How to Clean Stainless Steel Jewelry?
Have you been wondering how to clean stainless steel jewelry? If you are looking to buy jewelry and wondering if stainless steel is the right material for your new piece of jewelry, you are not alone.
There's a reason why stainless steel is "stainless": it resists stains and is easy to clean. We'll discuss how to clean stainless steel jewelry properly.
Stainless Steel Jewelry
Stainless steel is a metal that is made out of iron and chromium, making it a material that does not corrode easily. This metal is most often used as wedding bands.
While this metal is very durable and does not tarnish easily, stainless steel can get scratched as well as lose some of its shine over time.
If you are wondering whether your stainless steel jewelry will change color, the answer is no. Your stainless steel jewelry is a metal that is harder than silver. Because of this the metal will not change colour, rust, or oxidize. It has an anticorrosive surface.
The metal is also very strong with its combination of carbon and iron. You will never have to worry about breaking or cracking the ring while wearing it or cleaning it.
Clean Effectively
There are some basic cleaning protocols that you should follow. These protocols ensure you clean your stainless steel jewelry effectively.
Soft Brushes
The only brush that will fully clean your stainless steel jewelry is soft. Steel is durable and will mostly keep itself clean. You just need to dust away some of the dirt and grime that is on the surface layer. Use something like a toothbrush to clean.
Toothbrushes have light or soft bristles and are used most frequently when cleaning jewelry.
Hot Water
The water that you are using should be at least room temperature if not hot water. Using hot water is necessary when cleaning jewelry because it will fully dissolve the cleaning solution that you use.
Dry and Soft Cloths
Also, make sure that you are using the softest piece of fabric or cloth that you can find to dry your jewelry. The softer, the better.
You want to avoid scratching the jewelry with any particles on the cloth. Check for lint before drying the jewelry as well. You don't want to clean your jewelry and then have lint and fabric stuck to it.
Things To Avoid
When cleaning your stainless steel, avoid cleaners that are made for silver, copper, or brass. Those materials can be abrasive and scratch the stainless steel piece of jewelry that you are trying to clean.
Bleach is also extremely harsh on stainless steel and can damage the surface.
Methods That Work
There is no more wondering what the best cleaner is for your stainless steel jewelry. These methods will help restore shine to your jewelry and remove any excess oil and dirt that has accumulated.
While following these methods use the tools that were already discussed, use warm or hot water, the softest cloth you can find, and soft cleaning tools.
Soap and Water
There is no need to worry about if the soap will affect stainless steel jewelry. Dish soap is an extremely effective way to clean grime from stainless steel. It gets excess oils off of the jewelry as well.
Here is the most effective way to clean your stainless steel jewelry with soap and water.
- First, fill two small bowls with hot water
- Add a small amount of dish soap into the first bowl
- Take a cloth and dip it into the soap mixture
- Use the cloth to rub the jewelry clean
- With a toothbrush remove any of the other dirt and grime
- Use the second bowl of water to rinse the jewelry off
- Polish the jewelry with another dry soft cloth
This method is sure to remove normal wear and tear off of your jewelry for you. Plus this uses all items that are most likely already in your home.
Baking-Soda Paste
Another method that is known to work is baking soda and water.
- Combine two parts baking soda and one part water
- Use a toothbrush and get some of the mixture on the toothbrush
- Gently clean the jewelry
- Rinse the piece of jewelry off with warm water
- Use a soft towel and pat the jewelry dry
- Take another soft cloth and polish the jewelry
The mixture should have a toothpaste-like consistency. Make sure that you get all of the mixture off of the jewelry before you are done.
Ionized Baking Soda
The ionized baking soda takes the common properties of baking soda and enhances them or "electrifies" them.
- Get a piece of aluminum foil and line the bottom and sides of a bowl with it
- Add a teaspoon of salt to the bowl
- Add a tablespoon of baking soda
- Add a tablespoon of dish detergent
- To finish the mixture, add a full cup of hot water
- Place your jewelry in the bowl and mixture and let it sit for ten minutes
- Thoroughly rinse off the jewelry with warm water
- Finish by polishing the jewelry with a soft towel
There is an ion exchange that is happening within the mixture that is strong enough to clean your jewelry!
Toothpaste
If you are looking for the most simple way to get the sheen back into your stainless steel jewelry, try toothpaste.
- Fill two bowls with warm to hot water
- Use the toothpaste and toothbrush, and water to clean the jewelry
- Place the washed jewelry in the second bowl to let it soak.
- Let it soak until all the toothpaste is gone
- Polish the jewelry with a soft towel
It is not recommended to use gel-based toothpaste for this cleaning method. The toothpaste works as it does on teeth, and there is a chemical reaction that lifts the dirt and layers of grime from the jewelry.
Ultrasonic-jewelry Cleaner
If you are looking for how to brighten stainless steel jewelry using an ultrasonic-jewelry cleaner is going to be the way to do it. An ultrasonic-jewelry cleaner is effective on all metals and even meets professional standards.
An ultrasonic module releases sound waves and creates a consistent source of friction on your jewelry. This helps to get all of the little crevices that you cannot get by hand cleaning your jewelry.
You add hot water and a cleaning solution to the ultrasonic-jewelry cleaner and fully submerge the jewelry in the water. After you turn the device on and let it run, take the jewelry out and rinse it off and then pat dry with a soft towel.
There is also stainless steel cleaner and polish that is premade and ready to go if you are not interested in a home remedy. The cleaner comes in a spray bottle most of the time and removes fingerprints, watermarks, and dirt. Spraying a microfiber cloth and then rubbing the jewelry down is a great way to get a good shine back to your ring.
If your jewelry has a severe scratch on it or still remains tarnished after you have cleaned it, it is time to take it to a professional. They will be able to give you a better idea of how to remove tarnish from stainless steel. They can also do the repairs if that is what is called for.
Another pro-tip is to use a toothpick while cleaning your jewelry. Using a toothpick can help you get those hard-to-reach spots in a necklace or a bracelet that has more patterns or links.
Everyday Care
The cleaning methods above are great when you need to remove tarnish or give your jewelry a deep clean. But what about everyday care? How can you keep your jewelry looking beautiful between cleanings?
One of the most common daily care concerns is whether or not you can shower with stainless silver jewelry on.
Typically, showering with your jewelry on is okay. Tap water does not have chemicals that react with stainless steel. Bleach and chloride are the two chemicals to avoid while wearing stainless steel, and you will not find those in your shower.
Other metals like copper, brass, or bronze, should not be taken into any water because the chemicals in the water react with the metal and turn your skin a green color.
With that being said, taking a bath or something where you are submerging the jewelry may not be the best thing for it every day.
Putting Away Jewelry
As a general rule of thumb, put your jewelry away at the end of the day. Leaving your jewelry out unprotected can cause more dirt build-up, and your jewelry is more likely to be scratched.
Purchase a case or a jewelry box that you can keep your stainless steel jewelry in. The jewelry box should be lined with some sort of soft cloth so that the stainless steel jewelry is not touching some other metal.
Also, don't let the jewelry come in contact with your other jewelry that is a different metal or has gemstones. This can cause unwanted chemical reactions.
The goal is to make sure that no dust or moisture can linger on the jewelry.
If you are going to take a cloth and polish your jewelry in between cleanings, make sure that you are going in the direction of the grain of the metal. This tip will help to ensure that you avoid scratching it.
Pros and Cons
There are both positives and negatives to maintaining and cleaning stainless steel jewelry. Here are some things that you should consider when considering purchasing jewelry.
Pros of Stainless Steel Jewelry
Stainless steel material is corrosion-free, tarnish-free, and scratch-free. This means that it is extremely durable, and you will not have to worry about harming the jewelry during cleaning or even everyday activities.
Stainless steel is also very easy to clean. All you need to do is add a little soap and water. As stated above, you can even use the toothpaste that is in your own bathroom.
Everyday activities such as washing your hands or showering will not affect the metal.
Cons of Stainless Steel Jewelry
One of the downfalls of maintaining stainless steel jewelry is that the enviable will happen. After years of wearing stainless steel jewelry, the jewelry is going to lose its shine and polish. No matter how well you clean the piece of jewelry. The material will wear down. It will need professional re-polishing.
Swimming or going on a tropical vacation can be very bad with stainless steel pieces of jewelry. Stainless steel is very sensitive when it mixes with chlorine or bleach. Make sure that the jewelry does not come in contact with either chemical.
The Most Illustrious Stainless Steel Jewelry
If you have been wondering how to clean stainless steel jewelry, you now have all the information that you need to take optimum care of your jewelry.
Make sure that you are thoroughly rinsing the jewelry after using any cleaning substance. Always use the softest cloth possible to ensure that you are not damaging the jewelry. If you do that, you can be assured that stainless steel will be looking clean and beautiful.
If you are shopping for some stainless steel jewelry, Philophrosyne offers a beautiful selection of personalized jewelry for any occasion. Everyone deserves to have something special in their lives, and at Philophrosyne, we can make your dreams a reality.
Come and shop our amazing stainless steel jewelry today!
