There are dozens of creative home-made concoctions suggested online and recommended by good intended jewelry enthusiasts. Truth is, some of these household products could do more harm than good to your precious accessories. At Queen of Pawns, we use a very simple technique that has been proven safe for all metals and gems and leaves our jewelry showroom ready. After several inquiries about what kind of jewelry cleaners we use, we realize that we cannot keep this trick a secret any longer. So, this is how we do it...

What you will need:

Cooking pot

Water

Dishwashing soap

Stove top

Toothbrush

Towel or soft cloth

Hair dryer

Step 1. Place pot with water on the stove top. Set to high heat.

Step 2. Add just enough dish-soap to create a thin layer of bubbles.

Step 3. Remove pot from stove top after the water starts to boil.

Step 4. Once the pot is away from the stove top, add jewelry. IT IS VERY IMPORTANT NOT TO ADD JEWELRY while pot is still on the heat source! (That would ruin your precious pieces.)

Step 5. Wait until the temperature is bearable for your hands, take a toothbrush, dip it in the warm water and brush away all grease and dirt from jewelry.

Step 6. Rinse your jewelry with fresh water, place it over a towel and blow dry with a hair-dryer. THIS IS THE SECRET TO HAVE IT SHINE LIKE NEW!!!

Other Important Notes

We have often seen it suggested that toothpaste be used to clean jewelry. Although this is an effective technique, it can also damage and scratch soft metal such as silver.

Vinegar also appears often in searches as a household item to clean jewelry. However, this is not suggested for pearls as vinegar dissolves calcium carbonate - which is what pearls are essentially made of. The rate of dissolution depends on the size of the pearl. Never soak a strand of pearls as this can cause the string to stretch.

For your gold items, protect them from discoloration by removing before entering hot tubs or any environment with the combination of chlorine and high heat.

Now That You Know Our Secret...

You can keep your jewelry always looking like it just came out of the showroom. Also, you are entitled to full bragging rights when someone compliments your shiny adornment from Queen of Pawns. Why? Because not only are you wearing a beautiful piece of fine jewelry but you were also smart enough to purchase from us! Why pay full price when you can get the same luxury second hand??

P.S. Don’t forget to pick out your Valentine’s Gift at one of our 5 locations. We have the perfect token of your affection from the glittery and shiny to the practical and electronic.