If you’ve owned a piece of jewelry for a while, you know that they tend to get tarnished, and cleaning the tarnish can be a real hassle, as well as really expensive. Did you know, however, that there's a quick, free way to clean your jewels at home, with very little effort, if any? By combining a few common household items and very little elbow grease, your jewelry collection will sparkle like new.
What you’ll need:
• Aluminum Foil
• 1 tablespoon of baking soda
• 1 teaspoon of dish detergent
• 1 tablespoon of salt
• A bowl
• An old toothbrush
Instructions:
1. Line a bowl with aluminum foil, shiny side up. The aluminum foil serves to create a mild electrochemical reaction, which helps to clean the tarnish off of silver.
2. In the aluminum foil-lined bowl, add salt and baking soda. These ingredients work together as gentle yet effective abrasives to help scrub off the tarnish.
3. Add the dish detergent to the mixture. Dish detergent is excellent for removing oils and dirt that have built up on your jewelry over time.
4. Pour in hot water, but not boiling. The hot water will help dissolve the salt and baking soda, but be careful not to use boiling water, especially with jewelry containing gemstones, as it could damage them.
5. Once the mixture starts to fizz, carefully place your jewelry into the bowl. Make sure each piece is touching the aluminum foil and is covered by water. Let the jewelry sit in this mixture for about 10–15 minutes.
6. After soaking, use an old toothbrush to gently scrub each piece of jewelry. This will help remove any remaining tarnish or dirt. For delicate or intricate pieces, you can also use a soft cloth or a cotton swab to reach tiny crevices.
7. Rinse each piece under warm water. Make sure to remove all the cleaning mixture to avoid leaving any residue, which can cause more tarnish.
8. Pat dry using a microfiber cloth or paper towel. For best results, let the jewelry air dry completely before storing or wearing.
7. Admire your rejuvenated, sparkling jewelry!
A few bonus tips:
• Always check whether your jewelry has specific cleaning instructions. Some materials may not react well to this cleaning method. • Avoid using this method with pearls, opals, or other soft or porous stones as it could damage them.
• If your jewelry contains glued-in gemstones, be aware that soaking could potentially loosen the glue.
• To prevent future tarnishing, store your jewelry in a cool, dry place and avoid exposure to humidity as much as possible.
• Regularly clean your jewelry to avoid heavy buildup of tarnish. The frequency will depend on how often you wear the pieces.
H/T: popsugar.com
How to Tell Your Children You Have Cancer
What's the right way to tell your children you have cancer, and are there situations where you shouldn't?
Do You Know All 22 Unique Ways to Use Baking Soda?
Baking soda is amazing - Baking soda can help clean grease off floors, freshen your breath, and even relieve insect bites!
Tips for Keeping the Countertop in Tip Top Shape
Some cleaning products can damage your kitchen countertop. Learn how to clean yours best and extend its longevity.
10 Smart Ways to Neutralize Any and All Shoe Odors
To combat shoe smells, we've compiled a list of 10 simple solutions that are readily available in most households.
The Easiest Way to Clean and Freshen Your Mattress
There are thousands of small reasons to clean your mattress, and one simple way to do so!
12 Ways to Remove Odors from a Microwave
If your microwave has lingering smells despite regular cleaning, here are 12 DIY solutions to neutralize those odors effectively.
11 Genius Peanut Butter Life Hacks You Need To Know
Did you know you can use peanut butter as a leather cleaner?
Use This Tip to Slice Onions Safely, Easily & Beautifully
Slicing onions using only a knife is very difficult - and quite dangerous too. But with this amazing tip you'll keep your fingers safe and the slices perfect!
The 7 Biggest Mistakes You Can Make While Filing Taxes
Tax season is here. Make sure you don’t end up making these filing mistakes.
15 Awesome Tips Just For Women!
At home, at work or in the middle of the street, there are situations that only women can understand. The following 15 tips are for women only!
WARNING: These 11 Carcinogens are Lurking in Your Home
There are many things lurking in our home that are dangerous to us, but these 11 items are the most surprising!
8 Surprising Ways to Combat Continuous Hair Loss
Hair loss CAN be remedied, and here are 8 of the best natural home solutions.
Eye-Relaxing Tips: Simple and Fast Exercises for Your Eyes
Do your eyes feel strained at the end of the day? These useful exercises will provide some relief.
10 Wise Plumbing Tips From a Professional Plumber
Here are ten brilliant tips that can save you heaps of time and money when you've got plumbing problems at home.
NEVER Put These 5 Things in the Microwave!
Some things should never go in the microwave, because of the health dangers. Here are 5 things you should keep out of the microwave.
7 Myths About Burning Calories
Burning calories is something we all want, but we need to know what we're doing first, and that means disproving these 7 common but misguided myths about calorie burning.
How to Beat Knee Pain While Going Up and Down the Stairs
Knee hurts while climbing stairs? These tips might just help.
WATCH: 10 Amazing Life-Hacks You Wish You Knew Years Ago
If there were only 10 life-hacks you needed to learn, these would be them.
Keep Baldness Away the Natural Way...
How do we stop our hair from falling out and encourage natural growth? I do it by using these tips!
Ten Things You Can Do With Sugar You Never Knew About
Sugar can do a whole lot more than just make things sweet.
Know the Signs: The Complete Guide to Body Language!
You can learn a lot about a person’s intent by reading his body language, so find out just what that wink meant with this helpful guide.
8 Adorable Mini Indoor Plants to Liven Up Any Small Space
These low-maintenance houseplants aren’t just cute, they hardly take up any space!
6 Simple and Important Flexibility Exercises for Seniors
Regain flexibility after 60 with these easy exercises.
27 New Life Hacks and DIY Ideas For Your Home
Here are 27 fresh DIY ideas chosen especially for our crafty readers, with some handy wellness tricks sprinkled through the video as well
The Dirtiest Places In Your Home Will Surprise You
Bacteria can proliferate ad infinitum in the most unexpected places in the home. Forget the toilet, here's the low-down on the dirtiest things in your home.
Why Didn't I Think of That? 10 Great Kitchen Tricks!
Lifestyle hack videos are great, because they teach us things that we wish we'd thought of ourselves. Watch this video now to learn 10 awesome lifestyle hacks.
I've Used these Tips to Save Hundreds on My Groceries
Take a look at the following tips that I have used in recent months, to help me save hundreds of dollars on my groceries.
Who Knew Bananas Could Have SO Many Uses?
Appearantly, bananas can be used in many more ways than we all thought. Check out these 28 cool household hacks and tricks.
These Great Design Tips Will Make Your Home Outstanding!
If you've decided you want to make a change to your home, then here's how you can give it an up-to-date look.
10 Essential Tips to Revamp Your Home on a Budget
Looking to renovate your home? Here's how to do so on a budget.
This Guide Will Have You Doing Origami Within a Minute!
Always wanted to try folding paper sculptures? Well now with this easy guide you'll be folding them like a pro.
10 Terrific Life Hacks For the Winter Days Ahead
This video will show you some fantastic, yet simple, tips and tricks for this winter.
Freeze Your Food Quickly and Efficiently with These Tips
Which foods can you freeze for later use?
20 Foods That Should Be Kept Out of the Refrigerator
The refrigerator allows us to keep food fresh for longer, but there are certain foods, such as the 20 here, which are not meant for the cold...
Guide: How We Use Different Acids for Skin Treatments
Understanding how these acids work and their specific benefits will empower you to make informed decisions about your skincare routine.
A Smarter Approach to Measuring Body Mass Index
The body mass index can actually be misleading. Here’s what you should use instead.
You Can Use Windex For MUCH More Than Just Windows
First invented in the 1930s, Windex is a potent solution that can be used for so much more than what it was originally intended for, as this list proves.
This Christmas, Make Some DIY Gifts for Our Loved Ones!
Make your loved ones feel extra special with these DIY Christmas gifts.
The Easiest Way to Clean and Freshen Your Mattress
There are thousands of small reasons to clean your mattress, and one simple way to do so!
These Insane Motorbike Stunts Will Make You Doubt Your Eyes
Motorbike stunts that completely defy the laws of gravity!
The 6 Most Common Mattress Shopping Mistakes You’re Making
Planning on buying a new mattress? Do keep these tips in mind.
What Causes Large Pores, And What Can You Do About It?
Do you have large pores? This guide will tell you what you need to do to diminish them.
Do You Know How to Use a Tape Measure? Are You SURE?
The humble tape measure is a more sophisticated tool than you thought...
Follow These 3 Easy Steps to Ripen an Avocado in Minutes
This foolproof trick will make your rock hard avocado soft and creamy in mere minutes. Just follow these simple instructions...
What 1939 Thought of Fashion Today!
hilarious short video from 1939 that dares to dream about the year of 2000 AD....
10 Smart Ways to Treat Your Dry Skin!
Suffer from dry skin? You can find these next natural dry skin treating ingredients right in your home...
17 Organizing Hacks You Will Actually Use
Get more organized at home with these effective and cheap organization hacks.