Premier Design Inc High Fashion Jewelry

Q: Does anyone know how to make homemade jewelry cleaner solution? I have the container to hold the solution with the little brush, but the cleaner has gotten pretty murky and dirty through use. I thought I could come up with a homemade frugal cleaner instead of buying a new container and solution.

A:My mom worked in an antique/jewelry store so she was always cleaning old and very dirty jewelry. THe store used warm water and a little bit of dishwashing detergent, preferably Dawn. Soak time depended on how dirty the piece was. I recently came across an earring I hadn't worn in 20 years, so gunked up I didn't think it would come clean. I soaked it in mom's solution for a couple of hours, scrubbed it carefully with an extra soft toothbrush, and it looked new. You don't need the ammonia or more than a few drops of detergent. VERY frugal. Never ever use toothpaste or a toothbrush! It makes small scratches which eventually dull your jewelry. Stick with the Dawn and water. Woolite is good to (not the softner kind). Use a cotton ball, makeup sponge or soft rag if you need to help it a little. Also, stay away from other household cleaners because most can eat away at the protective coating on the jewelry or even the jewelry itself.