If you own precious jewelry such as diamond earrings, pendants, diamond rings, or other fine jewelry products, you can keep these items for a lifetime if you take care of them. Proper cleaning and storage will help your diamond jewelry stay beautiful for years to come.

Why Cleaning is Necessary
Diamond jewelry accumulates dirt and oil buildup after a while. This buildup comes from hand lotions, hair styling products, dust, and even perspiration. If you never clean your diamond jewelry, the buildup will only get worse and will finally turn into gunk on the back of your jewelry or stone. The buildup is usually not noticeable for a while, but before you know it, your diamond looks dull and dirty. You can clean jewelry at home or have a jeweler clean it for you.

How to Clean Diamond Jewelry
To clean diamond jewelry, create a solution using warm water and mild liquid dish detergent such as Ivory detergent. Ammonia solution or water solution may be used for fracture-filled diamonds. If other gemstones are included with your diamond, be extremely careful not to damage these during cleaning. There are also jewelry cleaning solutions available in the marketplace, but you can use the household remedy above to save time and money.

Soak the jewelry in the solution for a while and then use a soft brush to remove dirt and gunk from the jewelry. Never use a brush with hard or stiff bristles because this could scratch any metal areas of your jewelry. After cleaning with the brush, swish the jewelry around a few times in the solution. Then, rinse the jewelry in warm water. Always cover or close your drain before rinsing diamond jewelry over a sink. Small pieces may fall down the drain if you drop them.

If the jewelry still has some grime after cleaning, use a toothpick to get to those hard-to-reach places. Next, dry the jewelry as much as possible using a lint-free cloth.

You can use this cleaning method for diamond engagement rings, diamond bangles, diamond earrings, diamond pendants, diamond bracelets, and other diamond jewelry, but be sure to take all parts (bands, clasps, settings, other stones, and so forth) of the jewelry into consideration. If you're not sure, ask a jeweler to show you how to clean the item safely.

How to Store Diamond Jewelry
Diamond earrings, pendants, and jewelry should be stored so the jewelry doesn't rub together and get scratched. Use soft jewelry cloth to separate your different pieces of jewelry. Store your jewelry in a dry room or area of your home, safe from moisture or condensation. Also, keep your valuables in a safe, hidden place. Even with jewelry insurance coverage, losing a sentimental diamond ring or other diamond jewelry can be a heart-breaking experience.

For jewelry items very close to your heart such as a diamond engagement ring, never leave them lying around on a counter, dresser, or table where they can easily be knocked off. Place them in your jewelry box when you need to take them off for chores so you'll always know where they are.

Clean and store your diamond earrings, pendants, and jewelry safely, and they'll never lose their beautiful, shiny appeal.