rinse, and dry your shiny jewelry.

Ketchup

For tarnished, smooth silver, dunk them in a small bowl of ketchup. But if your silver has detailed surfaces, use a toothbrush to clean your jewelry. Once done, rinse your jewelry, dry them, and it’s ready to wear.

Window Cleaner

You can use window cleaner to brighten all metal or jewelry with crystalline gemstones like rubies and diamonds. Spray your jewelry with the window cleaner and use a toothbrush to clean them. However, do not use this jewelry with organic gems or opaque stones like turquoise and opal.

Are there Types of Jewelries Sensitive to White Vinegar?

Generally, white vinegar is safe to clean jewelry. However, as we mentioned earlier, we recommend not using it on jewelry containing gems and pearls. The acid properties in vinegar may harm these delicate stones, making your precious stones less shiny than when you first bought them.

Is there Another Type of Vinegar You Can Use to Clean Jewelry?

You are not limited to white vinegar alone in cleaning your jewelry. You can use other food-based vinegar like apple cider and red wine vinegar. However, they may not be as effective as white vinegar because they are less acidic. The acid content helps clean built-up oxides and grime.

How to Properly Care for Your Jewelry?

We believe in the saying that “prevention is better than cure.” If you think this mantra, too, here’s how you can adequately care for and prevent losing the shine of your beloved jewelry.

• Remove or don’t wear any jewelry when cleaning the house, applying beauty products, or washing hands. 
• Wipe pearls with a soft and clean cloth after each wear. This will remove perfume and body oil that can make your jewelry turn yellow.
• Don’t wear jewelry while working out or swimming. Sweat and body oil may discolor your jewelry, while saltwater and chlorine may damage them.
• Don’t keep your silver in the jewelry box for too long. Wear your silver more often because it makes them shinier. When you are not wearing them, keep them in anti-tarnish storage.
• Make it a habit to have your jewelry checked by a reputable jeweler. This will assure you that your expensive jewelry is in good shape and in a secure setting.

Conclusion

I hope this answers your question, “Does White Vinegar Clean Jewelry?” Now that you know that you can use white vinegar to clean jewelry, you will never have to worry about dull-looking jewelry or spending so much on expensive cleaners. 

Vinegar is a cost-effective cleaner that will make your jewelry shine like new again. With a bit of your time, effort, and a few supplies, you’re ready to flaunt your beautiful silver and gold with confidence.

To learn what else you can use vinegar to clean in your home, read our article – Does Vinegar Clean Fruits and Vegetables?

If you want to learn what other method besides vinegar you can use to clean your jewelry, check our article – Does Baking Soda Clean Gold?