How to Make Your Own Jewelry Polish

Don't spend your money on overpriced jewelry polishes that may contain overly harsh chemicals. Mix up a simple cleaning solution with common household liquids to easily clean, brush and polish away all of the oils and dirt that tarnish most types of jewelry.

Instructions

1

Rinse the jewelry. Hold the piece of jewelry to be cleaned under warm running water for about 10 seconds to loosen any surface dirt. Ensure there is a mesh screen or strainer properly covering the drain opening in case you drop the jewelry.

2

Remove leftover dirt with the toothbrush. A soft-bristled brush, such as that suitable for brushing the teeth of small children, will help remove larger dirt deposits before putting the jewelry into a polish solution.

3

Combine 1/2 cup of warm water, 1 tablespoon ammonia and 1 tablespoon liquid dishwashing soap in a small jar and cover tightly with the lid. Gently shake the solution to mix ingredients.

4

Remove the lid from the jar and add the piece of jewelry to be polished. Replace the lid and gently swirl the container for a few seconds.

5

Let the jewelry sit for a minute. This allows the jewelry polish to work its way into the crevices and further loosen grime and oils that have accumulated on the surface of the gems and metal.

6

Take the jewelry out of the polish by removing the jar lid. With the soft toothbrush, again lightly brush all surfaces of the jewelry, working your way into the cracks and hard-to-reach areas. Brush under the setting to clean underneath the gems to increase the brilliance and shine.

7

Rinse the piece of jewelry under warm running water, again taking care that it doesn't fall into the sink drain.

8

Polish with the soft cloth. A lint-free cloth will remove any leftover traces of the cleaning solution and stop the water from leaving spots. The metal and gemstones will shine and look good as new.