What are some jewelry cleaning life hacks that I need to know?

When it comes to keeping your jewelry clean and looking amazing you'll find information everywhere, but what are some legitimate points that are so good that they can be classified as full-blown jewelry cleaning life hacks? We've listed 6 jewelry cleaning tips and tricks that you definitely can't do without!

While Simple Shine does offer some amazing jewelry cleaning products, we also understand that sometimes you need a pinch solution. That's what we're here for! We've also listed the 5 worst ways to clean jewelry, just in case you're looking for the other side of the coin.

I. Dish soap and toothbrush

Probably one of the most common cleaning solutions. If I asked you to clean a grime-encrusted ring within the next 5 minutes, these would likely be among the first items grabbed. The logic definitely checks out on this one, and provided you're using a fresh toothbrush you can achieve a fairly decent clean.

Add a few drops of dish soap to a small amount of warm water and you're ready to scrub. It's important not to scrub too hard depending on the composition of your jewelry. It'd be a tragedy to need a gem re-seated instead of a simple cleaning. You can even just soak your jewelry for 20-40 minutes and most of the heavy lifting should be done for you.

II. Beer

If you failed at scrubbing the grime-encrusted ring in the first example, this might be one of the first items grabbed after the trial. Beer isn't at the top of my cleaning supplies list (depends on how big of a mess I'm staring down, I guess...) but it can provide some amazing cleaning power because of those delicious little bubbles.

Please never try to clean a diamond with beer and you'll always want to ensure that you're using the palest brew you can get your hands on. Even if you prefer a dark ale, you'll want to keep it in your tummy and far away from your valuable jewelry as it can cause staining that is nearly impossible to get rid of, no matter how many jewelry cleaning life hacks are at your disposal.

III. Windex and Hydrogen Peroxide

Windex is magical stuff if you want to make a clear thing look its best, so why not dip your diamond in it? Windex cuts through every type of grease and gunk so what is the hydrogen peroxide for? Well, hydrogen peroxide kills all of the little bacteria that are hiding on your jewelry. It also adds some effervescence that take your cleaning power to the next level!

Simply mix your Windex and hydrogen peroxide in a 1:1 ratio and give your jewelry a 15 minute soak. Once you pull that jewelry back out, it's guaranteed to look like it did when it was brand new! Polish off the job with a toothbrush and a thorough rinse with water before wearing and you'll be ready to give that jewelry new life.

IV. Vinegar and baking soda

Vinegar and baking soda? It's not just for 4th grade science projects anymore! This mixture works amazing on silver of any sort even without our silver cleaning kit! Take a half a cup of white vinegar and mix it with two tablespoons of baking soda. Those friendly little scrubbing bubbles should arrive shortly to help your jewelry attain a fresh shine.

Baking soda can be abrasive and you'll never want to apply it directly to your jewelry. Vinegar can fly solo but the effectiveness is multiplicative when paired with the baking soda. This is one of the oldest jewelry cleaning solutions, and I'm sure that's for good reason. If it's good enough for grandma, it's good enough for me.

V. Ketchup

Another unlikely candidate for jewelry cleaning life-hacks, along with the aforementioned beer. I wouldn't suggest drinking ketchup though! The secret ingredient here is largely just the acidity. As far as I'm concerned, vinegar and baking soda perform the task better but I have met a fair few people who swear by cleaning with ketchup.

If you insist on it, fill a small bowl with ketchup and put your jewels inside for just a  minute or two. Lightly scrub with a small brush since you won't have any bubbles to help you out on this one. Once you're satisfied with your handiwork, rinse your jewelry thoroughly and dry it well. You don't want ants! (I don't actually know if it will attract ants.)

VI. Ultrasonic Cleaner

I saved the best for last! Ultrasonic cleaning might sound intimidating but it really is as simple as setting a run time and leaving it to do its work. There is more of an initial investment when compared to our five other jewelry cleaning life hacks, but you'll get what you pay for. Cleaning jewelry without needing to do any scrubbing? My time is valuable so this ultrasonic jewelry cleaner has paid for itself.

If you enjoy scrubbing your jewelry to a high shine, there's nothing wrong with that at all. It can be relaxing and satisfying to know that you were able to do that... But personally? I like to put those happy scrubbing bubbles to work on every piece of jewelry that I have. I never have to worry about leaving the house with jewelry that isn't looking amazing and I love it!