How to clean antique jewelry

It is very important to maintain the luster of the antique jewelry, especially for those with significant meanings or value. With so many types of jewelry made of various gemstones and metals, it seems difficult to establish the cleaning process. But there are still some rules to follow, and the following are some tips on cleaning the antique jewelry.
1. Don’t use the soap as cleaner. Soap will leave residue on the metal and make the gemstone appear dull. In fact you can find plenty of jewelry-specialized cleaners for antique jewelry. You should read the label on the container carefully to make sure it contains no ammonia, vinegar or other acids or alcohols. Besides, you should make sure that the cleaner will not react with whatever metals the antique jewelry made of.
2. If the antique jewelry is only slightly covered with dust, you can simply remove the dirt with the softest toothbrush you can find. It is safer to use soft cloth to clean the surface of the stones as well as the metals.
3. If you have dampened the antique jewelry, you must dry it thoroughly before putting them away. After finish cleaning, you should keep the antique jewelry away from moisture, and store it in dry environment.
4. As for the frequency of cleaning the antique jewelry, it depends on how often you wear it. If you wear it pretty often, then you should clean it once a week. If you only wear it for special occasions, clean it after you finish wearing.
The detailed steps of cleaning antique jewelry are determined by the antique jewelry itself. But whatever type of the antique jewelry is, the tips above will be helpful.