Jewelry can be costly, so you want to keep it looking beautiful and sparkling as the day you got it. But, if you don’t, your jewelry may become dirty if you wear it a lot or tarnish if it only sits in a jewelry box. So what can you use that is in your home to clean it? Does white vinegar clean jewelry?
Yes! Fortunately, you can clean your jewelry with white vinegar. White vinegar contains acetic acid, which makes it 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 will discuss how white vinegar can keep your jewelry shining, shimmering, and splendid.
Is White Vinegar Safe to Clean Jewelry?
The materials your jewelry contains will dictate whether vinegar is safe to clean.
If your jewelry is made from silver or gold, you can safely use vinegar to clean it and make it shine.
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. Wash your jewelry that has gems and pearls with warm water and mild dishwashing liquid soap instead.
Does Vinegar Clean Gold Jewelry?
Yes, vinegar cleans gold jewelry safely. However, it’s recommended not to clean gold-plated jewelry with vinegar or gold with gemstones.
This is because vinegar is an acidic substance, and exposure to gemstones and gold-plated jewelry with it may damage their surfaces and cause them to lose their shine.
If your jewelry is gold-plated and/or has gemstones, it’s essential to clean them by following the care instructions provided by the jeweler or any jewelry professional.
Does Vinegar Clean Earrings?
Yes, cleaning earrings with vinegar is essential, especially if they are earrings that you use often. Earrings are prone to dirt and germs due to their exposure to makeup, oil, and sweat; hence, the need to clean them regularly.
How to Clean Earrings with Vinegar
- To clean your earrings, soak them in a quarter cup of vinegar for about 20 minutes.
- Scrub the earrings with a soft-bristled, clean toothbrush to brush off the remaining dirt.
- Rinse them thoroughly and ensure they are dry before you put them back on or in a jewelry box.
Does Vinegar and Baking Soda Clean Jewelry?
Vinegar and baking soda create a powerful combination for cleaning, drain cleaning and unclogging, and removing rust. They are also all-natural and affordable.
You can also use this solution as a vintage jewelry cleaner. However, ensure your vintage jewelry doesn’t have pearls, gemstones, and other delicate materials.
How to Clean Jewelry with Vinegar and Baking Soda
- To clean jewelry with vinegar and baking soda, create a paste by mixing three tablespoons of baking soda and one tablespoon of water.
- Put the jewelry in a glass bowl filled with white vinegar. After around 5 minutes, rinse the jewelry with water and dry it with a clean cloth.
Does White Vinegar Damage Diamonds?
Cleaning jewelry with diamonds is easy to do when you use vinegar. And it does a fabulous job of keeping your diamonds clean and shiny.
White vinegar contains mild acetic acid, so it will not damage your diamonds either. However, be careful when using vinegar to clean more porous stones.
How to Clean Diamonds with Vinegar
- To safely use white vinegar to clean jewelry with diamonds, mix two tablespoons of baking soda 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 it.
Does White Vinegar Clean Cheap Jewelry?
Yes, white vinegar is safe to use to clean your cheap jewelry. Although it is slightly acidic, it will not harm your precious pieces. It can make the materials or the chains of your jewelry shiny.
How to Clean Cheap Jewelry with Vinegar
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 it to sit for a few minutes, then remove, rinse, and dry your shiny jewelry.
Ketchup
To clean tarnished, smooth silver, dunk it 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 it, and it’s ready to wear.
Window Cleaner
You can use window cleaner to clean and 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 Jewelry Sensitive to White Vinegar?
Generally, white vinegar is safe to clean jewelry. However, as 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.
Can You Use Any Type of Vinegar to Clean Jewelry?
Does apple cider vinegar clean jewelry, you ask? Absolutely! You are not limited to white vinegar alone in cleaning your jewelry.
You can also use other food-based vinegar, like red wine vinegar. However, it may not be as effective as white vinegar because it is 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 it, keep it 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 you can use white vinegar to clean gold jewelry, diamonds, and cheap jewelry, you will never have to worry about dull-looking jewelry or buying jewelry 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 how to clean other types of jewelry with vinegar, check out our article – The Jewelry Lover’s Guide: Why Vinegar is a Must-Have Cleaning Solution
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?